Iowa Residential Lease Agreement
A free Iowa lease template, plus what Iowa law requires a lease to include, attach or leave out — each with the statute. Use it as a starting point; landlords with unusual situations should have a lawyer review the final lease.
Disclosures Iowa requires
| Manager and owner/agent | At or before the start of the tenancy, the landlord must tell the tenant in writing the name and address of (1) the person authorized to manage the premises and (2) an owner, or a person authorized to accept legal papers, notices and demands for the owner. This information must be kept current and binds any later landlord, owner or manager. A person who fails to disclose becomes the landlord's agent for receiving legal papers and for carrying out the landlord's duties. Applies to: all residential rental agreements covered by ch. 562A Source: Iowa Code § 562A.13(1)-(3) |
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| Utilities | Before the lease is signed, the landlord must fully explain utility rates, charges and services to the prospective tenant, unless the tenant pays the utility company directly. Applies to: all residential rental agreements where the landlord bills or includes utilities Source: Iowa Code § 562A.13(4) |
| Superfund (CERCLIS) listing | Before the tenancy starts, the landlord must tell each tenant in writing if the property is listed in the federal EPA's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS). Applies to: properties on the EPA CERCLIS list Source: Iowa Code § 562A.13(6) |
| Deposit held in insured account | All rental deposits must be held for the tenant in a federally insured bank, savings and loan or credit union and may not be mixed with the landlord's personal funds. Interest earned in the first five years of a tenancy belongs to the landlord. The statute does not require the bank's name to be disclosed in the lease. Applies to: all residential rental agreements with a deposit Source: Iowa Code § 562A.12(2) |
Terms Iowa law requires or controls
| Late fee cap | If rent is $700 a month or less, the lease may not set a late fee above $12 per day or $60 per month. If rent is more than $700 a month, the late fee may not exceed $20 per day or $100 per month. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.9(4) |
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| Security deposit cap | The landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.12(1) |
| Default rent terms | Unless the lease says otherwise, rent is payable at the unit, without demand or notice, at the start of each month (or each term of one month or less), and is apportioned day to day. If no rent is agreed, the tenant owes fair rental value. If the lease does not set a definite term, the tenancy is month-to-month (week-to-week for a roomer paying weekly). Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.9(2), (3), (5) |
| Rent increases | Each tenant must get written notice of a rent increase at least 30 days before it takes effect, and the increase cannot take effect before the original lease (or a renewal or extension) ends. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.13(5) |
| House rules | A landlord's rules bind the tenant only if they are written, serve tenant safety/welfare or protect the property, are reasonably related to that purpose, apply fairly to all tenants, are clear enough to follow, do not evade the landlord's duties, and the tenant had notice of them when signing. A rule adopted later binds the tenant only with reasonable notice and if it does not substantially change the lease. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.18 |
| Tenant repair agreements | In a single-family home, landlord and tenant may agree in writing, in good faith, that the tenant handles trash removal, water/heat supply duties and specified repairs or maintenance. In other units, such an agreement must be in good faith, in a separate writing signed by both, supported by adequate consideration, and must not reduce the landlord's duties to other tenants; the landlord may not make it a condition of the lease. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.15(2)-(4) |
Clauses that are void in Iowa
| Waiving tenant rights | A lease may not have either party agree to waive or give up rights or remedies under the Iowa landlord-tenant law. (Exception: single-family homes on agricultural land in unincorporated areas.) Applies to: all residential rental agreements except the agricultural single-family exception Source: Iowa Code § 562A.11(1)(a) |
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| Confession of judgment | A lease may not authorize anyone to confess judgment on a claim arising from the lease. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.11(1)(b) |
| Attorney fees | A lease may not require either party to pay the other party's attorney fees. (A court may still award reasonable attorney fees to the winner in a lawsuit on the lease.) Applies to: all residential rental agreements |
| Liability waivers and indemnity | A lease may not excuse or limit either party's legal liability, or require one party to indemnify the other for that liability or its costs. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.11(1)(d) |
| Penalty for prohibited clauses | A prohibited clause is unenforceable. If a landlord knowingly uses a lease with prohibited clauses, the tenant may recover actual damages, up to three months' rent, and reasonable attorney fees. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.11(3) |
| Firearm bans in subsidized housing | If the landlord receives USDA rural rental assistance or HUD Section 8 payments (housing choice voucher, new construction, substantial or moderate rehabilitation programs), the lease may not ban or restrict lawful ownership, use or possession of firearms, firearm parts or ammunition inside the tenant's unit, unless federal or state law requires it. Reasonable limits in common areas are allowed. Applies to: landlords receiving the listed federal rental assistance Source: Iowa Code § 562A.11(2) |
| Limits on calling police or emergency help | A landlord may not prohibit or limit a tenant's or resident's right to call police or emergency help for a crime or abuse victim or anyone in an emergency, or charge fees, fines or threaten eviction for doing so. Any waiver of this right is void. The landlord may still recover the cost of repairing damage caused by the responders. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.27B(1) |
| Landlord liens on household goods | A landlord lien on the tenant's household goods is unenforceable (unless perfected before January 1, 1979), and distraint for rent is abolished. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.31 |
| Unconscionable terms | A court may refuse to enforce a lease, or any clause of it, that was unconscionable when made. Applies to: all residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.7 |
Format and delivery rules
| Unsigned lease | If the tenant signs and delivers a written lease and the landlord does not sign it but accepts rent without reservation, the lease takes effect as if the landlord signed. The same applies if the tenant does not sign but moves in without reservation. A lease given effect this way lasts no more than one year. Applies to: all written residential rental agreements Source: Iowa Code § 562A.10 |
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| Copy of lease | No Iowa statute requires the landlord to give the tenant a signed copy of the lease. The manager/owner and CERCLIS disclosures must be in writing. Applies to: all residential rental agreements |
Fill in the lease
Nothing you type leaves your browser. Bracketed items are yours to complete; clauses marked as required by Iowa law must be written to meet the rule shown above.
1. Parties. This lease is between [landlord name] ("Landlord") and [tenant name(s)] ("Tenant"). Landlord's address for notices: [landlord notice address].
2. Property. Landlord rents to Tenant the home at [rental address], including [parking, storage, appliances included].
3. Term. The lease begins on [start date] and ends on [end date]. [If month-to-month instead: the tenancy continues month to month until either side gives the written notice Iowa law requires.]
4. Rent. Rent is $[monthly rent] per month, due on the [due day] day of each month, paid by [payment method] to [where to pay].
5. Late fee. If rent is not received by [late day], a late fee of $[late fee] is due. This fee must comply with Iowa law (Iowa Code § 562A.9(4)).
6. Security deposit. Tenant pays a security deposit of $[deposit amount], within the Iowa limit (Iowa Code § 562A.12(1)). Landlord will return it, minus lawful deductions with any required itemized list, within the time Iowa law sets (Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)-(4)).
7. Utilities. Tenant pays: [utilities tenant pays]. Landlord pays: [utilities landlord pays].
8. Occupants and guests. Only these people may live in the home: [names of all occupants]. Guests may stay up to [guest limit] unless Landlord agrees in writing.
9. Pets. [No pets allowed / Pets allowed: describe, plus any pet deposit or fee]. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are not pets and are handled under fair housing law.
10. Repairs and maintenance. Landlord keeps the home safe and fit to live in and makes repairs required by law. Tenant keeps the home clean, reports problems promptly in writing, and pays for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
11. Landlord entry. Landlord may enter for repairs, inspections or showings after giving the notice Iowa law requires (Iowa Code § 562A.19), except in an emergency.
12. Subletting. Tenant may not sublet or assign this lease without Landlord's written consent, which [will / will not] be unreasonably withheld.
13. Ending the lease. At the end of the term, [the lease ends / the lease renews month to month] unless either side gives written notice at least [notice days] days before the end date, and never less than Iowa law requires.
14. Late fee cap. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "Late fee cap" above (Iowa Code § 562A.9(4)).)
15. Security deposit cap. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "Security deposit cap" above (Iowa Code § 562A.12(1)).)
16. Default rent terms. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "Default rent terms" above (Iowa Code § 562A.9(2), (3), (5)).)
17. Rent increases. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "Rent increases" above (Iowa Code § 562A.13(5)).)
18. House rules. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "House rules" above (Iowa Code § 562A.18).)
19. Tenant repair agreements. (Write this clause to meet Iowa law: see "Tenant repair agreements" above (Iowa Code § 562A.15(2)-(4)).)
20. Disclosures attached. Landlord has given Tenant these disclosures required by Iowa law: Manager and owner/agent; Utilities; Superfund (CERCLIS) listing; Deposit held in insured account. [Attach each one.]
21. Lead paint (homes built before 1978). If the home was built before 1978, Landlord has given Tenant the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."
22. Whole agreement. This lease and its attachments are the whole agreement. If any part is not allowed by law, the rest still applies. Changes must be in writing and signed by both sides.
Landlord: [landlord name] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
Tenant: [tenant name(s)] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.