Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.24
Tenant’s remedies for landlord’s unlawful ouster, exclusion or diminution of services
Operative Text
If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant from the manufactured home community or mobile home park or willfully diminishes services to the tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of electric, gas, water or other essential service to the tenant, the tenant may recover possession, require the restoration of essential services or terminate the rental agreement and, in either case, recover an amount not to exceed two months’ periodic rent and twice the actual damages sustained by the tenant.
Iowa Code § 562B.24 addresses situations where a landlord in a manufactured home community or mobile home park either unlawfully removes or locks out a tenant, or deliberately cuts off essential utilities such as electricity, gas, or water. When such conduct occurs, the law provides tenants with several potential remedies, including recovering possession of their home site, having essential services restored, or ending the rental agreement altogether. In any of these scenarios, the tenant may also seek monetary recovery capped at two months' periodic rent plus twice the actual damages they suffered.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562B.24, operators of manufactured home communities and mobile home parks are prohibited from self-help evictions—such as physically removing a tenant or changing locks—and from deliberately interrupting utilities like electricity, gas, or water as a means of pressuring a tenant to leave. Compliant operators maintain uninterrupted essential services regardless of any ongoing rent or lease disputes and pursue only lawful eviction procedures through the courts. Violations of this provision expose operators to liability for up to two months' rent plus twice the tenant's actual damages, making adherence to proper legal channels a critical operational practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562B.24 gives tenants in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks specific protections against unlawful lockouts and deliberate utility shutoffs by their landlord. If a landlord engages in either of these prohibited actions, a tenant generally has the option to seek return to their home site, demand restoration of cut-off services, or choose to terminate the rental agreement—and may also pursue monetary damages up to two months' rent plus twice actual damages. Tenants who believe their landlord has violated § 562B.24 may consider documenting the disruption, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether a complaint or civil action is appropriate for their circumstances.
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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