Section 555B.2. Removal — notice to sheriff.

  1.  A real property owner may remove or cause to be removed a mobile home and other personal property which is unlawfully parked, placed, or abandoned on that real property, and may cause the mobile home and personal property to be placed in storage until the owner of the personal property pays a fair and reasonable charge for removal, storage, or other expense incurred, including reasonable attorney fees, or until a judgment of abandonment is entered pursuant to section 555B.8 provided that there is no lien on the mobile home or personal property other than a tax lien pursuant to chapter 435. For purposes of this chapter, a lien other than a tax lien exists only if the real property owner receives notice of a lien on the standardized registration form completed by a tenant pursuant to section 562B.27, subsection 3, or a lien has been filed in state or county records on a date before the mobile home is considered to be abandoned. The real property owner or the real property owner’s agent is not liable for damages caused to the mobile home and personal property by the removal or storage unless the damage is caused willfully or by gross negligence.

  2.  The real property owner shall notify the sheriff of the county where the real property is located of the removal of the mobile home and other personal property.

  a.  If the mobile home owner can be determined, and if the real property owner so requests, the sheriff shall notify the mobile home owner of the removal by restricted certified mail. If the mobile home owner cannot be determined, and the real property owner so requests, the sheriff shall give notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the county where the mobile home and personal property were unlawfully parked, placed, or abandoned. If the mobile home and personal property have not been claimed by the owner within six months after notice is given, the mobile home and personal property shall be sold by the sheriff at a public or private sale. After deducting costs of the sale the net proceeds shall be applied to the cost of removal, storage, notice, attorney fees, and any other expenses incurred for preserving the mobile home and personal property, including any rent owed by the mobile home owner to the real property owner in connection with the presence of the mobile home on the real property. The remaining net proceeds, if any, shall be paid to the county treasurer to satisfy any tax lien on the mobile home. The remainder, if any, shall be retained by the county treasurer. A sheriff’s sale transfers to the purchaser for value, all of the mobile home owner’s rights in the mobile home and personal property, and discharges the real property owner’s interest in the mobile home and personal property, and discharges the tax lien on the mobile home. If the purchaser acts in good faith the purchaser takes free of all rights and interests even though the real property owner fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter or of any judicial proceedings.

  b.  If the real property owner removes the mobile home and personal property but does not request that the sheriff notify the mobile home owner, the real property owner shall proceed with an action for abandonment as provided in sections 555B.3 through 555B.9.

88 Acts, ch 1138, §2

C89, §562C.2

C93, §555B.2

93 Acts, ch 154, §8, 9

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94 Acts, ch 1110, §22, 24