Iowa Code ch. 562A § 562A.21
Noncompliance by the landlord — in general
Operative Text
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 written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in seven days, and the rental agreement shall terminate and the tenant shall surrender as provided in the notice subject to the following: a. If the breach is remediable by repairs or the payment of damages or otherwise, and if the landlord adequately remedies the breach prior to the date specified in the notice, the rental agreement shall not terminate. b. If substantially the same act or omission which constituted a prior noncompliance of which notice was given recurs within six months, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement upon at least seven days’ written notice specifying the breach and the date of termination of the rental agreement unless the landlord has exercised due diligence and effort to remedy the breach which gave rise to the noncompliance. c. The tenant may not terminate for a condition caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or other person on the premises with the tenant’s consent. 2. Except as provided in this chapter, the tenant may recover damages and obtain injunctive relief for any noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or section 562A.15 unless the landlord demonstrates affirmatively that the landlord has exercised due diligence and effort to remedy any noncompliance, and that any failure by the landlord to remedy any noncompliance was due to circumstances reasonably beyond the control of the landlord. If the landlord’s noncompliance is willful the tenant may recover reasonable attorney fees. 3. The remedy provided in subsection 2 is in addition to any right of the tenant arising under subsection 1. 4. If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all prepaid rent and security recoverable by the tenant under section 562A.12.
Iowa Code § 562A.21 addresses what happens when a landlord materially fails to comply with a rental agreement or with habitability standards. Under this provision, a tenant may serve written notice giving the landlord at least seven days to fix the problem, and if the landlord does not, the rental agreement can be terminated. Tenants may also pursue damages or injunctive relief, and willful noncompliance by the landlord can trigger an award of reasonable attorney fees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562A.21, property owners and managers are expected to respond promptly and substantively when they receive a written notice of breach from a tenant, because adequate remediation within the seven-day window generally prevents lease termination. Operators who document their repair efforts and demonstrate due diligence may have an affirmative defense against damage claims, particularly when delays stem from circumstances outside their control. Repeated occurrences of the same violation within six months carry heightened risk, so compliant operators typically maintain records showing ongoing corrective action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562A.21 gives tenants a structured path when a landlord materially breaches the rental agreement or fails to maintain habitable conditions: a written notice specifying the problem and a termination date at least seven days out starts the clock for the landlord to act. If the landlord does not remedy the issue in time, tenants may have grounds to terminate the lease and seek return of prepaid rent and security deposits, and separately may pursue damages or injunctive relief through the courts. Tenants whose landlords willfully fail to comply may also be entitled to reasonable attorney fees, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what options exist under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation