Iowa Code § 562A.1
Short title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act”.
Iowa Code Chapter 562A — Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law
Iowa · statute · Iowa Code ch. 562A · 41 active provisions
Iowa Code § 562A.2
Purposes — rules of construction
1. This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies. 2. Underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are: a. To simplify, clarify, modernize and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and obligations of landlord and tenant; and b. To…
Iowa Code § 562A.3
Supplementary principles of law applicable
Unless displaced by the provisions of this chapter, the principles of law and equity in this state, including the law relating to capacity to contract, mutuality of obligations, principal and agent, real property, public health, safety and fire prevention, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake,…
Iowa Code § 562A.4
Administration of remedies — enforcement
1. The remedies provided by this chapter shall be administered so that the aggrieved party may recover appropriate damages. The aggrieved party has a duty to mitigate damages. 2. A right or obligation declared by this chapter is enforceable by action unless the provision declaring it specifies a different and limited e…
Iowa Code § 562A.5
Exclusions from application of chapter
Unless created to avoid the application of this chapter, the following arrangements are not governed by this chapter: 1. Residence at an institution, public or private, if incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or similar service. 2. Occupancy under a contrac…
Iowa Code § 562A.6
General definitions
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent articles of this chapter which apply to specific articles or its parts, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter: 1. “Building and housing codes” include a law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the con…
Iowa Code § 562A.7
Unconscionability
1. If the court, as a matter of law, finds that: a. A rental agreement or any provision of it was unconscionable when made, the court may refuse to enforce the agreement, enforce the remainder of the agreement without the unconscionable provision, or limit the application of an unconscionable provision to avoid an unco…
Iowa Code § 562A.8
Notice
1. Notices required under this chapter, except those notices identified in section 562A.29A, shall be served as follows: a. A landlord shall serve notice on a tenant by one or more of the following methods: 1. Hand delivery to the tenant. 2. Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated b…
Iowa Code § 562A.8A
Computation of time
The calculation of all time periods required under this chapter shall be made in accordance with section 4.1, subsection 34.
Iowa Code § 562A.9
Terms and conditions of rental agreement
1. The landlord and tenant may include in a rental agreement, terms and conditions not prohibited by this chapter or other rule of law including rent, term of the agreement, and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties. 2. In absence of agreement, the tenant shall pay as rent the fair rental…
Iowa Code § 562A.10
Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement
1. If a landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to the landlord by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord. 2. If a tenant does not sign and deliver a w…
Iowa Code § 562A.11
Prohibited provisions in rental agreements
1. A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant or landlord does any of the following: a. Agrees to waive or to forego rights or remedies under this chapter provided that this restriction shall not apply to rental agreements covering single family residences on land assessed as agricultural land and located in…
Iowa Code § 562A.12
Rental deposits
1. A landlord shall not demand or receive as a security deposit an amount or value in excess of two months’ rent. 2. All rental deposits shall be held by the landlord for the tenant, who is a party to the agreement, in a bank or savings and loan association or credit union which is insured by an agency of the federal g…
Iowa Code § 562A.13
Disclosure
1. The landlord or a person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on behalf of the landlord shall disclose to the tenant in writing at or before the commencement of the tenancy the name and address of: a. The person authorized to manage the premises. b. An owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for a…
Iowa Code § 562A.14
Landlord to supply possession of dwelling unit
At the commencement of the term, the landlord shall deliver possession of the premises to the tenant in compliance with the rental agreement and section 562A.15. The landlord may bring an action for possession against a person wrongfully in possession and may recover the damages provided in section 562A.34, subsection…
Iowa Code § 562A.15
Landlord to maintain fit premises
1. a. The landlord shall: 1. Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety. 2. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition. 3. Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe conditio…
Iowa Code § 562A.16
Limitation of liability
1. Unless otherwise agreed, a landlord, who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser, is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring subsequent to written notice to the tenant of the conveyance.…
Iowa Code § 562A.17
Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
The tenant shall: 1. Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety. 2. Keep that part of the premises that the tenant occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permit. 3. Dispose from th…
Iowa Code § 562A.18
Rules
1. A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules, however described, concerning the tenant’s use and occupancy of the premises. A rule is enforceable against the tenant only if it is written and if: a. Its purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants in the premises, preserve the landlord’s…
Iowa Code § 562A.19
Access
1. The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mort…
Iowa Code § 562A.20
Tenant to use and occupy
Unless otherwise agreed, the tenant shall occupy the dwelling unit only as a dwelling unit and uses incidental thereto. The rental agreement may require that the tenant notify the landlord of an anticipated extended absence from the premises not later than the first day of the extended absence.
Iowa Code § 562A.21
Noncompliance by the landlord — in general
1. Except as provided in this chapter, if there is a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with section 562A.15 materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may elect to commence an action under this section and shall deliver a written notice to the landlord specifyin…
Iowa Code § 562A.22
Failure to deliver possession
1. If the landlord fails to deliver possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant as provided in section 562A.14, rent abates until possession is delivered and the tenant shall: a. Upon at least five days’ written notice to the landlord, terminate the rental agreement and upon termination the landlord shall return all…
Iowa Code § 562A.23
Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water or essential services
1. If contrary to the rental agreement or section 562A.15 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water, hot water, or heat, or essential services, the tenant may give written notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may: a. Procure reasonable amounts of hot water, running water, heat a…
Iowa Code § 562A.24
Landlord’s noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent
1. In an action for possession based upon nonpayment of the rent or in an action for rent where the tenant is in possession, the tenant may counterclaim for an amount which the tenant may recover under the rental agreement or this chapter. In that event the court from time to time may order the tenant to pay into court…
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