Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.27
Remedies for abandonment — required registration
Operative Text
1. A tenant is considered to have abandoned a mobile home when the tenant has been absent from the mobile home without reasonable explanation for thirty days or more during which time there is either a default of rent three days after rent is due, or the rental agreement is terminated pursuant to section 562B.25. A tenant’s return to the mobile home does not change its status as abandoned unless the tenant pays to the landlord all costs incurred for the mobile home space, including costs of removal, storage, notice, attorney fees, and all rent and utilities due and owing. 2. When a mobile home is abandoned on a mobile home space: a. If a tenant abandons a mobile home on a mobile home space, the landlord shall notify the mobile home owner or other claimant of the mobile home and communicate to that person that the person is liable for any costs incurred for the mobile home space, including rent and utilities due and owing. A claimant includes a holder of a lien as defined in section 555B.2. However, the person is only liable for costs incurred ninety days before the landlord’s communication. After the landlord’s communication, costs for which liability is incurred shall then become the responsibility of the mobile home owner or other claimant of the mobile home. The mobile home shall not be removed from the mobile home space without a signed written agreement from the landlord showing clearance for removal, and that all debts are paid in full, or an agreement reached with the mobile home owner or other claimant and the landlord. b. If there is no lien on the mobile home other than a lien for taxes, the landlord may follow the procedure in chapter 555B to dispose of the mobile home. c. An action pursuant to chapter 555B may be combined with an action for possession under chapter 648 or an action for damages under section 562B.30. 3. A required standardized registration form shall be filled out by each tenant upon the rental of a mobile home space, showing the mobile home make, year, serial number, and also showing if the mobile home is paid for, if there is a lien on the mobile home, and if so the lienholder, and the name of the legal owner of the mobile home. The registration forms shall be kept on file with the landlord as long as the mobile home is on the mobile home space within the mobile home park. The tenant shall give notice to the landlord within ten days of any new lien, change of existing lien, or settlement of lien.
Iowa Code § 562B.27 establishes when a mobile home is legally considered abandoned in a mobile home park setting: generally after a tenant has been absent for thirty or more days combined with a rent default or terminated rental agreement. Once abandonment is established, the landlord must notify the mobile home owner or any lien-holder of their financial responsibility, though that liability is capped at costs incurred within the ninety days before the landlord's notice. The provision also requires every tenant to complete a standardized registration form at move-in documenting the mobile home's details and any liens, and to update the landlord within ten days whenever a lien changes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 562B.27, compliant mobile home park operators maintain a standardized registration form for every tenant at the start of each tenancy, keeping it on file for the duration of the tenancy and updating it as lien information changes. When a mobile home appears abandoned, operators generally document the absence and any rent default, then promptly send written notice to the mobile home owner or lien-holder explaining their liability for space costs—keeping in mind that liability only reaches back ninety days before that communication. Operators also ensure that no mobile home is removed from a space without a signed written clearance agreement confirming all debts are resolved, and may pursue disposal procedures under chapter 555B or combine actions under chapter 648 or § 562B.30 when appropriate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 562B.27 sets out specific conditions that must be met before a mobile home can be deemed legally abandoned, including a thirty-day absence and either a rent default or a terminated rental agreement—meaning a brief unexplained absence alone is not sufficient. A tenant who returns to a mobile home that has been declared abandoned can contest that status, but only by paying all outstanding costs including rent, utilities, storage, and attorney fees as described in the provision. Tenants who believe an abandonment determination was made improperly, or who have questions about lien registration requirements, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the procedures available under Iowa Code chapters 555B and 648 for additional context.
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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