Iowa Residential Lease Agreement Form
Surrounded by great rivers and rolling plains, this Midwestern state is a great place to live. Thinking of moving to Iowa? You’ll need a realtor and a residential agreement form.
What is an Iowa residential agreement form? The form is a simple legal document that details the terms and conditions of a rental property’s lease. It is the next step to tenancy after the rental application has been approved and a routine background check has been performed.
Upon accepting an application to lease from an interested tenant, the residential lease agreement form is drafted and signed by both parties. A standard template should include the landlord and the tenant’s responsibilities.
In general, the landlord needs to ensure that the real estate property is safe and habitable. If there are damages, the landlord should have them fixed. They must also provide a list of the people who are allowed on the estate, including pets (if any). The tenant, on the other hand, must agree to the terms stipulated, including the amount of the rent and its timely payment.
You can get a fillable and printable residential lease agreement form online.
Required Disclosures
In Iowa, there are certain disclosures with which landlords must provide their tenants. These disclosures affect the living conditions, health, and safety of the lessee.
Lead-based Paint Disclosure
Lead-based paints are known to release volatile organic compounds (VOC) that have adverse health effects when inhaled. Though they were banned in 1978, structures built before that year may still have lead-based paint.
This is why if a property for rent has lead-based paint on its walls, the landlord must furnish the tenant with a written lead-based paint disclosure that describes its risks (42 U.S. Code § 4852d).
CERCLA Disclosure
CERCLA (Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act) is designed to reduce the amount of contaminants and pollutants in the environment. It puts the responsibility of cleaning up contaminated property on the landowner.
If the property for lease in Iowa is part of the CERCLA directory (more commonly referred to as Superfund), the landlord must disclose the fact to their tenant (Iowa Code § 562A.13(6); 2004 Iowa Acts ch. 1071).
Shared Utility Meter Disclosure
If the leased property has shared utility meters and/or amenities, the tenant must be given notice of the fact. This disclosure will help the tenant understand if there are utility and other payments that will be charged to them during their lease (IA Code §§ 562A.13(4), 562B.14(6)).
Rent Grace Period
There are no guidelines or laws dictating the terms of a rent grace period in Iowa.
However, if a tenant fails to pay their monthly rent, a late fee may be charged by the landlord. In Iowa, the most a landlord can charge for a late fee is $12 per day or $60 per month as long as the rent is lower than $700 per month (IA Code § 562A).
Security Deposits
A landlord cannot ask for more than two months’ rent as a security deposit, and they must keep it in a separate and insured account. If there is damage to the room or property beyond regular wear and tear, the landlord can use the security deposit for repairs. However, they must give the tenant a list and breakdown of the expenses incurred.
If the tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord can also use the security deposit as payment for unpaid rent. Then, 30 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must return the deposit (IA Code § 562A.12).