Iowa 7-Day Notice to Cure or Quit / 30-Day Notice of Termination (Material Noncompliance)

IOWA SEVEN-DAY NOTICE TO CURE OR QUIT / NOTICE OF TERMINATION FOR MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE — IOWA CODE § 562A.27(1)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Notice Caption and Identification of Parties
2. Identification of the Premises
3. Specification of the Acts or Omissions Constituting the Breach
4. Statutory Election — 7-Day Cure / 30-Day Termination
5. What Constitutes Cure
6. Reservation of Rights and Non-Waiver
7. Notice to Tenant of Iowa Statutory Rights
8. Federal CARES Act and Subsidized-Housing Compliance
9. Local Ordinance Compliance
10. Signature of Landlord or Authorized Agent
11. Proof / Affidavit of Service
12. Iowa Practice Notes
13. Sources and References

1. NOTICE CAPTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES

STATE OF IOWA — COUNTY OF [________________________________]

SEVEN-DAY NOTICE TO CURE OR NOTICE OF TERMINATION FOR MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE WITH RENTAL AGREEMENT

Pursuant to Iowa Code § 562A.27(1)

Date of Notice: [__/__/____]

Date of Receipt by Tenant (deemed or actual): [__/__/____]

2. IDENTIFICATION OF THE PREMISES

The premises subject to this Notice are described as:

[FULL STREET ADDRESS, INCLUDING UNIT / APARTMENT NO.]
[CITY], [COUNTY] COUNTY, IOWA [ZIP]

Together with all improvements, parking, storage, and common-area rights granted under the rental agreement dated [__/__/____] (the "Lease").

3. SPECIFICATION OF THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS CONSTITUTING THE BREACH

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that you are in material noncompliance with the Lease and/or in noncompliance with Iowa Code § 562A.17 in the following specific respects:

Lease Provision(s) Violated: [PARAGRAPH NO., SECTION REFERENCE, AND VERBATIM QUOTATION]

Statutory Provision(s) Violated (if applicable): ☐ § 562A.17(1) (compliance with health/safety codes); ☐ § 562A.17(2) (cleanliness); ☐ § 562A.17(3) (proper use of facilities); ☐ § 562A.17(4) (no waste, no nuisance, no disturbance of neighbors); ☐ § 562A.17(5) (compliance with rules); ☐ § 562A.17(7) (controlled-substance prohibition, where applicable).

Specific Acts or Omissions (with dates, times, and witnesses):

1. Date / Time: [__/__/____] at [____:____ a.m./p.m.]
   Description: [DETAILED FACTUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ACT OR OMISSION]
   Witnesses / Evidence: [________________________________]

2. Date / Time: [__/__/____] at [____:____ a.m./p.m.]
   Description: [DETAILED FACTUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ACT OR OMISSION]
   Witnesses / Evidence: [________________________________]

3. Date / Time: [__/__/____] at [____:____ a.m./p.m.]
   Description: [DETAILED FACTUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ACT OR OMISSION]
   Witnesses / Evidence: [________________________________]

Materiality. The Landlord asserts that the foregoing acts or omissions are material to the Lease and to the Tenant's compliance with Iowa Code § 562A.17, in that: [EXPLAIN MATERIALITY — e.g., recurring nuisance preventing peaceful enjoyment by other tenants, health-code violation, structural damage, unauthorized occupant in violation of a specific lease provision, pet in violation of a no-pet covenant absent qualifying assistance-animal accommodation request, etc.].

4. STATUTORY ELECTION — 7-DAY CURE / 30-DAY TERMINATION

The Landlord makes the following election under Iowa Code § 562A.27(1) (check exactly one):

☐ A. STANDARD 7-DAY CURE / TERMINATION ON DATE CERTAIN.
You have SEVEN (7) DAYS after receipt of this Notice within which to remedy the breach described in Section 3. If the breach is not remedied in seven (7) days, the Lease will terminate on [__/__/____] (the "Termination Date"), which is not less than seven (7) days after receipt of this Notice. If the breach is remediable and you adequately remedy the breach before the Termination Date, the Lease shall NOT terminate.

☐ B. CONSERVATIVE 7-DAY CURE / 30-DAY TERMINATION (RECOMMENDED DEFAULT).
You have SEVEN (7) DAYS after receipt of this Notice within which to remedy the breach described in Section 3. If the breach is not remedied in seven (7) days, the Lease will terminate on [__/__/____] (the "Termination Date"), which is thirty (30) days after receipt of this Notice. If the breach is remediable and you adequately remedy the breach before the Termination Date, the Lease shall NOT terminate. If the breach is not remedied within seven days, you must surrender possession of the Premises on or before the Termination Date.

☐ C. NO-CURE TERMINATION FOR RECURRING BREACH WITHIN 6 MONTHS — Iowa Code § 562A.27(3).
The Landlord previously served you with a § 562A.27(1) notice on [__/__/____] (attached as Exhibit A) for substantially the same act or omission described in Section 3. The current breach has recurred within six (6) months. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 562A.27(3), this Notice TERMINATES the Lease without opportunity to cure on [__/__/____], which is not less than seven (7) days after receipt of this Notice. You must surrender possession on or before that date.

The seven-day cure clock and the Termination Date both run from receipt of this Notice. Receipt is calculated under Iowa Code § 562A.6:

• Personal delivery or acknowledged household-member delivery — date of delivery.
• Personal service per Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305 — date of service.
• Posting + first-class mail + certified mail — four (4) days after postmark.

5. WHAT CONSTITUTES CURE

Adequate cure of the breach described in Section 3 requires the following actions on the Tenant's part (check all that apply and complete):

☐ Cease the conduct described in Section 3 immediately and permanently;

☐ Remove all unauthorized occupants by [__/__/____];

☐ Remove all unauthorized animals or pets by [__/__/____] (subject to assistance-animal exception under Iowa Code § 216.8B and 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f));

☐ Repair / restore / clean the following conditions: [________________________________];

☐ Pay damages of $[________] for property destruction described in Section 3;

☐ Surrender any duplicate keys / unauthorized locks by [__/__/____];

☐ Provide written confirmation to the Landlord that the breach has been cured by [__/__/____];

☐ Other: [________________________________].

If the breach described is non-remediable (e.g., one-time material destruction of property, criminal act on premises), the Landlord notes that no cure is possible and the Lease will terminate on the Termination Date.

6. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS AND NON-WAIVER

Nothing in this Notice shall be construed as:

(a) A waiver of any past or future breach;

(b) An election of remedies precluding the Landlord from pursuing damages, attorney fees, costs, or other relief in addition to recovery of possession;

(c) Consent to continued occupancy beyond the Termination Date;

(d) A waiver of the Landlord's rights to serve additional notices for additional breaches; or

(e) A waiver of any other right under the Lease, Iowa Code Chapter 562A, Chapter 648, or applicable law.

The Landlord expressly RESERVES all rights and remedies, including under Iowa Code §§ 562A.27, 562A.27A, 562A.32, and Chapter 648.

7. NOTICE TO TENANT OF IOWA STATUTORY RIGHTS

Right to Cure. Iowa Code § 562A.27(1) preserves your tenancy if you adequately cure the specified breach within seven (7) days of receipt of this Notice (and, in any event, before the Termination Date) — except that for a recurring breach within six (6) months under § 562A.27(3), no cure is available.

Right to Reasonable Accommodation. Tenants with disabilities have rights under the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f), the Iowa Civil Rights Act, Iowa Code § 216.8, and Iowa Code § 216.8B (assistance and service animals). If the alleged breach involves an animal, an unauthorized occupant providing care, or a modification you require because of a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation. The Landlord may not deny a reasonable accommodation absent undue financial or administrative burden, fundamental alteration, or direct threat.

Right Against Self-Help Eviction. Iowa Code § 562A.26 prohibits lockouts, removal of belongings, and utility shutoffs without a court order. Damages: actual damages + punitive damages up to twice monthly rent + attorney fees + recovery of possession.

Habitability Defense. Iowa Code § 562A.15 requires the Landlord to maintain the premises in fit and habitable condition. Defective habitability may constitute a defense or offset in a subsequent FED action.

Anti-Retaliation. Iowa Code § 562A.36 prohibits retaliation within ONE YEAR after a good-faith complaint to a building/housing-code agency, a complaint to the Landlord under § 562A.15, or organizing/joining a tenants' union.

Anti-Discrimination. Iowa Code § 216.8 (Iowa Civil Rights Act) and 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. (federal Fair Housing Act) prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, familial status, and (in some Iowa localities) source of income.

Iowa Legal Aid. Free or low-cost legal assistance: 1-800-532-1275 or iowalegalaid.org.

Iowa Civil Rights Commission. To file a housing discrimination complaint: 1-800-457-4416 or icrc.iowa.gov.

Emergency Rental Assistance. Call 211 or visit iowafinance.com for current rental-assistance programs.

8. FEDERAL CARES ACT AND SUBSIDIZED-HOUSING COMPLIANCE

The Landlord certifies one of the following (check exactly one):

☐ The premises are NOT a "covered dwelling" under 15 U.S.C. § 9058(a)(2).

☐ The premises ARE a "covered dwelling" under 15 U.S.C. § 9058(a)(2). The Termination Date specified in Section 4 is at least thirty (30) days after delivery, satisfying the federal CARES Act 30-day notice-to-vacate requirement.

☐ The premises participate in: ☐ HUD project-based ☐ Section 8 HCV ☐ LIHTC (Section 42) ☐ USDA Rural Development ☐ HOME ☐ Other federal program: [__________]. The Landlord has complied with all applicable program-specific good-cause and notice requirements.

9. LOCAL ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE

The Landlord certifies that this Notice complies with all applicable local ordinances:

☐ City of Des Moines / Polk County rental ordinances.

☐ City of Iowa City / Johnson County rental permit and source-of-income protections.

☐ City of Cedar Rapids / Linn County ordinances.

☐ City of Davenport / Scott County rental code.

☐ Other: [________________________________].

10. SIGNATURE OF LANDLORD OR AUTHORIZED AGENT

DATED this [____] day of [______________], 20[____].

Landlord / Authorized Agent Signature: ____________________________________

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Title / Capacity: ☐ Landlord ☐ Owner ☐ Property Manager ☐ Attorney for Landlord ☐ Other: [________]

Mailing Address: [________________________________]

Telephone: [____________]

Email: [________________________________]

11. PROOF / AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, being first duly sworn, state that on [__/__/____] at approximately [____:____ a.m./p.m.], I served the foregoing Notice upon the Tenant(s) by the following method (Iowa Code § 562A.6):

☐ Personal delivery to the Tenant or to a household member at least eighteen (18) years of age, with acknowledged signed receipt of delivery (attached).

☐ Personal service under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305, by [NAME, BADGE/ID NO.], [SHERIFF / PROCESS SERVER / OTHER].

☐ Posting on the primary entrance door of the dwelling unit AND mailing by first-class regular mail AND certified mail to the dwelling unit address AND last known address. Service deemed complete four (4) days after postmark.

Address of dwelling unit: [________________________________]

Tenant's last known address: [________________________________]

Certified mail tracking no.: [________________________________]

Postmark date: [__/__/____]

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

____________________________________
Signature of Server

Printed Name: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [______________], 20[____].

____________________________________
Notary Public, State of Iowa
My commission expires: [__/__/____]

12. IOWA PRACTICE NOTES

The two-step Iowa structure is unusual. Most URLTA states use a single 14-day or 10-day cure-or-quit notice. Iowa § 562A.27(1) requires both a 7-day cure window AND a separately specified termination date "not less than seven days after receipt." Best practice is a 30-day termination date paired with the 7-day cure window — this satisfies the statute, the federal CARES Act (where applicable), and provides defensible scheduling at FED hearing.

Specificity beats brevity. The most common ground for dismissal of an FED based on § 562A.27(1) is failure to "specify the acts and omissions constituting the breach." Provide dates, times, witnesses, and exact lease language. Magistrates routinely refuse to allow plaintiffs to expand allegations at trial beyond what was specified in the notice.

Six-month recurring-breach window. Iowa Code § 562A.27(3) is a powerful but narrowly construed tool. The recurrence must be "substantially the same act or omission." Re-litigating a different lease violation does not qualify. Always attach the prior § 562A.27(1) notice as proof.

Clear and present danger is separate. Iowa Code § 562A.27A requires only a 3-day notice — no cure — for physical assault, illegal weapons, or controlled substances. Use that template, NOT this one, for those grounds.

Subsidized housing. HUD project-based housing requires notice on HUD-50066 or 50059 and good cause. Section 8 HCV requires good-cause notice with vouchers. LIHTC requires good cause under § 42(h)(6)(B)(i). Always check the federally subsidized lease addendum.

Mobile home parks. Iowa Code Chapter 562B governs manufactured-home communities and provides separate cure-or-quit mechanics under § 562B.25.

HF 305 / preemption. Iowa Code § 562A.4 generally preempts local landlord-tenant regulation, but several Iowa cities (Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport) maintain rental licensing regimes that survive preemption. Verify current ordinances before service.

Verify 2025–2026 amendments. Iowa enacted SF 2268 (2024) on assistance animal documentation. Verify all current Ch. 562A and Ch. 216 amendments before service.

13. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 562A.27, "Noncompliance with rental agreement": https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/562a.27.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 562A.27A, "Termination for creating a clear and present danger": https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/562A.27A.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code Chapter 562A (full text): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/562a.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 562A.17 (tenant obligations): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/562a.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 562A.36, "Retaliatory conduct prohibited": https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/562A.36.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 562A.15, "Landlord to maintain fit premises": https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/562A.15.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code Chapter 648, Forcible Entry and Detainer: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/648.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 216.8 (housing discrimination): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/216.8.pdf
• Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code § 216.8B (assistance/service animals): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/216.8B.pdf
• Iowa Judicial Branch, "What is a Notice to Quit?": https://www.iowacourts.gov/faq/what-is-a-notice-to-quit
• Iowa Legislative Services Agency, Landlord-Tenant Law Legislative Guide: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LG/15814.pdf
• Iowa Legal Aid, Landlord and Tenant Q&A: https://iowalegalaid.org/resource/landlord-and-tenant-law-questions-and-answers/
• Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Assistance Animals fact sheet: https://icrc.iowa.gov/media/269/download
• Federal Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview
• CARES Act § 4024, 15 U.S.C. § 9058: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748