Iowa Code ch. 231B § 231B.6
Involuntary transfer
Operative Text
1. If an elder group home initiates the involuntary transfer of a tenant and the action is not a result of a monitoring evaluation or complaint investigation by the department, and if the tenant or tenant’s legal representative contests the transfer, the following procedure shall apply: a. The elder group home shall notify the tenant or tenant’s legal representative, in accordance with the occupancy agreement, of the need to transfer, the reason for the transfer, and the contact information of the tenant advocate. b. The elder group home shall provide the tenant advocate with a copy of the notification to the tenant. c. The tenant advocate shall offer the notified tenant or tenant’s legal representative assistance with the program’s internal appeals process. The tenant is not required to accept the assistance of the tenant advocate. d. If, following the internal appeals process, the elder group home upholds the transfer decision, the tenant or the tenant’s legal representative may utilize other remedies authorized by law to contest the transfer. 2. The department, in consultation with affected state agencies and affected industry, professional, and consumer groups, shall establish by rule, in accordance with chapter 17A, procedures to be followed, including the opportunity for hearing, when the transfer of a tenant results from a monitoring evaluation or complaint investigation conducted by the department.
Iowa Code ch. 231B § 231B.6 governs the process that must be followed when an elder group home seeks to involuntarily transfer a tenant. When the transfer is not triggered by a state department investigation or monitoring evaluation and the tenant or their legal representative contests it, the home must provide written notice of the reason for the transfer and connect the tenant with a tenant advocate, who must offer assistance through the home's internal appeals process. If the internal process does not resolve the dispute in the tenant's favor, the tenant retains the right to pursue other legal remedies. When a transfer does stem from a department monitoring evaluation or complaint investigation, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals establishes separate procedural rules, including the opportunity for a hearing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Elder group homes operating under Iowa Code ch. 231B § 231B.6 that initiate an involuntary transfer must follow a defined notification protocol whenever the tenant or their legal representative contests the action. Compliant operators provide timely written notice—consistent with the occupancy agreement—that includes the reason for the transfer and the tenant advocate's contact information, and they simultaneously furnish the tenant advocate with a copy of that notice. Operators also maintain a functioning internal appeals process and, if the transfer decision is upheld after that process, recognize the tenant's right to pursue additional legal remedies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Iowa Code ch. 231B § 231B.6, tenants in elder group homes who face an involuntary transfer have the right to contest that decision and to receive written notice explaining the reason for the transfer along with the contact information for a tenant advocate. The tenant advocate must offer assistance navigating the home's internal appeals process, though accepting that assistance is entirely optional. If the internal appeal does not result in a favorable outcome, § 231B.6(1)(d) preserves the right to pursue other remedies authorized by law, and tenants or their legal representatives may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what those options include.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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