Iowa Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

An Iowa month-to-month rental agreement is a contract (not necessarily in writing) for a tenant to rent property from a landlord, one month at a time, in exchange for a fee (“rent”). The agreement renews monthly, until either party gives proper notice to end it.

Basics of an Iowa Month-to-Month Rental Agreement

In Iowa, a landlord and tenant create a month-to-month lease by agreeing to rent a property according to acceptable terms. Written agreements are clearer and more reliable in case of disagreement, but month-to-month oral (unwritten) leases are legal.

Parties under a month-to-month lease have full rights under Iowa landlord-tenant law. The tenant must use the property in a responsible way and pay rent on time. The landlord must ensure the tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the property. This includes keeping critical features of the property in good working condition.

The main difference between a month-to-month lease and a fixed-term lease is that month-to-month leases can be terminated (with proper notice) by either party, for any reason, without penalty. Landlords also can usually modify terms from one month to the next, again with proper notice.

Required Disclosures for Month-to-Month Rentals in Iowa

Iowa landlords may not rent a property out without making the following disclosures to a potential tenant, as relevant:

• Landlord’s Name and Address – Iowa landlords must disclose how they divide utility costs up, on properties which share a utility meter with other units. This ensures tenants understand what uses contribute to their bill.
• Shared Utilities – Landlords renting a unit that shares a utility meter with other parts of the property must disclose how utilities are billed for the property.
• CERCLA (Superfund) Disclosure – Iowa leases must provide a disclosure if listed in the directory of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.”
• Lead-Based Paint – Landlords must provide an EPA-approved disclosure and informational pamphlet to tenants renting any property built before 1978.

Required Notice To End a Month-to-Month Rental in Iowa

Iowa lets both the landlord or tenant end a month-to-month lease with at least 30 days of advance notice. [1] In general, it’s valid to end a month-to-month lease for any reason that isn’t landlord retaliation.

Iowa requires written notice to end a month-to-month lease. Delivery must generally be either hand-delivered to the party in question, or mailed to the address of record. If mailed, notice isn’t counted as delivered without a signed delivery receipt from a competent person on the property.

Required Notice To Raise the Rent on a Iowa Month-to-Month Lease

Iowa requires at least 30 days of advance notice to raise the rent. Notice must be in writing. [2]

Eviction in Iowa Month-to-Month Rentals

Iowa tenants may get evicted if they violate lease terms or stay on the property after the notice period allowed by a valid termination. Evictions in Iowa typically take three to eight weeks.

For more information on the eviction process in Iowa, click here.