<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><slim:Document xmlns:slim="urn:legix:slim" xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:atipl="http://www.arbortext.com/namespace/PageLayout" class="codeChapter" id="chp558B" name="558B"><slim:About class="header"><slim:Property type="string" name="checkinTime">07/19/2023 08:26</slim:Property><slim:Property type="string" name="taskInfo">1035:FB243938-B557-4815-961B-7EE09484D26F</slim:Property><slim:Property type="string" name="version">3</slim:Property></slim:About><slim:TOC><slim:Item idref="sec558B.1" title="558B.1   Definitions."/><slim:Item idref="sec558B.2" title="558B.2   Unfair service agreements  penalties."/></slim:TOC><slim:Body><slim:Level class="codeChapter" id="chp558B"><slim:Heading class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">558B</xhtml:span><xhtml:span class="headnote">UNFAIR REAL ESTATE SERVICE AGREEMENTS</xhtml:span></slim:Heading><slim:Section class="codeSection" id="sec558B.1"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">558B.1</xhtml:span><xhtml:span class="headnote">Definitions.</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">As used in <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">this chapter</xhtml:span>, unless the context otherwise requires:</xhtml:p><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">1</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">a</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Common interest community”</xhtml:span> means real estate described in a declaration with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person’s ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to, common elements, other units, or other real estate described in the declaration. <xhtml:span class="term">“Common interest community”</xhtml:span> includes a planned community, a cooperative under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">chapter 499A</xhtml:span>, and a horizontal property regime under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">chapter 499B</xhtml:span>.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">b</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Common interest community”</xhtml:span> does not include any of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:div class="subpara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">1</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A covenant that requires the owners of separate parcels of real estate to share costs or other obligations related to a wall, driveway, well, or other similar structure, unless all such owners consent in writing to the creation of a common interest community.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subpara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">2</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">Real estate described in paragraph <xhtml:span class="i">“a”</xhtml:span> if all units are owned by a single owner.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">2</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Consumer”</xhtml:span> means a natural person being provided a service under a service agreement, or the natural person’s legal representative.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">3</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Record”</xhtml:span> means presentation of a document to a county recorder in this state for official placement in the public land records.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">4</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Residential real estate”</xhtml:span> means real property located in this state which is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and is improved by one to four dwelling units.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">5</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="term">“Service agreement”</xhtml:span> means a contract under which a person agrees to provide a service in connection with the maintenance of, the purchase of, or the sale of, residential real estate.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="history"><xhtml:div class="historyItem"><xhtml:span class="iowaActsRef">2023 Acts, ch 47, §1</xhtml:span></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="footnotes"/></slim:Section><slim:Section class="codeSection" id="sec558B.2"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">558B.2</xhtml:span><xhtml:span class="headnote">Unfair service agreements <xhtml:span class="em-dash"/> penalties.</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">1</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A service agreement shall be considered unfair under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">this section</xhtml:span> if a service that is covered by the service agreement is not required to be completely performed within one year after the date on which the service agreement is executed, and the service agreement has any of the following characteristics:</xhtml:p><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">a</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">The service agreement purports to run with the land or to be binding on future owners of interests in the residential real estate that is the subject of the service agreement.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">b</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">The service agreement permits assignment of the right to provide service under the service agreement without requiring notice to, and the consent of, the owner of the residential real estate that is the subject of the service agreement.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">c</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">The service agreement purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other real property security interest on the residential real estate that is the subject of the service agreement.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">2</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">If a service agreement is unfair under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">this section</xhtml:span>, the service agreement shall be unenforceable.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">3</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">If a person enters into an unfair service agreement with a consumer, the person commits an unlawful practice under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">section 714.16</xhtml:span>.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">4</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">a</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A person shall not cause an unfair service agreement, or a notice or memorandum of an unfair service agreement, to be recorded.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">b</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A person who causes an unfair service agreement, or a notice or memorandum of an unfair service agreement, to be recorded commits an aggravated misdemeanor.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">c</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A county recorder may refuse to record an unfair service agreement.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">d</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">If an unfair service agreement is recorded, the recorded service agreement shall not provide actual or constructive notice against an otherwise bona fide purchaser or creditor, or actual or constructive notice against heirs or other successors-in-interest to the residential real estate that is the subject of the recorded service agreement.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">e</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">If an unfair service agreement or a notice or memorandum of an unfair service agreement is recorded, any person with an interest in the residential real estate that is the subject of the service agreement may apply to a district court in the county in which the service agreement is recorded for a court order declaring the service agreement unenforceable.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">f</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">If an unfair service agreement or a notice or memorandum of an unfair service agreement is recorded, any person with an interest in the residential real estate that is the subject of the recorded service agreement may recover actual damages, costs, and attorney fees as may be proven against the person who caused the unfair service agreement or the notice or memorandum of the unfair service agreement to be recorded.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">5</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">This section</xhtml:span> does not apply to any of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">a</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A home warranty or similar agreement that covers the cost of maintenance for a fixed period of time of a major home system including but not limited to plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation, or air conditioning.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">b</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">An insurance contract.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">c</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">An option or a right of refusal to purchase residential real estate.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">d</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A maintenance or repair agreement entered into by the homeowners’ association of a common interest community.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">e</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A mortgage loan, or a commitment to make or to receive a mortgage loan.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">f</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">A security agreement under the uniform commercial code related to the sale or rental of personal property or fixtures.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="letteredPara"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">g</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para">Water, sewer, electrical, telephone, cable, internet, or any other utility service providers.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="subsection"><xhtml:div class="heading"><xhtml:span class="identifier">6</xhtml:span></xhtml:div><xhtml:p class="para"><xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">This section</xhtml:span> shall not be construed to impair a person’s rights established by a mechanics’ lien under <xhtml:span class="iowaCodeRef">chapter 572</xhtml:span>.</xhtml:p></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="history"><xhtml:div class="historyItem"><xhtml:span class="iowaActsRef">2023 Acts, ch 47, §2</xhtml:span></xhtml:div></xhtml:div><xhtml:div class="footnotes"/></slim:Section></slim:Level></slim:Body></slim:Document>