Mobile home lot rent rules in Iowa

Iowa has a dedicated statute for mobile home communities — the Manufactured or Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Law, Iowa Code Chapter 562B. It does not cap lot rent, but it sets a one-year default lease term, requires 90 days' notice before a rent increase, and limits late fees. Because the amount is not limited, a specific increase is best reviewed with a licensed attorney in Iowa.

What the statute says

On notice before a rent increase, Iowa Code §562B.14(7) provides:

Each tenant shall be notified, in writing, of any rent increase at least ninety days before the effective date. Such effective date shall not be sooner than the expiration date of the original rental agreement or any renewal or extension thereof.

On the lease term, §562B.10(5) provides that "rental agreements shall be for a term of one year unless otherwise specified in the rental agreement," that they "shall be canceled by at least ninety days' written notice given by either party," and that a "landlord shall not cancel a rental agreement solely for the purpose of making the tenant's mobile home space available for another mobile home."

How it works in general

Because there is no cap, the rental agreement sets the rent. The default term is one year, and either party ends the tenancy with at least 90 days' written notice. A rent increase also takes at least 90 days' written notice and cannot take effect before the current term expires. The statute does not let a park cancel a tenancy just to clear the space for a different home. Late fees are separately capped by §562B.10(4), tied to whether monthly rent is at or below $700.

Common scenarios

General examples Iowa park residents commonly encounter:

• A notice raises the lot rent. The key questions are whether at least 90 days' written notice was given and whether the effective date waits until the term ends.
• A resident expects a cap on the increase. Iowa has none; the protection is the 90-day notice and the one-year term, not a dollar limit.
• A park tries to end a tenancy to bring in a different home. Section 562B.10(5) bars cancellation solely for that purpose.

Other authorities that may apply

The rental agreement supplies the rent and any agreed increase terms. Iowa Code Chapter 648 (forcible entry and detainer) governs the court process if a tenancy ends. Local ordinances and federal law, such as the Fair Housing Act, can also apply to how increases are administered. Reading the written agreement closely is the most important step in Iowa.