Iowa Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
When renting property, landlords typically turn to one of two common lease types: fixed-term and month-to-month. While fixed-term leases have specified end dates, Iowa month-to-month lease agreements create a “tenancy-at-will” and can be a desirable option for those who want a more flexible living agreement.
Iowa month-to-month leases for residential property renew automatically at the end of each month and can be terminated by the landlord or tenant at any time by following the state’s landlord-tenant laws.
And while Iowa month-to-month lease agreements, sometimes called “rental agreements,” don’t have a specific set length, they must still abide by all local laws and mandatory disclosures.
Iowa Month-to-Month Lease Agreement
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Iowa Month-to-Month Lease Laws
Since Iowa month-to-month lease agreements must still follow all applicable landlord-tenant laws, we’ll review some essential elements of those laws in this guide, including:
- Mandatory landlord disclosures
- Notice to terminate a month-to-month lease
- Notice to increase rent on a month-to-month lease
- Handling and returning security deposits
- Pet deposits and pet rent
- Rent grace period and late fees
Required Landlord Disclosures (4)
The Iowa state legislature requires that landlords include certain disclosures within all lease agreements, including:
- Lead paint: Federal law requires Iowa landlords to disclose any knowledge or presence of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards on properties built before 1978.
- Shared utilities: If an Iowa landlord splits utility payments between rental units, they must disclose how they plan to divide the amounts between residents (Iowa Code § 562A.13).
- Superfund sites: If a property is listed within the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLA), the landlord must disclose that to the tenant (Iowa Code § 562A.13).
- Landlord contact: The landlord must disclose the name, address, and phone numbers responsible for managing the rental property to the tenant (Iowa Code § 562A.13).
Required Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Agreement
As there is no set end date on an Iowa month-to-month lease agreement, state landlord-tenant law determines the minimum notice that either party should issue to terminate the agreement.
Required notice for the landlord: At least 30 days of written notice.
Required notice for the tenant: At least 30 days of written notice (Iowa Code § 562A.34).
Rent Increase Laws
No laws in Iowa implement rent control, so landlords can raise rent however much they feel the rental market can support. But Iowa’s lack of rent control doesn’t mean there aren’t guidelines for raising rent.
For fixed-term leases, Iowa landlords cannot raise the rent until the end of the lease term unless a clause in the lease states otherwise. For month-to-month leases, landlords must give the tenant at least 30 days of written notice and 90 days if the property is in a mobile home park (Iowa Code § 562A.34), (Iowa Code § 562A.34).
Rent Payment Laws
Grace period: Iowa has no mandatory grace period for late rent payments.
Late rent fees: Landlords in Iowa can charge late fees for late rent, but restrictions tied to the overall rent amount exist. For rent payments of $700 or less, landlords can assess late fees of up to $12 per day. For rent exceeding $700 per month, landlords can charge up to $20 per day (Iowa Code § 562A.9).
Tenant’s right to withhold rent: If a landlord fails to remedy an issue with the property that materially affects the tenant’s health and safety after 7 days of receiving notice, the tenant may be able to terminate the lease, recover damages, or obtain injunctive relief (Iowa Code § 562A).
Pet rent laws: Iowa landlords can charge pet rent with no statutory limit.
Security Deposit Rules
Maximum security deposit: Landlords in Iowa can collect up to 2 months’ rent for security deposits (Iowa Code § 562A.12).
Security deposit receipt: In Iowa, the landlord is not legally required to give the tenant a security deposit receipt.
Interest: While not required, if the landlord keeps the security deposit in an interest-bearing account, the landlord must pay the tenant that interest after five years of tenancy but can keep interest earned until that point (Iowa Code §562A.12).
Deduction tracking: If the landlord deducts funds from the security deposit for things like unpaid rent or repairs, they must provide a detailed list of the deductions when returning the remaining funds (Iowa Code §562A.12).
Returning a tenant’s security deposit: The landlords must return the security deposit to the tenant within 30 days of the move-out date (Iowa Code §562A.12).
Failure to provide forwarding address: If no forwarding address is provided by the tenant to the landlord within one year of vacating the premises, the landlord may keep the security deposit (Iowa Code §562A.12(4)).
Pet deposit rules: Iowa landlords can charge a pet deposit, but the overall amount, combined with the security deposit, cannot exceed 2 months’ rent.
Property Access Regulations
Advance notice: Iowa landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours of notice before entering the unit (Iowa Code § 562A.19).
Immediate access: If an emergency threatens the tenant’s or rental unit’s health and safety, the landlord may enter without providing advance notice (Iowa Code § 562A.19).
Landlord harassment: If a landlord in Iowa harasses the tenant by repeatedly entering the unit without notice, the tenant can pursue a court order to ban the landlord from entering, recover attorney fees, or recoup the cost of any actual damages (Iowa Code § 562A.35).
Rental Agreement Violations
Missed rent payment: Once rent is late, Iowa landlords can issue a 3-day Notice to Pay or Quit (Iowa Code § 562A.27).
Lease violation: If the tenant violates the lease, the landlord can issue the tenant a 7-day Notice to Cure or Quit (Iowa Code § 562A.27).
Self-help evictions: Iowa landlords that wish to remove a tenant must follow the legal process, as self-help evictions are illegal.
Lease abandonment: If a tenant abandons their lease early and without cause, they may be responsible for paying the remaining rent left on the lease until the landlord re-rents the unit.
Iowa Month-to-Month Lease Agreement FAQs
What is an Iowa month-to-month lease agreement?
An Iowa month-to-month lease agreement creates a tenancy-at-will and will renew at the end of every month until otherwise terminated.
What’s the difference between a fixed-term lease and a month-to-month agreement?
A fixed-term lease has a stated end date and cannot be terminated by the landlord or tenant except under specific circumstances dictated by the state legislature. A month-to-month rental agreement is a flexible arrangement that either landlords or tenants can terminate by providing proper notice at any time.
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How can you end an Iowa month-to-month lease agreement?
Landlords and tenants can terminate Iowa month-to-month lease agreements by giving the other party 30 days of written notice.
