Make your Free
Iowa Eviction Notice

If you own or manage property in Iowa, you can use an Eviction Notice to warn a renter of upcoming legal action if they will not abide by the agreed-upon terms and conditions of the rental contract that they signed or do not move out as requested. Creating this official notice can help to re-set expectations with the tenant and put the arrangement back in good standing. That said, in some situations, there is no resolution, and going to court is unavoidable. Suited for all types of residential property, our Eviction Notice for Iowa can be used by any landlord with tenants in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and in all other cities across the Hawkeye State.

Generally speaking, the answer is yes, and you may use an Iowa Eviction Notice (specifically known as a 3-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Rent) to initiate the process. However, as a result of COVID-19, there are some limitations and special protections in place for tenants who have been unable to pay rent. Despite the fact that the extended eviction moratorium has been struck down at the federal level, the state of Iowa has the authority to create and enforce its own guidelines for residential evictions. Keep up with the current developments for Iowa or consult a local lawyer, if you remain uncertain.

In order to file an eviction lawsuit in Iowa, you should always provide a Notice of Eviction. Here are a few situations where you might need to use one:

• The tenant is behind on their rent or they are habitually late to pay
• The tenant is using your property illegally
• The tenant gets a cat or dog and your lease contains a no-animals clause
• The tenant gets a subletter in breach of the lease terms
• The tenant has caused substantial damage
• The tenant creates a nuisance or disturbs the quiet enjoyment of their neighbors

Outside of violations, tenants typically may be evicted for reasons unrelated to a fault of their own. For instance, when the landlord intends to move in. Please keep in mind the list presented above isn't exhaustive and the legally permitted reasons for tenant eviction are subject to change. If you've got any doubts related to Iowa eviction laws, you can talk to an attorney.

When ready, you can click the button labeled "Make document" to take a closer look at our Iowa Eviction Notice sample and preview the questions that you will need to answer to generate your eviction letter. To build your IA Notice to Vacate, you'll usually need the following information:

• The location and description of the property
• The renter's contact information
• How long the tenant has to address the situation
• Which terms in the lease have been violated
• For what period(s) of time rent has gone unpaid (if applicable)

Of course, if the tenants are not at fault for the eviction, you have the ability to provide more context. Additional adjustments and edits are allowed, if needed. It will be very important to confirm that all of the policies and terms noted in the Eviction Notice are actually present in the fully executed tenancy agreement.

The law often changes over time and the actual eviction process can be fairly complex, especially for a first-timer. In certain cases, there might be different requirements depending on how long the tenant has been in the unit and the reason for eviction. Consequently, it is strongly recommended that all property owners contact a local eviction attorney before serving a Notice of Eviction.

If you want to write a free IA Eviction Notice online with Rocket Lawyer, simply begin the process by clicking on the button that says "Make document." After gathering the answers to a few questions, Rocket Lawyer will build an Iowa Eviction Notice that is customized for your needs. This solution, in many cases, will be notably more affordable and convenient than hiring and working with a conventional provider.

The fees associated with hiring and working with a law firm to draft a Notice of Eviction might be between hundreds of dollars and thousands, depending on the level of complexity. Different from the other websites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers more than an eviction template. If you decide to proceed with a lawsuit, your membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney. If you wish to know what the full cost of an eviction might be, you will need to consider the cost of filing court documents, lawyer fees, the value of unrecovered rent payments, storage and cleaning fees, and lastly, the money and time spent on finding a replacement tenant.

The duration of the eviction process for Iowa renters usually depends on the notice period required, as well as the overall volume of proceedings that are being held concurrently. Here's a general explanation of Iowa notice periods:

• Past-due rent: 3-day notice
• Violation of rental agreement: 7-day notice
• No cause: 30-day notice

Following your pre-defined notice period, an eviction can still take from 3 to 8 weeks. It is important to note that in particular kinds of housing, for instance where rent payments are subsidized by the government, the notice period is often even longer.

While you may prefer to make a Notice to Quit without assistance, most property owners who bring tenants to court will have a lawyer represent them. Having someone double-check the document could take longer than you'd expect if you do it on your own. An easier approach worth consideration is to get help via the On Call network. Rocket Lawyer members are able to ask for guidance from an On Call attorney with experience in real estate matters or ask additional legal questions. As a property owner or manager, you can work confidently knowing that Rocket Lawyer is by your side.

After completing an Iowa Eviction Notice with Rocket Lawyer, you can get to it anytime, on any device. You are encouraged to interact with it by editing it, printing it, or making a copy of it. You will need to sign and date the notice before it is served on the tenant(s). Your Iowa Eviction Notice includes an affidavit of service so that you'll have clear documentation of its delivery. You have a few options available for serving the notice:

• Use a process server
• Send it through certified mail with a return receipt
• Deliver the notice in person

Please remember that "self-help" evictions are illegal in Iowa or any other state. You cannot padlock the doors, turn off utilities, remove property, or in any way attempt to intimidate your tenant(s) in order to remove them. Taking the appropriate lawful actions before and during the eviction proceedings will give you the best chance of removing tenants successfully under an official court order.