Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.12
Separation of rents and obligations to maintain property forbidden
Operative Text
A rental agreement, assignment, conveyance, trust deed or security instrument shall not permit the receipt of rent, unless the landlord has agreed to comply with section 562B.16, subsection 1.
Iowa Code § 562B.12 establishes that any rental agreement, assignment, conveyance, trust deed, or security instrument is prohibited from allowing a landlord to collect rent unless that landlord has agreed to meet the habitability and maintenance obligations set out in § 562B.16(1). In other words, the right to receive rent is legally tied to the landlord's commitment to maintain the property to the required standard. The rule prevents landlords from structuring agreements in ways that separate rent collection from their duty to keep the property habitable.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562B.12, a landlord's ability to collect rent through any rental agreement or related instrument is conditioned on having agreed to comply with the maintenance and habitability duties described in § 562B.16(1). Compliant operators ensure that every rental agreement, deed, or security instrument they use reflects this commitment rather than attempting to waive or sidestep it. Property managers who review their standard lease forms for consistency with § 562B.12 are generally better positioned to avoid disputes over the validity of rent collection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562B.12 gives tenants a meaningful connection between rent obligations and a landlord's duty to maintain the property: rent collection is only lawful under agreements that include the landlord's commitment to § 562B.16(1) habitability standards. If a landlord attempts to collect rent under an agreement that lacks this commitment, tenants may have grounds to raise a violation of § 562B.12 as a defense in a rent-related proceeding. Tenants who believe their agreement may not comply with this provision can consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options generally available under Iowa law.
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