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Free Iowa Cash for
Keys Agreement Template

Last reviewed September 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

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Iowa Cash for Keys Agreement

This Cash for Keys Agreement is built with Iowa as the governing state. These are the Iowa landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

Iowa rules at a glance

Iowa rules for a Cash for Keys Agreement
Security deposit limit2 months’ rentIowa Code §562A.12(1)
Deposit return30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant’s mailing addressIowa Code §562A.12(3)
Month-to-month termination30 days’ written notice before a rental dateIowa Code §562A.34(2)
Nonpayment eviction notice3 days’ written notice to payIowa Code §562A.27(2)
Nonpayment of rentThe landlord gives written notice that the lease will end unless rent is paid within 3 days (§562A.27(2)).
Lease violationsA material noncompliance gets a 7-day notice to cure; a repeat of the same breach within six months can be terminated on 7 days’ notice without another chance to cure (§562A.27(1)).

Security deposits in Iowa

An Iowa landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months’ rent (§562A.12(1)). The statute calls it a “rental deposit,” and it stays the tenant’s money while the landlord holds it.

  • How it’s held — Deposits must be kept in a federally insured bank, savings and loan, or credit union and can’t be commingled with the landlord’s personal funds. A common trust account is allowed, and interest earned during the first five years of a tenancy belongs to the landlord (§562A.12(2)).
  • Return deadline — Within 30 days of the tenancy ending and the landlord receiving the tenant’s mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or send a written statement giving the specific reason for any amount withheld (§562A.12(3)).
  • Allowed deductions — Only unpaid rent or other sums due under the lease, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and the cost of recovering possession from a tenant who fails to leave in bad faith. The landlord carries the burden of proving each deduction (§562A.12(3)).
  • No forwarding address — If the tenant never supplies a mailing address within one year of the tenancy ending, the deposit reverts to the landlord (§562A.12(4)).
  • Penalties — Missing the 30-day statement forfeits all right to withhold anything; bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent on top of actual damages (§562A.12(4), (7)).

Ending an Iowa tenancy

Periodic tenancies end with written notice timed to the rental period. For a lease longer than month-to-month, either side must give 30 days’ written notice before the end of the term (§562A.34(3)).

Notice to end an Iowa tenancy (§562A.34)
Week-to-week10 days before the termination date
Month-to-month30 days before the periodic rental date
Term longer than month-to-month30 days before the end of the term
  • Nonpayment of rent — The landlord gives written notice that the lease will end unless rent is paid within 3 days (§562A.27(2)).
  • Lease violations — A material noncompliance gets a 7-day notice to cure; a repeat of the same breach within six months can be terminated on 7 days’ notice without another chance to cure (§562A.27(1)).
  • Clear and present danger — For assault, illegal weapon use, or illegal drug possession on the premises, a single 3-day notice to quit is enough (§562A.27A).
  • Serving notice — Iowa lists the approved methods — hand delivery, posting on the main entry door with the date posted, or mailing by both regular and certified mail, among others (§562A.8).
  • Military — An active-duty servicemember with qualifying orders may terminate under the federal SCRA (50 U.S.C. §3955).

Iowa Cash for Keys Agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Iowa?

No more than two months’ rent (Iowa Code §562A.12(1)). The deposit must be held in a federally insured bank, savings and loan, or credit union and can’t be mixed with the landlord’s personal funds (§562A.12(2)).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Iowa?

Within 30 days once the tenancy has ended and the landlord has received the tenant’s mailing address or delivery instructions. The landlord must return the deposit or send a written statement of the specific reasons for any deduction; missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold anything (§562A.12(3)–(4)).

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