Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
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Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Denying Housing to Survivors of Domestic Violence May Violate Fair Housing Laws
It is hard enough for anyone to find decent affordable housing. Finding housing may be even harder for women who are survivors of domestic violence. Why would this be?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Fair Housing - Making New Apartments Accessible to Persons with Disabilities
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 made a lot of changes in fair housing law. One of the changes dealt with making apartments accessible. When does an apartment have to meet the fair housing accessibility requirements?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Fair Housing Laws Protect Immigrants
Information on fair housing laws and what tenants can do if a landlord discriminates against them.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Fair Housing Quiz
Test your knowledge of the law with a three-question quiz about fair housing issues.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Tenants Protected from Discrimination Based on Sex
Some tenants who have a disagreement with their landlord, or fall behind in the rent are threatened with eviction. Sometimes a landlord may ask for sex from a tenant in payment for rent or to stop an eviction. This is illegal.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Fair Housing Act & Iowa Civil Rights Act Protect Housing Rights of Persons with a Mental Disability
Discrimination against a person with a mental disability is illegal. The federal Fair Housing Act and the Iowa Civil Rights Act require landlords to make exceptions, called "reasonable accommodations," in rules, policies, practices or services.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
What Duty Does a Landlord Have to Accommodate a Tenant's Disability?
There is not enough low- and moderate-income housing to meet the need. Persons with disabilities may have even fewer housing choices. Some rental units could become suitable with a few changes. The landlord's rules or policies might need to change before the tenant could live there. What are a tenant's rights in such cases?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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What Is Discrimination in Housing?
Some of the things a landlord considers in choosing tenants or in deciding how to treat a particular tenant are legal and proper. Others are illegal, improper, and cannot be considered.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
What Should a Person Who Has Been Discriminated Against in Housing Do?
Who to contact in housing discrimination cases.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Application for Iowa Mortgage Help
(Separate Website)
Online application for Iowa Mortgage Help, assistance for homeowners facing foreclosure.
By: Iowa Finance Authority
Facing Foreclosure? Tips to Help Restructure Debt and Deal with Mortgage Companies
When the foreclosure process starts or is just around the corner, homeowners must decide whether to stay in the home or move. This is not an easy choice to make.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Facts About Foreclosure
The following "factsheet" can be useful to help homeowners understand their rights when facing the loss of their home.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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I Lost My House and Now I Owe Taxes?
If sale of a home in a foreclosure action does not cover the amount owed to the lender, part of a loan may not have to be paid back. The IRS may consider the amount of debt ?forgiven? as income and tax it.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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French / Français
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Spanish / Español
Mortgage Foreclosures and Land Contract Forfeitures
People are usually not able to pay in full when they buy a home. As a result, most Iowans finance homes through either a mortgage or a land contract. If the buyer fails to make payments the loan terms require, each of these financing tools allows the lender to retake the home. The steps involved depend on whether it is a mortgage or land contract.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Mortgage Modification Options
I am having trouble paying my mortgage. Can I get the mortgage company to lower my payments?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Refinancing
A lot of people try to deal with debt by refinancing their loans. Refinancing means paying an old debt with a new debt. Sometimes that makes sense because your total cost of borrowing money may be less. Refinancing may look good now when interest rates are lower than they have been in years. However, smaller monthly payments do not always mean that refinancing will be a good deal for you as a consumer. This article takes a general look at this topic and gives some tips to protect yourself.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Tenant Protections in Foreclosures
Clearly homeowners can lose their homes when they fall behind in their mortgage payments and homes end up in foreclosure. But tenants too can lose their homes to foreclosure when landlords do not make their mortgage payments.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Tenant Protections in Foreclosures
Tenants, too, can lose their homes to foreclosure when landlords do not make their mortgage payments.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
The "SCRA" is a federal statute passed by Congress to allow military members to suspend or postpone some civil obligations so the military member can devote his or her full attention to military duties.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Application for Iowa Mortgage Help
(Separate Website)
Online application for Iowa Mortgage Help, assistance for homeowners facing foreclosure.
By: Iowa Finance Authority
Buying a House
Buying a home on a contract can be a way for persons who are low-income or who have poor credit to become homeowners. However, there are certain risks to know about to avoid surprises after the contract is signed.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Facing Foreclosure? Tips to Help Restructure Debt and Deal with Mortgage Companies
When the foreclosure process starts or is just around the corner, homeowners must decide whether to stay in the home or move. This is not an easy choice to make.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
New Changes to Iowa's Landlord-Tenant Law
A law passed in March of 2010 gives tenants important new protections. It will help make sure tenants get notices from their landlord.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
How Can a Rental Agreement Be Ended?
Either a landlord or a tenant can end an agreement in one of these five ways.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations and HELP Legal Assistance.
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