Is it lawful for the landlord to increases rent because the tenant joined a tenant union?

Full question:

My landlord is a sick guy. He is been troubling me since the day I joined the tenants union. Now for no reason he has increased the rent. Is it lawful for my landlord to do so?

• Category: Landlord Tenant
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Iowa

Answer:

No, it’s not right of your landlord to increase the rent just because you became a member of a tenants union. This kind of act can be seen as a retaliatory conduct and is illegal in Iowa.

Iowa Code § 562A.36 says:

“Retaliatory conduct prohibited.
1. Except as provided in this section, a landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession after:
     a. The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health and safety;
     b. The tenant has complained to the landlord of a violation under section 562A.15; or
     c. The tenant has organized or become a member of a tenants' union or similar organization.”