An Iowa lease termination notice form is an official legal document provided to either the tenant or the landlord informing them that the tenancy is ending. If rent is paid monthly, then at least 30 days notice must be provided before the tenancy can end.
Types of Iowa Lease Termination Notice Forms
| Notice Form | Lease Type |
| 10 Day Notice to Vacate | Weekly |
| 30 Day Notice to Vacate | Monthly / Longer Term |
Iowa 10 Day Notice to Vacate
An Iowa 10 Day Notice to Vacate is an official form used by either party to terminate a week-to-week lease. This notice may also be used for tenants with no written lease that pay rent weekly. There is no option to continue the arrangement and the tenancy will end within ten (10) calendar days.
Iowa 30 Day Notice to Vacate
An Iowa 30 Day Notice to Vacate is an official lease termination letter designed to end a month-to-month lease or to terminate a lease for a term longer than month-to-month. This notice may also be used for tenants that do not have a written lease that pay rent monthly or for tenants with an expired lease. The letter must be provided by either party at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the end date specified in the notice.
How to Write a Lease Termination Notice in Iowa
For a lease termination notice to be legally compliant:
- State who the legal letter is addressed to (use full name of the receiving party).
- Include the termination date of the lease or tenancy.
- Fill in the full address of the rental premises.
- For tenants, provide your new address and an updated phone number.
- Sign the notice and print your name.
- For landlords, include contact information, such as address and phone number.
- Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery along with printed name and signature.
Without this information on the lease termination notice, a judge may not be able to proceed with legal action.
How to Calculate Expiration Date in Iowa
A lease termination letter takes effect the day after it is served. Lease termination letters must be delivered at least the legally required number of calendar days in advance of the termination date. For example, with a month-to-month lease, to terminate the tenancy on June 30th, the letter must be served by either party before June 1st.
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 following judicial day (a day when the courthouse is open).
How to Serve a Lease Termination Notice in Iowa
A landlord or a tenant may deliver lease termination notices in Iowa using any of the below acceptable methods:
- Handing the notice to the other party in person;
- Handing the notice to a person who can accept the legal letter on behalf of the other party;
- Mailing the notice by regular AND certified mail with a return receipt.
When sending the notice by regular and certified mail, add four (4) calendar days to the notice period to account for variability in post office delivery times.
Sources
- 1 IA Code § 562A.34
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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.
Source Link - 2 IA Code § 562A.34
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The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice.
The landlord or the tenant may terminate a tenancy having a term longer than month-to-month by a written notice given to the other at least thirty days prior to the end of the first or subsequent term of the tenancy specified in the notice.
Source Link - 3 IA Code § 562A.8
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Notices required under this chapter, except those notices identified in section 562A.29A, shall be served as follows:
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 acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by a resident of the dwelling unit who is at least eighteen years of age. Delivery under this subparagraph shall be deemed to provide notice to all tenants of the dwelling unit.
(3) Personal service pursuant to
rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules
, for the personal service of original notice.
(4) Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the dwelling unit or to an address provided by the tenant for mailing.
(5) Posting on the primary entrance door of the dwelling unit. A notice posted according to this subparagraph shall be posted within the applicable time period for serving notice and shall include the date the notice was posted.
(6) A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the tenant.
A tenant shall serve notice on a landlord by one or more of the following methods:
(1) Hand delivery to the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562A.13.
(2) Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562A.13.
(3) Personal service pursuant to
rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules
, for the personal service of original notice.
(4) Delivery to an employee or agent of the landlord at the landlord’s business office.
(5) Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the landlord’s business office or to an address designated by the landlord for mailing.
(6) A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the landlord.
Source Link - 4 IA Code § 562A.8
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Notice served by mail under this section is deemed completed four days after the notice is deposited in the mail and postmarked for delivery, whether or not the recipient signs a receipt for the notice.
Source Link