An Iowa sublease agreement lets tenants rent their place to a subtenant without ending the original lease. The initial tenant remains responsible for rent and any breach of terms by the subtenant. Subleasing is allowed unless the original lease prohibits it.
While Iowa law doesn’t demand prior approval, notifying the landlord through certified mail is recommended for maintaining a good relationship.
Laws & Requirements
Sublease and Assignment Provision Laws: No.
Landlord-Tenant Laws: Chapter 562A of the Iowa Code (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law).
Security Deposit Obligations: The sublessor must return the security deposit within 30 days of the end of the sublease.
Notices: In Iowa, sublessors must give subtenants three days’ written notice to pay rent or leave. They also need to provide 30 days’ written notice of their intent not to renew the sublease as well as the original lease.
Permission to Sublet
In Iowa, tenants need written permission from their landlord to sublet their rental.
- Laws: Iowa doesn’t have specific laws about a tenant’s right to sublet. The lease agreement determines if subletting is allowed.
- Explicit Written Consent: Yes, unless the lease states otherwise.
- Landlord’s Right to Reject: The landlord can only deny subleasing requests for reasonable reasons if their permission is required first.
Tax Obligations
Lodgings Tax
- 5% state hotel tax [1]
- Additional city or county tax if they sublet a property for 32 days or less. (varies by location)
Making Payments
- Nearly all taxes at the state, county, and city levels are gathered by the state and are electronically submitted through the GovConnectIowa website.
Sample
You can download an Iowa sublease agreement template below in PDF or Word format:
Related Forms
Rental Application
Vet potential tenants properly before signing a lease.