Iowa Code ch. 425 § 425.33
Iowa Code Chapter 425 — Rent Reimbursement and Rent-Increase Protection
Operative Text
1. If upon petition by a claimant the department of health and human services determines that a landlord has increased the claimant’s rent primarily because the claimant is eligible for reimbursement under this subchapter, the department of health and human services shall request the landlord by mail to reduce the rent appropriately. 2. In determining whether a landlord has increased a claimant’s rent primarily because the claimant is eligible for reimbursement under this subchapter, the department of health and human services shall consider the following factors: a. The amount of the increase in rent. b. If the landlord operates other rental property, whether a similar increase was imposed on the other rental property. c. Increased or decreased costs of materials, supplies, services, and taxes in the area. d. The time the rent was increased. e. Other relevant factors in each particular case. 3. If the landlord fails to comply with the request of the department of health and human services within fifteen days after the request is mailed, the department of health and human services shall order the rent reduced by an appropriate amount.
Iowa Code § 425.33 addresses a specific form of rent increase that may occur when a tenant qualifies for property tax relief reimbursement under Iowa's homestead credit program. If the state Department of Health and Human Services finds, after reviewing a petition, that a landlord raised rent primarily because the tenant became eligible for that reimbursement, the department can first request and then order a rent reduction. The department weighs several factors in making this determination, including the size of the increase, whether similar increases were applied to other units, and changes in operating costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 425.33, landlords who rent to tenants eligible for reimbursement under Iowa's property tax relief subchapter should ensure that any rent adjustments are grounded in legitimate, documentable factors — such as rising material costs, taxes, or market conditions — rather than a tenant's eligibility status. Compliant operators typically maintain records showing that rent changes were applied consistently across comparable units and reflect actual cost changes. If the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services mails a request to reduce rent under this provision, a landlord generally has fifteen days to comply before the department may issue a formal reduction order.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 425.33 gives tenants who are eligible for reimbursement under Iowa's property tax relief subchapter a path to challenge rent increases they believe were imposed primarily because of that eligibility. A tenant may petition the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which will then evaluate the increase using factors such as timing, amount, and whether similar increases were applied to other rental units. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to better understand the petition process.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation