Iowa (IA) lease form
Iowa residential leases are governed by the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law, codified at Iowa Code Chapter 562A. While Iowa permits both oral and written agreements, a written lease is the only way to create a fixed-term tenancy - oral agreements default to month-to-month under Iowa Code Section 562A.9. Landlords who knowingly include prohibited clauses expose themselves to tenant claims for actual damages plus up to three months' periodic rent and attorney fees under Iowa Code Section 562A.11.
Revun generates a Iowa-ready lease with the required disclosures and clauses built in, then handles e-signature, rent, and renewals on the same platform.
Required by federal law (42 U.S.C. 4852d) for all residential properties built before 1978. Landlord must disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide tenants with the EPA-approved pamphlet 'Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home' before the lease is signed.
Iowa Code Section 562A.13(1) requires landlords to disclose in writing, at or before the start of the tenancy, the name and address of (a) the person authorized to manage the premises, and (b) an owner of the premises or a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner for service of process and receiving notices and demands. This information must be kept current and extends to successor landlords and managers.
Iowa Code Section 562A.13(4) requires the landlord or their authorized agent to fully explain utility rates, charges, and services to the prospective tenant before the rental agreement is signed, unless the tenant will pay the utility company directly. This applies to any utility that is billed through the landlord or shared across units.
Iowa Code Section 562A.13(6) requires landlords to disclose in writing before the tenancy begins if the property is listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This disclosure is unique to Iowa among URLTA-adopting states.
Iowa Code Section 562A.13(5) requires landlords to provide written notice of any rent increase at least 30 days before the effective date, and the effective date may not be earlier than the expiration of the current rental agreement or renewal period.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law, Iowa Code Chapter 562A. Confirm current requirements or consult an attorney before finalizing a lease.
Iowa lease FAQ
Iowa landlords must provide four core disclosures: (1) the name and address of the landlord or authorized manager in writing before the tenancy begins (Iowa Code Section 562A.13(1)); (2) a full explanation of utility rates and services for any utility not paid directly by the tenant (Section 562A.13(4)); (3) written disclosure if the property is listed on the EPA CERCLA Superfund site database (Section 562A.13(6)); and (4) the federal lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet for any housing built before 1978. Landlords must also give at least 30 days written notice before any rent increase.
Iowa does not require a written lease for all residential tenancies. Iowa Code Section 562A.9 permits oral rental agreements, which are treated as month-to-month tenancies by default. However, a written lease is the only way to establish a fixed term. For any tenancy longer than month-to-month, landlords should always use a written agreement signed by all parties.
Iowa Code Section 562A.9(4) caps late fees based on the monthly rent amount. For rent under $700 per month, late fees cannot exceed $12 per day or $60 per month. For rent over $700 per month, the cap is $20 per day or $100 per month. Iowa does not require a grace period before charging a late fee, but many landlords include one voluntarily. Any late fee above these caps is unenforceable.
Iowa Code Section 562A.11 prohibits several lease clauses including: waivers of tenant rights under Chapter 562A; exculpatory clauses shielding landlords from their own negligence; tenant obligations to pay the landlord's attorney fees; confession of judgment provisions; indemnification clauses requiring tenants to cover the landlord's liability; and any prohibition on a tenant's lawful possession of a firearm within their private rental unit. Landlords who knowingly include prohibited clauses face tenant claims for actual damages plus up to three months' rent and attorney fees.
Partially. Iowa Code Section 562A.11 makes it illegal to include a lease clause that prohibits or restricts a tenant's lawful ownership, use, or possession of a firearm, firearm component, or ammunition within the tenant's own private rental unit. That clause is void and unenforceable. A landlord may, however, impose reasonable restrictions on firearm possession and transportation in common areas such as hallways, parking lots, and shared spaces, as long as those restrictions do not effectively nullify the tenant's in-unit rights.
