In Iowa, in order for an eviction notice to be legal, it must contain certain information about the tenancy and violation committed. If any appropriate details are missing and the case proceeds to court, the case may be postponed or dismissed by a judge.
Step 1: List Tenants’ Full Names
All adult tenants’ names must be included. It is important to make sure each adult household member is named individually if the landlord has to move forward with the eviction process.
Step 2: List Full Address
The full address for the rental premises must be included for legal purposes. This is extremely important so there is no confusion later in the eviction process when the court returns possession of the premises to the landlord.
Step 3: Include Grounds for Eviction
Include the reason why the tenant is facing eviction.
- For nonpayment of rent, include the total balance due for the current rental period plus any past delinquencies.
- For a lease violation, the tenant must have a clear understanding of the infraction and whether or not it can be corrected.
- For an incurable breach, indicate the specific breach or illegal conduct.
In some cases, even with lease violations or an incurable breach, the tenant may owe a balance due, which shall also be provided in the notice.
Step 4: Calculate and Include Termination Date
This date must be included on all notices and is the date by which tenants must pay a rent balance due, cure a lease violation or the date the tenants must vacate the premises.
In Iowa, an eviction notice takes effect the day after it is served. All days are counted during the notice period. If the last day of the notice period falls on a weekend or legal holiday, then the notice period will not officially expire until the end of the next judicial day (not counting weekends or legal holidays).
Step 5: Include Date Notice Served
This date is very important for a couple of reasons. For purposes of counting the proper number of days in the notice period, the date the notice is served is required. In addition, it tells the court when the notice was delivered to the tenants.
Step 6: Landlord’s Signature and Printed Name
The landlord must sign and print their name on the notice to make it effective and legally compliant. Like all legal documents, the notice must be signed or it will not be enforced in court and the landlord will have to begin the eviction process over.
Step 7: Landlord’s Address and Phone Number
The landlord’s contact information gives the tenant a way to reach the landlord or drop off a payment for a balance due. In addition, the contact information provided must be a reliable method of contacting the landlord throughout the duration of the eviction process.
Iowa Eviction & Lease Termination Notice Forms
| Notice Form | Grounds |
| 3 Day Notice to Quit | Eviction for Unpaid Rent |
| 3 Day Notice of Termination | Eviction for Incurable Breach
(Clear & Present Danger) |
| 7 Day Notice to Comply or Vacate | Eviction for Lease Violation |
| 7 Day Notice to Vacate | Eviction for Incurable Breach (Repeat Lease Violation) |
| 10 Day Notice to Vacate | Ending a Weekly Lease / No Lease |
| 30 Day Notice to Vacate | Ending a Monthly or Longer Lease / No Lease |
Sources
- 1 Iowa Court Rules of Civil Procedure - Time - Rule 4.1
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Time—legal holidays. In computing time, the first day shall be excluded and the last Iowa Code 2022, Section 4.1 (17, 1) Mon Dec 06 18:08:43 20213 CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES, §4.1 included, unless the last falls on Sunday, in which case the time prescribed shall be extended so as to include the whole of the following Monday. However, when by the provisions of a statute or rule prescribed under authority of a statute, the last day for the commencement of an action or proceedings, the filing of a pleading or motion in a pending action or proceedings, or the perfecting or filing of an appeal from the decision or award of a court, board, commission, or official falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, a day on which the office of the clerk of the district court is closed in whole or in part pursuant to the authority of the supreme court, the first day of January, the third Monday in January, the twelfth day of February, the third Monday in February, the last Monday in May, the fourth day of July, the first Monday in September, the eleventh day of November, the fourth Thursday in November, the twenty-fifth day of December, and the following Monday when any of the foregoing named legal holidays fall on a Sunday, and any day appointed or recommended by the governor of Iowa or the president of the United States as a day of fasting or thanksgiving, the time shall be extended to include the next day which the office of the clerk of the court or the office of the board, commission, or official is open to receive the filing of a commencement of an action, pleading or a motion in a pending action or proceeding, or the perfecting or filing of an appeal.
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