An Iowa lease agreement is a document detailing a residential or commercial rental arrangement between a landlord and a tenant. Before the landlord accepts an individual or business entity for tenancy, they will collect all the necessary information and perform background checks to ensure the applicant is a suitable candidate. A lease agreement will be presented to the new tenant so they can read through the provisions to ensure they understand and agree to all the terms and conditions. Both parties must sign the document for it to be valid and legally binding.

Rental Application – This form is used by landlords of residential property to collect information on potential tenants in order to determine their eligibility for tenancy.

Contents Lease Agreements: By Type (6) Commercial Lease Rent-to-Own Agreement Month-to-Month Lease Roommate Agreement Standard (1-year) Lease Sublease Agreement Disclosures (4) Landlord-Tenant Laws Landlord’s Access Rent Security Deposits

Agreements: By Type (6)

Commercial Lease Agreement – This agreement allows landlords to rent out commercial space to businesses.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

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Rent-to-Own Agreement (Lease Option) – An agreement that gives the tenant the option to buy the piece of residential property after they have resided in the unit as a tenant.

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Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – This rental contract is used by landlords and tenants who have agreed to enter into an arrangement wherein the tenant pays rent on a monthly basis but both parties can terminate the agreement at any time (as long as proper notice is given).

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Roommate Agreement – An agreement between individuals living together that wish to set down on paper the amount of rent each will pay, the division of the cost of the security deposit, and other important conditions of sharing a lease.

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Sublease Agreement – A sublease is between a tenant who is renting residential property from a landlord and a subtenant who wishes to rent all or a portion of the rented space from the original tenant. (Landlord permission is always recommended.)

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Disclosures (4) CERCLIS Identification Lead-Based Paint Shared Utilities

1) CERCLIS Disclosure If a rental property is listed in the “Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Information System” (CERCLIS), the landlord must disclose this fact in writing to the tenant. Laws: § 562A.13(6)

2) Identification The agreement should mention the name and address of the manager, and the owner/representative thereof authorized to receive service of process, notices, and demands. Laws: § 562A.13(1)

3) Lead-Based Paint Disclosure This disclosure must be completed by the landlord and given to tenants before signing a lease agreement if the rental property was built before 1978. Download: PDF

4) Shared Utilities The landlord must explain utility rates, charges, and services to tenants unless the tenant is responsible for their own utilities. Laws: § 562A.13(4)

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Landlord-Tenant Laws

• Title XIV, Chapter 562A – Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law – PDF Version
• Legislative Guide – Landlord-Tenant Law (PDF)

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Landlord’s Access

General Access (§ 562A.19(3)) – The landlord shall give the tenant twenty-four (24) hours’ notice before entering the premises for non-emergency purposes.

Emergency Access (§ 562A.19(2)) – The landlord may enter the premises without providing notice to the tenant in the case of an emergency.

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Rent

Grace Period – No statute.

Maximum Fees ($) (§ 562A.9(4)) – The maximum late fees that landlords may demand are twelve dollars ($12) per day if the monthly rent is seven hundred dollars ($700) or less or twenty dollars ($20) per day if the rent is more than seven hundred dollars ($700).

Rent Increase Notice (§ 562A.13(5)) – Thirty (30) days’ written notice must be provided to tenants if the landlord wishes to increase rent.

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Security Deposits

Maximum Amount ($) (§ 562A.12(1)) – The maximum security deposit that can be demanded from a tenant is the equivalent of two (2) months’ rent.

Returning to Tenant (§ 562A.12(3)(a)) – The landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant within thirty (30) days from the move-out date.

Interest Required? (§§ 562A.12(2)) – Interest on security deposits is permitted, not required.

Separate Bank Account? (§ 562A.12(2)) – Yes, security deposits must be held in a separate bank account and cannot be combined with the landlord’s personal funds.