DES MOINES – As Mason City has this week passed a new ordinance tightening restrictions on nuisance properties, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will sign a law Thursday regulating residential landlord and tenant rules.
Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced he will sign House File 495, an Act relating to the residential landlord and tenant laws and related forcible entry and detainer laws and making penalties applicable.
The law governs how landlords can charge late fees and how large the late fees can be.
The law also states that if damage, defacement, alteration, or destruction of a rental property by the tenant is intentional, the tenant may be criminally charged with criminal mischief pursuant to chapter 716.
Mason City passed an ordinance this week on third reading that allows the city to crack down on problem properties. The ordinance allows the City Administrator to enter private property under certain circumstances without a warrant or court order. Mason City’s City Administrator, Brent Trout, currently holds a conceal and carry gun permit.
