HF 2084 (LSB 5785YH (3) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2084

BY  WINCKLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to landlord-tenant law by creating a tenant hotline and modifying tenant remedies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 16.4, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  8.  The authority shall designate and award moneys for designing, implementing, publicizing, and staffing a statewide, toll-free telephone hotline for use by individuals seeking tenant or renter resources.
    Sec. 2.  Section 562A.23, subsection 1, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  If contrary to the rental agreement, city ordinance, or section 562A.15 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water, hot water, or heat, or essential services, or to repair safety hazards, the tenant may give written notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may:
   a.  Procure reasonable amounts of hot water, running water, heat and essential services, or procure reasonable repairs to safety hazards, during the period of the landlord’s noncompliance and deduct their actual and reasonable cost from the rent;
   b.  Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit; or
   c.  Recover any rent already paid for the period of the landlord’s noncompliance which shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to landlord-tenant law by creating a tenant information hotline and expanding a tenant remedy. The bill provides that the Iowa finance authority shall create and implement a hotline that provides resources to tenants and renters.
   The bill expands a tenant remedy to allow tenants to deduct from rent the cost of making repairs when there has been a wrongful failure by the landlord to adhere to city ordinances or repair safety hazards.