Iowa Code Sec. 562A.15 requires landlords to keep rental units fit and habitable, comply with codes affecting health and safety, maintain common areas and major systems, and supply running water, reasonable hot water and heat. Tenants may terminate after a 7-day cure window (Sec. 562A.21) or repair and deduct for lost essential services (Sec. 562A.23).
Iowa Code Sec. 562A.15(1) requires the landlord to 'make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition,' comply with codes 'materially affecting health and safety,' keep common areas clean and safe, maintain all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating and air-conditioning facilities, and 'supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat.' If the landlord materially breaches, the tenant may serve written notice under Sec. 562A.21 terminating the agreement in not less than seven days if the breach is not cured. For lost heat, water or essential services, Sec. 562A.23 lets the tenant procure the service and deduct the cost, recover reduced rental value, or recover rent paid pro rata.
Tenants may terminate after a 7-day uncured breach (Sec. 562A.21), recover damages and injunctive relief, and for lost essential services repair-and-deduct or recover diminished rental value (Sec. 562A.23); a willful breach allows recovery of reasonable attorney fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
polk-county-ia
Polk County allows backyard composting but regulates it through the Health Nuisance Regulation: a compost pile that harbors vermin, produces offensive odors,...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance for or against artificial turf on residential lots. Installation on unincorporated land is generally unrestricted; cities and HO...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance banning native or prairie landscaping, and the county promotes native roadside vegetation. The one legal limit: your planting ca...
polk-county-ia
Iowa has no state ban on collecting rainwater, and Polk County sets no rain-barrel ordinance. Residents may capture roof runoff in barrels or cisterns; only ...
polk-county-ia
Polk County sets no lawn-watering schedule. Central Iowa's water is managed by Central Iowa Water Works / Des Moines Water Works, which can impose voluntary ...
polk-county-ia
Iowa Code 317.10 requires every landowner to destroy all noxious weeds on their land as directed by the county board of supervisors. Polk County's Weed Commi...
See how West Des Moines's repairs & habitability rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.