Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—69 § 481—69.21
Occupancy agreement.
Operative Text
69.21(1) The occupancy agreement shall be in 12-point type or larger, written in plain language using commonly understood terms and be easy for the tenant or the tenant’s legal representative to understand. 69.21(2) In addition to the requirements of Iowa Code section 231C.5, the written occupancy agreement shall include the following information in the body of the agreement or in the supporting documents and attachments: a. The telephone number for filing a complaint with the department. b. The telephone number for the office of long-term care ombudsman. c. The telephone number for reporting dependent adult abuse. d. A copy of the program’s statement on tenants’ rights. e. A statement that the tenant landlord law applies to assisted living programs. f. A statement that the program will notify the tenant at least 90 days in advance of any planned program cessation, except in cases of emergency. 69.21(3) The occupancy agreement shall be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect any change in services or financial arrangements. 69.21(4) A copy of the occupancy agreement shall be provided to the tenant or the tenant’s legal representative, if any, and a copy kept by the program. 69.21(5) A copy of the most current occupancy agreement shall be made available to the general public upon request.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—69 § 481—69.21 governs the form and content of occupancy agreements used by assisted living programs in Iowa. The rule requires these agreements to be written in plain language, set in at least 12-point type, and to include specific disclosures such as complaint hotline numbers, tenants' rights statements, and advance notice of any planned program closure. The agreement must be kept current to reflect changes in services or finances, and copies must be provided to tenants and made available to the public on request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of Iowa assisted living programs subject to Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—69 § 481—69.21 generally maintain occupancy agreements that meet the rule's formatting and content standards, including 12-point or larger type and plain-language drafting. Compliant programs include all required disclosures in the agreement body or attachments—such as complaint and ombudsman phone numbers, a tenants' rights statement, and a notice that tenant-landlord law applies—and review the agreement whenever services or financial arrangements change. Programs also keep a signed copy on file, provide a copy to each tenant or their legal representative, and make the most current version available to any member of the public who requests it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—69 § 481—69.21, residents of Iowa assisted living programs are entitled to receive a written occupancy agreement in plain language and readable type, along with key contact information including the department's complaint line and the long-term care ombudsman's number. The provision also entitles tenants to at least 90 days' advance notice before a planned program closure, except in emergencies. Tenants or their legal representatives who believe an agreement falls short of these requirements may contact the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, reach out to the long-term care ombudsman listed in the agreement, or consult a tenant-rights organization for general guidance on available options.
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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