Iowa Eviction Laws: How to Fight Wrongful Eviction in Iowa
A majority of tenants do not know what to do when slapped with an eviction. However, protect the rights of a tenant against wrongful evictions. The self-help eviction Iowa law, for instance, prohibits landlords from taking the law into their hands when they want a tenant to move out. Iowa law on eviction of unauthorized live-in also protects the rights of the landlord and their property. The laws also guide tenants on how to get back their security deposits from the landlord, how to deal with an eviction threat, as well as how to file complaints against a landlord. Iowa law for roommate eviction also protects subtenants against unlawful eviction by the tenant.
If the eviction laws are violated, the tenant or the roommate can fight the eviction either on their own or through a platform like DoNotPay. If you choose to fight an eviction on your own, you may be required to get an attorney or report to the housing department. Usually, the process of fighting an illegal eviction is long and tedious. However, you can easily fight a wrongful eviction using the automated DoNotPay landlord protection platform. The platform also allows you to deal with a landlord who evicts you without notice, learn how long the landlord can hold your security deposit, as well as understand the repair responsibilities of the landlord.
Eviction Laws in Iowa
The , which are based on the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), protect the rights of the tenant as well as the landlord. Iowa's eviction laws include:
- Iowa tenant law emergency eviction
- Iowa law for eviction when not married
- Iowa law acceptable methods of delivery of eviction notice
- Iowa eviction laws landlord bad property; and
- Iowa eviction laws about cohabitation and eviction in Iowa
Landlords and tenants who live with subtenants are prohibited from carrying out illegal evictions, also known as self-help eviction.
Reasons to Evict Tenant/Be Evicted
A landlord can evict a tenant based on the grounds below:
- Failure to pay rent as agreed in the lease
- A material violation of the lease
- Expiry of the lease
- Or the tenant presents a danger to other renters
Do You Have the Legal Power to Evict Your Roommate in Iowa?
Roommate eviction Iowa is covered by the law, but the methods of eviction depend on whether the roommate appears in the lease or not. If your roommate appears on the lease or is a subtenant, the eviction process is similar to that of a tenant. Tenants-at-will or roommates not appearing on the lease should be given a first and second five-day notice before filing an eviction lawsuit.
What Does the Eviction Process Look Like in Iowa?
The eviction process in Iowa starts with the landlord giving notice of eviction to the tenant. There are three types of eviction notices:
| Type of eviction notice | Details |
| Pay or quit notice | This is normally given to tenants who have defaulted on their rent payment. |
| Cure or quit notice | This is given to renters in violation of the lease. |
| Unconditional quit notice | This is often given to tenants who have a history of a material violation of the lease. |
If the tenant does not respond by paying the rent or correcting the lease violation, the landlord can file a lawsuit for eviction. The court hears both parties to determine whether the tenant should be evicted. In case the tenant loses the case, the court issues an eviction order.
How to Fight an Eviction by Yourself
If you are wrongfully evicted or the eviction is based on illegal grounds such as racial, gender, or disability discrimination, you can dispute the eviction. You can also dispute an eviction if you have paid rent before the expiry of three days or cured lease violation within seven days. To fight the eviction on your own, you either:
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Hire an Attorney
An attorney will help you defend your rights as a tenant or file a complaint about wrongful eviction in a court of law.
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Report the Case to HUD
The housing and urban development department could help you stop an illegal eviction.
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Warn the Landlord
If the eviction is issued as retaliation for demanding repairs or insisting on your rights as a renter, you can warn the landlord that you will fight the eviction through the courts. Most landlords will withdraw the eviction if it was done out of malice.
Although you can fight an illegal eviction on your own, the process may be long and expensive. You can save time and increase your chances of stopping eviction by using the DoNotPay automated Landlord protection service.
How to Fight an Eviction in Iowa with DoNotPay
If you are protesting a wrongful eviction in Iowa but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 4 easy steps:
- Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
- Select which issue applies to you.
- Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
- Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.
And that's it. You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.
Why Use DoNotPay to Fight Wrongful Eviction in Iowa
DoNotPay automated Landlord Protection platform is the first choice for tenants who want a fast, easy and successful way of fighting a wrongful eviction.
DoNotPay Works Across All Companies/Entities/Groups With the Click of a Button
Whether you are fighting a wrongful eviction or want to sue a landlord for security deposit, DoNotPay has you covered. To stop a wrongful eviction, click .