Iowa Tenant Rights
Iowa's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Iowa Code § 562A.
Last reviewed:
Key Laws by Topic
Eviction Laws
- Notice Period:
- 30 days for month-to-month tenancy
- Just Cause Required:
- No statewide just-cause requirement
- Cure Or Quit Period:
- 7 days to cure lease violations; 3 days for nonpayment of rent
- Eviction Process:
- Forcible entry and detainer filed in district court
Security Deposit Laws
- Limit:
- 2 months' rent
- Return Deadline:
- 30 days after tenancy ends
- Interest Required:
- No statewide requirement
- Itemization Required:
- Yes — written itemized statement required
- Penalty For Wrongful Withholding:
- Landlord liable for damages plus attorney fees; wrongful withholding allows tenant to recover deposit amount
Repair & Habitability Laws
- Repair And Deduct:
- Yes — up to one month's rent after 7 days written notice
- Rent Withholding:
- Tenant may terminate agreement for material habitability failures
- Habitability Standard:
- Building and housing code compliance; working plumbing, heating, and electrical
- Notice Required:
- 7 days written notice to landlord before invoking repair-and-deduct remedy
Tenant Harassment Laws
- Anti Harassment:
- Anti-retaliation statute; no specific anti-harassment law
- Penalties:
- Tenant may recover actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs for retaliatory conduct
- Retaliation Prohibited:
- Yes — retaliation within 12 months of protected activity presumed retaliatory
Notice & Entry Laws
- Notice Required:
- 24 hours advance notice for non-emergency entry
- Emergency Entry:
- Permitted without prior notice in emergency situations
- Permissible Reasons:
- Repairs, inspections, showing unit to prospective tenants or buyers
- Time Of Entry:
- Must be at a reasonable time
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