Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.6
Involuntary transfer
Operative Text
1. If an assisted living program 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 the tenant’s legal representative contests the transfer, the following procedure shall apply: a. The assisted living program shall notify the tenant or the 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 assisted living program shall provide the tenant advocate with a copy of the notification to the tenant. c. The tenant advocate shall offer the notified tenant or the 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 assisted living program 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. 231C § 231C.6 governs the process that must be followed when an assisted living program seeks to involuntarily transfer a tenant who contests that decision. When the transfer is not triggered by a state department investigation or monitoring evaluation, the program must give written notice of the reason for the transfer and connect the tenant with a tenant advocate, who may assist with the internal appeals process. If the internal appeal 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, a separate rule-based procedure—including a hearing opportunity—applies under Iowa Administrative Code chapter 17A.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.6, assisted living programs that initiate an involuntary transfer outside of a department investigation are generally expected to provide timely written notice to the tenant or their legal representative that includes the reason for the transfer and the tenant advocate's contact information. Compliant operators also send a copy of that notice directly to the tenant advocate and maintain a functioning internal appeals process through which the tenant's concerns can be heard. If the program upholds the transfer after the internal appeal, operators should be aware that the tenant retains the 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.
Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.6 gives tenants in assisted living programs the right to contest an involuntary transfer and to receive written notice explaining the reason for the transfer along with contact information for a tenant advocate. The tenant advocate is available to help navigate the program's internal appeals process, though accepting that assistance is entirely optional. If the internal appeal is unsuccessful, § 231C.6 preserves the right to pursue other remedies authorized by law, and tenants may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service 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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