Title XIV, PROPERTY (Ch. 555 - 594A)

1. The landlord or a person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on behalf of the landlord shall disclose to the tenant in writing at or before the commencement of the tenancy the name and address of: a. The person authorized to manage the premises. b. An owner of the prem…

At the commencement of the term, the landlord shall deliver possession of the premises to the tenant in compliance with the rental agreement and section 562A.15 . The landlord may bring an action for possession against a person wrongfully in possession and may recover the damages…

1. a. The landlord shall: (1) Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety. (2) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition. (3) Keep all common areas o…

1. Unless otherwise agreed, a landlord, who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser, is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring subsequent to written…

The tenant shall: 1. Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety. 2. Keep that part of the premises that the tenant occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of…

1. A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules, however described, concerning the tenant’s use and occupancy of the premises. A rule is enforceable against the tenant only if it is written and if: a. Its purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants …

1. The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit t…

1. This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies. 2. Underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are: a. To simplify, clarify, modernize and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and oblig…

Unless otherwise agreed, the tenant shall occupy the dwelling unit only as a dwelling unit and uses incidental thereto. The rental agreement may require that the tenant notify the landlord of an anticipated extended absence from the premises not later than the first day of the ex…

1. Except as provided in this chapter , if there is a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with section 562A.15 materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may elect to commence an action under this section and shall deliver a…

1. If the landlord fails to deliver possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant as provided in section 562A.14 , rent abates until possession is delivered and the tenant shall: a. Upon at least five days’ written notice to the landlord, terminate the rental agreement and upon t…

1. If contrary to the rental agreement or section 562A.15 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water, hot water, or heat, or essential services, the tenant may give written notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may: a. Procure reasonable amo…

1. In an action for possession based upon nonpayment of the rent or in an action for rent where the tenant is in possession, the tenant may counterclaim for an amount which the tenant may recover under the rental agreement or this chapter . In that event the court from time to ti…

1. If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant may: a. Immediately vacate the premises and notify the landlord in writing within fourteen days of the tenant’s …

If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant from the premises or willfully diminishes services to the tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of electric, gas, water, or other essential service to the tenant, the tenant may recover possession pursuant to …

1. Except as provided in this chapter , if there is a material noncompliance by the tenant with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with section 562A.17 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord may deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the acts and omi…

1. Notwithstanding section 562A.27 or 648.3 , if a tenant has created or maintained a threat constituting a clear and present danger to the health or safety of other tenants, the landlord, the landlord’s employee or agent, or other persons on or within one thousand feet of the la…

1. a. A landlord shall not prohibit or limit a resident’s or tenant’s rights to summon law enforcement assistance or other emergency assistance by or on behalf of a victim of abuse, a victim of a crime, or an individual in an emergency. b. A landlord shall not impose monetary or …

If there is noncompliance by the tenant with section 562A.17 , materially affecting health and safety, that can be remedied by repair or replacement of a damaged item or cleaning, and the tenant fails to comply as promptly as conditions require in case of emergency or within seve…

1. If the rental agreement requires the tenant to give notice to the landlord of an anticipated extended absence as provided in section 562A.20 , and the tenant willfully fails to do so, the landlord may recover actual damages from the tenant. 2. During an absence of the tenant i…

1. A written notice of termination required under section 562A.27, subsection 1, 2, or 5 , a notice of termination and notice to quit required under section 562A.27A , a landlord’s written notice of termination to the tenant required under section 562A.34, subsection 1, 2, or 3 ,…

Unless displaced by the provisions of this chapter , the principles of law and equity in this state, including the law relating to capacity to contract, mutuality of obligations, principal and agent, real property, public health, safety and fire prevention, estoppel, fraud, misre…

1. Acceptance of performance by the tenant that varies from the terms of the rental agreement or rules subsequently adopted by the landlord constitutes a waiver of the landlord’s right to terminate the rental agreement for that breach. 2. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a …

1. A lien on behalf of the landlord on the tenant’s household goods is not enforceable unless perfected before January 1, 1979. 2. Distraint for rent is abolished. [C79, 81, §562A.31 ]

If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord may have a claim for possession and for rent and a separate claim for actual damages for breach of the rental agreement and reasonable attorney fees as provided in section 562A.27 . [C79, 81, §562A.32 ] Referred to in §648.19

A landlord may not recover or take possession of the dwelling unit by action or otherwise, including willful diminution of services to the tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of electric, gas, water or other essential service to the tenant, except in case of abando…

1. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least ten days prior to the termination date specified in the notice. 2. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the…

1. If the tenant refuses to allow lawful access, the landlord may obtain injunctive relief to compel access, or terminate the rental agreement. In either case, the landlord may recover actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. 2. If the landlord makes an unlawful entry or a la…

1. Except as provided in this section , a landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession after: a. The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement …

This chapter shall apply to rental agreements entered into or extended or renewed after January 1, 1979. [C79, 81, §562A.37 ]

1. The remedies provided by this chapter shall be administered so that the aggrieved party may recover appropriate damages. The aggrieved party has a duty to mitigate damages. 2. A right or obligation declared by this chapter is enforceable by action unless the provision declarin…

Unless created to avoid the application of this chapter , the following arrangements are not governed by this chapter : 1. Residence at an institution, public or private, if incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or sim…

Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent articles of this chapter which apply to specific articles or its parts, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter : 1. “Building and housing codes” include a law, ordinance, or governmental regulation conc…

1. If the court, as a matter of law, finds that: a. A rental agreement or any provision of it was unconscionable when made, the court may refuse to enforce the agreement, enforce the remainder of the agreement without the unconscionable provision, or limit the application of an u…

1. Notices required under this chapter , except those notices identified in section 562A.29A , shall be served as follows: a. A landlord shall serve notice on a tenant by one or more of the following methods: (1) Hand delivery to the tenant. (2) Delivery evidenced by an acknowled…

The calculation of all time periods required under this chapter shall be made in accordance with section 4.1, subsection 34 . 99 Acts, ch 155, §6, 14

1. The landlord and tenant may include in a rental agreement, terms and conditions not prohibited by this chapter or other rule of law including rent, term of the agreement, and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties. 2. In absence of agreement, the …