Iowa Eviction Notice Templates (5)

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An Iowa eviction notice is used to notify a tenant that their landlord intends to terminate the lease agreement within a certain number of days. The document will state the reason for the eviction and the date by which the tenant must move out. In most cases, the form will provide the tenant with the opportunity to remedy the situation.

Iowa Eviction Notice Templates (5)

An Iowa eviction notice is used to notify a tenant that their landlord intends to terminate the lease agreement within a certain number of days. The document will state the reason for the eviction and the date by which the tenant must move out. In most cases, the form will provide the tenant with the opportunity to remedy the situation.

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Last updated July 24th, 2024

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An Iowa eviction notice is used to notify a tenant that their landlord intends to terminate the lease agreement within a certain number of days. The document will state the reason for the eviction and the date by which the tenant must move out. In most cases, the form will provide the tenant with the opportunity to remedy the situation.

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Eviction Notices: By Type (5)

3-Day Notice to Quit | Non-Payment – Notifies a tenant that they have defaulted on rent and have three days to pay the landlord.

 

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3-Day Notice to Quit | Clear and Present Danger – If a tenant causes or threatens harm to another individual, a landlord may terminate the lease with this 3-day notice.

 

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7-Day Notice to Terminate | Non-Compliance – Informs a tenant that they have committed a material non-compliance and must remedy the situation within seven days.

 

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30-Day Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Lease – A lease termination letter used to end a monthly lease agreement.

 

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3-Day Notice to Quit – If a tenant does not move out on their own accord after having been served a 7-day or 30-day notice to quit, the landlord can deliver this 3-day notice as a final warning.

 

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Notice Requirements

  • Grace Period for Rent = Not mentioned in state statutes.
  • Non-Payment of Rent – 3 days.[1]
  • Lease Non-Compliance – 7 days.[2]
  • Periodic Tenancy Termination – 30 days.[3]
  • Clear and Present Danger – 3 days.[4]

How to Evict a Tenant in Iowa

Step 1 – Serve Notice to Quit

An eviction action in Iowa (called a “forcible entry and detainer”) can be pursued by a landlord if the tenant breaks the terms of the lease. Before filing for eviction, the landlord must first serve a notice to quit on the tenant.

Step 2 – Serve 2nd Notice to Quit (If Applicable)

If the notice to quit is for non-compliance or month-to-month lease termination, and the notice has expired without action, the landlord cannot immediately file a forcible entry and detainer action without first serving a second 3-Day Notice to Quit.

Step 3 – File a Case on EDMS

The landlord can commence the eviction process if the tenant remains on the premises after the notice period expires and hasn’t remedied the problem (if possible).

Forcible entry and detainer suits are handled by small claims court and can be filed online at the Iowa Judicial Branch eFiling web portal. The following steps must be completed if the landlord does not yet have an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) account:

  1. Visit the eFiling portal and click “Request Account.”
  2. Read the user agreement, click “I have read, understand, and agree to comply…” checkbox, and click “Submit.”
  3. Select your user role and click “Next.”
  4. Complete all the required fields with the appropriate personal information and click “Submit.”
Before the landlord can file a petition for forcible entry and detainer, they must file a new case on their EDMS account. Once logged into their EDMS account, the user will click the button labeled “New Case.” Once this button has been clicked, the website will lead the user through a series of steps to complete the process of filing a new case.
The Iowa court provides these instructions that can be referenced throughout the stages of filing.

Step 4 – File Petition for Forcible Entry and Detainer

Once an EDMS account has been registered and a new case has been filed, the landlord can complete Form 3.6 and Form 3.27. If the landlord is requesting money for damages or past due rent, they can also complete Form 3.1. A filing fee will be charged at the time of filing.
All completed documents, along with Form 3.11, will be on the landlord’s “My Filings” page on their eFiling account. A hearing date will be set by the court clerk no later than eight days after the filing date.

Step 5 – Serve Notices

The original Notice for Forcible Entry and Detainer form and the Appearance and Answer form must be downloaded and delivered to the tenant at least three days before the hearing date.

The documents must be served on the tenant by the county sheriff’s department in one of the following manners:

  • The documents are hand-delivered to the tenant in person.
  • If the tenant cannot be located, the documents can be handed to a resident who is at least 18. The tenant must sign an acknowledgment of service at least three days before the hearing.
  • After two unsuccessful attempts at serving the tenant, the documents can be posted on the front door of the property and copies mailed to the tenant’s last known address.

Step 6 – Hearing

The tenant must register for an EDMS account and upload their completed Appearance and Answer of Defendant form to the online portal. EDMS will send a copy of this form to the landlord or their attorney.
If the tenant accepts the landlord’s claim, judgment may be entered without a hearing. If the tenant denies all or a part of the landlord’s claim, the hearing will take place at the date and time set by the clerk.

Step 7 – Judgment

The judge will make their final judgment after hearing the testimony from all the parties. If the tenant wins the case, they will not have to vacate the premises. If the judge rules in favor of the landlord, the tenant will have to remove themselves from the premises. The sheriff’s department is in charge of overseeing the removal of the tenant and their property.

Sources

  1. § 562A.27(2)
  2. § 562A.27(1)
  3. § 562A.34(2)
  4. § 562A.27A