Iowa Repair Request Letter to Landlord
A free Iowa repair request letter to landlord that follows Iowa law. Fill in the boxes, check the rules below, then print or copy it. Keep a copy and proof of how you sent it.
What Iowa law says
| Repair and deduct | Limited. (1) If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, or essential services, the tenant may give written notice and procure them and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent. (2) In a nonpayment eviction it is a defense, and the cost is deducted from rent claimed, if the tenant gave at least 7 days' notice before the rent due date of intent to fix a lease/§ 562A.15 violation, the reasonable cost was no more than one month's rent, and the repair was made in good faith before the landlord's termination notice. |
|---|---|
| Withholding rent | No general right to withhold rent. In a nonpayment possession action, the tenant may counterclaim for amounts owed by the landlord; the court may order rent paid into court and decides the net amount due. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.24 |
| Landlord retaliation | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an action for possession after the tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a § 562A.15 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. Tenant may recover actual damages and attorney fees and has a defense to eviction. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.36 |
| Heat | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. |
| Mold | No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. |
Fill in your letter
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To: [landlord or manager name], [landlord address]
From: [your name], tenant at [rental address]
I am asking you to repair the following problems at my rental: [describe each problem, where it is, and when it started].
I first reported this on [date first reported] by [phone, text, email, portal or letter].
Please make these repairs by [date]. You may enter to make repairs after giving the notice required by law; times that work for me: [access times].
Iowa law protects tenants from retaliation for asking for repairs (Iowa Code § 562A.36).
Date: [today's date]
Tenant: [your name]
Signature: ____________________
How to send it: use a method you can prove — certified mail with return receipt, or email/text if your lease allows notices that way. Write down the date.
Repair Request Letter to Landlord templates for other states · All Iowa landlord-tenant rules · Free legal help in Iowa
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.