Rehabilitation of structure in order to meet Housing Quality Standards of the Iowa City Housing Code. Applies to all major systems: furnaces, water heater, fixed electrical equipment, sanitary fixtures, roofs, etc.

Fill out online application form.

Maximum: $24,999.
Minimum $1,000.

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246, or contact Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

• Housing Rehab Flyer (English)
• Housing Rehab Flyer (Spanish)

Eligibility Requirements

The following conditions must be met for homes to be eligible:

• The home must be located within Iowa City limits.
• The nature or extent of the repairs and improvements cannot exceed what is considered structurally or financially reasonable.
• The home must be a single-family, owner-occupied residence.
• Adequate equity must exist in the home to secure the City's interest.

Your gross household income must fall below 80 percent of the median income level for Iowa City, which depends on the number of people in your household.

Effective5/1/24 for CDBG. Effective 6/1/24 for HOME. 

How to Apply

If you feel you qualify for assistance with your home rehabilitation project, complete the following online application:

• Housing Rehabilitation Program Online Application

If you prefer to fill out a printed application, use the version below:

• Housing Rehabilitation Program Printable Application (PDF)
• Solicitud de Rehabilitacion de Casa (PDF)

Printed applications can be submitted neighborhoods@iowa-city.org or mailed to the following address:

Housing Rehab
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St
Iowa City 52240

For Housing Rehab questions, contact

Liz Osborne at 319-356-5246 or Walt McFadden at 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

 Correction of major violations of housing code standards which make the structure uninhabitable. 

Maximum: $10,000. 

Fill out online application form.

How to apply

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246, or contact Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

From September 1 to March 1 each year, Iowa City homeowners can apply for an Energy Efficiency Program loan. These City-supplied loans range from $300 to $6,000 and go towards the replacement or upgrade of heating and furnace systems, window replacement, insulating and weatherproofing projects, which all can lead to a more energy efficient home. Window replacement must be energy star compliant.

Fill out online application form.

Who is eligible for the program?

1. Homeowners with homes in Iowa City city limits.
2. Homes must be single-family, owner-occupied.
3. Owner must have adequate equity in the home for the loan to be secure.
4. Gross household income must fall below 80% of the median income level for Iowa City.

Income limits to qualify

1. One-person household: $64,200
2. Two-person household: $73,400
3. Three-person household: $82,550
4. Four-person household: $91,700
5. Five-person household: $99,050

Effective 5/1/24 for CDBG. Effective 6/1/24 for HOME. 

To apply for the program

1. Complete the form online or fill out a form available at City Hall.
2. Provide a bid for furnace repair or replacement. If the bid is for furnace replacement, the new furnace must be at least a 96% efficient furnace.

What are the loan terms

1. Zero Interest Loans or Conditional Occupancy Loans. A lien of mortgage will be placed on the property to secure the loan. Depending on the type of project and eligibility criteria, you can get one of the two loans. Zero Interest Loan: A monthly loan payment will not exceed 30% of gross income, with the loan term up in five years. Conditional Occupancy Loan: Also known as deferred payment, the loan is not repaid until the property is sold or rented.
2. Forgivable Loans. If the home is located in one of the following areas, half of the project cost will be forgiven in five full years: College Green, Northside, Miller-Orchard, Towncrest, Twain, Wetherby and Grant Wood.

Who should I contact to apply

            Housing Rehabilitation Office
            410 E. Washington St.
            Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246

Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm)

Covers the cost of any exterior repair including roof, gutters, siding, paint, foundation repair, etc. Projects may include one of more of the above.

Maximum: $15,000.

Fill out online application form.

How to apply

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246, or contact Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

Is your home in need of repairs? Want an addition? Need central air? Let City of Iowa City staff help you.

You can apply for a General Rehab and Improvement Program loan from the City of Iowa City. Qualified homeowners can receive $10,000 to $40,000 in loans from the City for various projects. Resident can even get guidance on contractor selection, remodeling ideas and more.

Fill out online application form. 

Eligible Improvement Projects

• Additions or renovations
• Finishing basements
• Installation of central air or furnace upgrade
• Kitchen and bathroom renovations
• Windows and doors
• Updating plumbing or electrical
• Accessibility improvements
• Painting and siding
• Historic Preservation, and more

Loan Payments

Loans are secured through the City at 2.75% and are repayable over 20 years. Following are examples of monthly minimum payments for a 2.75% interest loan, and payment for typical monthly payments for projects done without GRIP.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must live within Iowa City’s city limits and the home must be single-family, owner-occupied. There must be enough equity in the home to secure a loan.

Applicants must meet the following income requirements.

Effective June 1, 2024

How To Apply

 Fill out the online application form. 

Applications are also available at the Housing Rehabilitation Office in the Neighborhood and Development Services Office on the second floor of City Hall, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Iowa City’s Healthy Homes program is part of the City’s Invest Health Initiative, which aims to reduce health disparities in low-income neighborhoods. The goal of the program is to improve health outcomes of residents, and specifically to reduce the number of Emergency Room and clinic visits of residents diagnosed with a lung disorder such as asthma or COPD. This is achieved through mitigation of environmental triggers and in-home asthma counseling.

Fill out online application form. 

Program Details

Up to $7,500 is available per household for repair/replacement of items that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Some common repairs include:

• Replacing carpeted areas with luxury vinyl plank flooring
• Repairing plumbing to stop moisture damage and mold
• Replacing bath fans
• Cleaning duct work
• Updating furnace filtration
• Adding/replacing air conditioners to control moisture and air quality

Households with a child with asthma will also receive an in-home visit from the UI College of Nursing, to provide health education to self-manage the condition and maintain a healthy home.

Eligibility

Iowa City households who have a member with a diagnosed lung disorder such as asthma or COPD are eligible for the program. Preference is given to households with children under the age of 18 with an asthma diagnosis. Renters and homeowners within Iowa City's corporate limits can apply. If you rent, your landlord must consent to the repairs.

Your gross household income must be less than 80 percent of the median income level for Iowa City, which depends on the number of people in your household.

• Household size: 1 person, Maximum household income: $64,200
• Household size: 2 persons, Maximum household income: $73,400
• Household size: 3 persons, Maximum household income: $82,550
• Household size: 4 persons, Maximum household income: $91,700
• Household size: 5 persons, Maximum household income: $99,050
• Household size: 6 persons, Maximum household income: $106,400
• Household size: 7 persons, Maximum household income: $113,750
• Household size: 8 persons, Maximum household income: $121,050

Effective June 1, 2024

How to Apply

To apply for the Healthy Homes program, you must complete the application below and obtain documentation of the child’s asthma diagnosis from a medical professional.

• Healthy Homes Application
• Medical Request Form

Submit the completed application to:

Liz Osborne
Housing Rehab
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240 

If you have questions:

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246

Corrections of only safety items such as doors, furnaces, water heats, plumbing, electrical, steps for a manufactured home. 

Maximum: $5,000. 

Fill out online application form. 

How to apply

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246, or contact Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

Improvements to make the property accessible and permit the differently-abled or disabled homeowner to remain, independently, in the home. Costs could include: ramps, doorway widening, grab bars, toilets, etc.

Maximum: $16,000.

Fill out online application form. 

How to apply

Contact Liz Osborne: losborne@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5246, or contact Walt McFadden: wmcfadden@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5129 (8am-12pm).

Educational Videos to Help Secure a Home Mortgage

• Restoring, Maintaining, and Improving Credit Scores
• Finding a Home Loan and the Process of Doing So
• Home Mortgage Escrow Explained
• Insurance 101 – Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage Explained

Helpful Videos for Home Winterization and Energy Efficiency

• Applying Weatherstripping to Windows and Doors
• Installing Window Film
• Changing Overhead Fan Rotation for Winter/Summer
• Setting a Programmable Thermostat
• Sealing Leaky Ductwork
• Sealing Gaps and Cracks in a Home
• Replacing a Furnace Filter
• Cleaning Refrigerator Coils for Efficiency and $ Savings

Home Winterization Tips

• Detach exterior hoses from spigots before freezing temperatures set in. You can also insulate the spigot with an insulating boot or housing to protect interior pipes from freezing and bursting.
• Opening your window treatments during the day in the colder winter months lets sunlight in and will allow for solar heat gain during the day. Closing your window treatments at dusk will provide another insulating layer of air, keeping your home warmer at night. You can take this one step further by installing/hanging insulated window treatments.
• Install electrical outlet gaskets.
• Insulate hot water pipes.
• In times of severe temperature drops, keep a very small stream of water running in a few faucets to prevent freezing and bursting.
• Check your detectors. Residential fires are more common in the winter, so it is important that all of your smoke detectors work. Check them monthly and replace batteries as needed.
• Check the gutters. Prevent dangerous ice dams by cleaning your gutters and downspouts of organic matter that accumulates during the warmer months. Do this in the fall before the weather changes for the worse.
• All homeowners should own a shovel(s), ice scraper or chopper, and ice melt or salt. Snow and ice must be removed from your driveway and sidewalks within 24 hours. If you don’t, you may be fined by the City and required to pay for the snow/ice removal service.

Home Maintenance and Energy Savings Tips

• Adjust the water heater and thermostat. Many conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees, which is quite hot. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees can reduce water heating costs between 5-10%, eliminate the hazard of scalding water, and still provide plenty of heat. Likewise, for every 1 degree you lower your thermostat, you’ll save between 1-3% on your heating energy bill.
• Clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer every other load or so to prevent a buildup of lint in the ductwork that can lead to a fire. Sometimes it is necessary to take this one step further and detach the ductwork and clean it using a duct cleaning kit. Keeping the ductwork clean keeps the dryer running efficiently and will save you money in shorter drying times.
• Unplug unused electronics and appliances. This will eliminate the costs associated with standby power and protect your electronics from power surges.
• Always turn off the lights in rooms that aren’t occupied.