Updated May 25, 2023
An Iowa lease agreement is a real estate contract used by a landlord when renting residential or commercial property to a tenant. In the lease, the tenant will agree to pay monthly rent and maintain the property until termination. Before a lease is signed, the landlord will perform a credit check and verify the tenant’s income either through their employer, copies of pay stubs, or past tax returns.
The tenant will be obligated to pay the first month’s rent and any security deposit prior to moving into the premises.
Table of Contents |
Agreement Types (7)
 Standard Residential Lease Agreement – For a fixed-term residential agreement.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Association of Realtors Agreement – Has the option to be written as a fixed or month-to-month arrangement for residential tenancies.
Download: Adobe PDF |
 Commercial Lease Agreement – To be used for the renting of property for business purposes such as office, industrial, or retail space.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – Known as a tenancy at will. Under § 562A.34, the landlord or tenant has the right to cancel with at least 30 days’ notice.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement – Standard residential contract with a time period for the lessee to elect to buy the property if they choose.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Room Rental (Roommate) Agreement – For the individuals renting the same space with separate bedrooms in order to manage the common areas and split the payments for utilities/services.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument |
 Sublease Agreement – When a tenant decides to rent the same property to someone else in order to cover them for the lease they are obligated under.
|
Required Disclosures (4)
Agent/Landlord Identification (§ 562A.13) – Person authorized to act in the place of the landlord must be listed in the contract in addition to the address where notices are received.
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure – Federal law that mandates landlords and managers to inform any new tenant of the possibility of lead-based paint if the property was built before 1978.
Shared Utilities (§ 562A.13) – Landlord must disclose if there are shared utility charges and the rate at which the charges and services are calculated and billed to the tenant.
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Information System (§ 562A.13) – If the property is listed in this database, provided by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, it must be known to the tenant in their contract. Use this Wikipedia page and search specific site locations at NETRonline.
Security Deposits
Maximum Amount (§ 562A.12) – The landlord may not charge more than two (2) months’ rent from what is written in the rental contract.
Returning (§ 562A.12(3)(a)) – Landlord is required to give back the deposit within thirty (30) days from the date the tenant vacated the property.
When is Rent Due? (Grace Period)
Rent is due on the day agreed upon by the landlord and tenant. There is no current rent grace period in Iowa (§ 562A.9(3)).
If the rent is not paid, the landlord may issue a 3-day notice to quit.
Late Fees
Maximum Penalty (§ 562A.9(4)) – There is a 2-tiered system for late penalties depending on the monthly rent:
- $700 or less – The maximum is $12 per day and no more than $60 per month.
- More than $700 – The maximum is $20 per day and no more than $100 per month.
NSF Fee (Admin. Code r. 657-1.6) – $25 is the maximum that can be charged for a bad check.
Right to Enter (Landlord)
The landlord must notify the tenant within a twenty-four (24) hour period before entering the premises for maintenance, inspection, or any other type of issue except for emergencies (§ 562A.19).
Video
Resources
- Chapter 562A (Residential Landlord and Tenant Law) – Provided by the Iowa Code.
- A Guide to Landlord-Tenant Law in Iowa – Provided by the Iowa Legal Aid.
- Iowa Landlord-Tenant Law – Otherwise known as a “Legislative Guide” and provided by the Iowa Legislative Services Agency.
- Rental Housing Handbook for Landlords and Tenants – Provided by Home Inc.