Mobile Home Residents Say Tax Proposals Won't Help

Residents argue rent hikes, not property taxes, are the real issue

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Residents of mobile home parks in Iowa say the property tax proposals being discussed in the state legislature would provide little to no benefit to them, as they rent the land their manufactured homes sit on rather than owning the property. The residents argue that rent increases, not property taxes, are the real crisis they are facing, and are calling for legislation to limit landlords' ability to evict them without cause.

Why it matters

Mobile home parks are an important source of affordable housing, but residents often lack protections against rent hikes and evictions by out-of-state corporate landlords. Any proposals to address property taxes need to consider the unique circumstances of mobile home residents.

The details

Karla Krapfl, a resident of the Table Mount Mobile Home Park in Dubuque and co-chair of the Iowa Manufactured Home Residents' Network, says "Rent increases are the real crisis...These are results of a system that allows out-of-state corporations to raise rents without limits." The group is advocating for legislation that would only allow landlords to evict mobile home park residents for violation of a rental agreement, not for other reasons.

  • The property tax proposals are currently being discussed in the Iowa state legislature.

The players

Karla Krapfl

A resident of the Table Mount Mobile Home Park in Dubuque and co-chair of the Iowa Manufactured Home Residents' Network.

Iowa Manufactured Home Residents' Network

A group advocating for legislation to limit landlords' ability to evict mobile home park residents without cause.

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What they’re saying

“Rent increases are the real crisis...These are results of a system that allows out-of-state corporations to raise rents without limits.”

— Karla Krapfl, Resident of Table Mount Mobile Home Park and co-chair of Iowa Manufactured Home Residents' Network

The takeaway

Any proposals to address property taxes in Iowa need to consider the unique circumstances of mobile home residents, who often rent the land their homes sit on and face rising rents rather than rising property taxes as the primary housing affordability challenge.