If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes a tenant, or willfully cuts electricity, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease. The tenant can also recover actual damages, punitive damages up to twice the monthly rent, and attorney fees.
A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or bring or threaten an eviction because the tenant complained to a housing-code agency, complained to the landlord about required maintenance, or joined a tenants' union. Tenants can recover damages and attorney fees, and retaliation is a defense to eviction.
For a material breach affecting health and safety, the tenant can give written notice that the lease ends in 7 days unless the breach is remedied (§ 562A.21). If heat, water, hot water or essential services are withheld, after written notice the tenant may buy them and deduct the cost from rent, recover reduced rental value, or get pro-rated rent back (§ 562A.23).
Iowa cities with 15,000 or more people must have a housing code, and a city that adopts or is subject to one must run regular rental inspections, inspections on complaint and certification of inspected rental housing. Statute text: "shall adopt enforcement procedures, which shall include a program for regular rental inspections, rental inspections upon receipt of complaints, and certification of inspected rental housing" (Iowa Code § 364.17(2)-(3)).
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