H.F. 2084 Section 1. Section 16.4, Code 2022, is amended by adding the 1 following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 8. The authority shall designate and award 3 moneys for designing, implementing, publicizing, and staffing a 4 statewide, toll-free telephone hotline for use by individuals 5 seeking tenant or renter resources. 6 Sec. 2. Section 562A.23, subsection 1, Code 2022, is amended 7 to read as follows: 8 1. If contrary to the rental agreement , city ordinance, 9 or section 562A.15 the landlord deliberately or negligently 10 fails to supply running water, hot water, or heat, or essential 11 services, or to repair safety hazards, the tenant may give 12 written notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may: 13 a. Procure reasonable amounts of hot water, running 14 water, heat and essential services , or procure reasonable 15 repairs to safety hazards, during the period of the landlord’s 16 noncompliance and deduct their actual and reasonable cost from 17 the rent; 18 b. Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair 19 rental value of the dwelling unit; or 20 c. Recover any rent already paid for the period of the 21 landlord’s noncompliance which shall be reimbursed on a pro 22 rata basis. 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 This bill relates to landlord-tenant law by creating a 27 tenant information hotline and expanding a tenant remedy. The 28 bill provides that the Iowa finance authority shall create and 29 implement a hotline that provides resources to tenants and 30 renters. 31 The bill expands a tenant remedy to allow tenants to deduct 32 from rent the cost of making repairs when there has been a 33 wrongful failure by the landlord to adhere to city ordinances 34 or repair safety hazards. 35 -1- LSB 5785YH (3) 89 cm/jh 1/ 1