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Waverly is a small city of roughly 10,000 residents in Bremer County in northeast Iowa, home to Wartburg College and a mix of long-term residents and student renters. Because of its college-town character, many Waverly residents rent rather than own their homes, and questions about lease terms, security deposits, and eviction procedures are especially common.
All residential rental housing in Waverly is governed by Iowa's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law, Iowa Code Chapter 562A. This state law establishes the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants across the state, covering everything from habitability standards and security deposit rules to eviction procedures and retaliation protections. Waverly has not enacted any local ordinances that add to or modify these state rules.
This article is intended to give Waverly renters a plain-language overview of their legal rights. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed Iowa attorney or contact Iowa Legal Aid.
Waverly has no rent control ordinance, and Iowa state law does not authorize local governments to enact rent control. Iowa Code Chapter 562A — the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law — establishes a statewide framework for the landlord-tenant relationship and does not include any mechanism for municipalities to cap rents or limit rent increases. As a result, there is no rent control anywhere in the state of Iowa.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Waverly may raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the proper advance written notice before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, Iowa Code § 562A.34 requires at least 30 days' written notice before any change in terms — including a rent increase. For tenants with a fixed-term lease, the rent is locked in for the duration of the lease, and the landlord generally cannot raise rent until the lease expires or is renewed.
While renters have no protection against the amount of a rent increase, they do have protection against retaliatory rent hikes. Under Iowa Code § 562A.36, a landlord may not raise rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights, such as reporting a housing code violation.
Iowa Code Chapter 562A provides several important protections for Waverly renters:
Habitability (Iowa Code § 562A.15): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This includes complying with applicable housing and building codes affecting health and safety, keeping common areas clean and safe, maintaining all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, and air-conditioning systems in good working order, and providing adequate weather-proofing. Tenants also have maintenance duties and must not deliberately damage the property (Iowa Code § 562A.17).
Repair Remedies (Iowa Code § 562A.21): If a landlord fails to make a required repair, a tenant must first give written notice of the problem. For emergency conditions threatening health or safety, the landlord has 7 days to remedy the problem; for non-emergency repairs, the deadline is 30 days. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant may pursue remedies including repair-and-deduct (up to one month's rent for minor repairs) or rent escrow through the court.
Notice Requirements (Iowa Code § 562A.34): To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least 30 days' written notice before the next rent due date. A week-to-week tenancy requires at least 10 days' notice. Fixed-term leases expire by their own terms unless renewed.
Anti-Retaliation (Iowa Code § 562A.36): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to authorities, complaining to the landlord about habitability issues, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliatory acts include raising rent, reducing services, or beginning eviction proceedings. If a landlord retaliates, the tenant may recover actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Iowa Code § 562A.26): A landlord may not remove a tenant from the rental unit by any means other than a court-ordered eviction. Specifically, a landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, or intentionally cut off heat, water, electricity, or other essential utilities as a way to force a tenant out. Violations entitle the tenant to recover actual damages caused by the unlawful conduct.
Under Iowa Code § 562A.12, landlords in Waverly may collect a security deposit of no more than two months' rent at the start of a tenancy. This cap applies regardless of what a lease may say — a provision in a lease requiring a deposit larger than two months' rent is unenforceable under Iowa law.
Return deadline: After a tenant vacates, the landlord has 30 days to either return the full deposit or provide the tenant with a written, itemized statement of any deductions along with the remaining balance. The statement must list each specific reason for any withholding (e.g., unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear) and the cost associated with each item.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days — or if the landlord makes deductions that are not legally justified — the tenant is entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees, under Iowa Code § 562A.12(7). Normal wear and tear on the unit may not be deducted from the deposit.
To protect yourself, document the condition of the unit with photos or video at both move-in and move-out, and provide your landlord with a written forwarding address when you leave. The 30-day clock begins when the tenancy terminates and the landlord receives your forwarding address.
Iowa law sets out a specific process that Waverly landlords must follow to evict a tenant. A landlord cannot remove a tenant through self-help measures — only a court can authorize removal.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
• Nonpayment of rent: 3 days' written notice to pay the overdue rent or vacate (Iowa Code § 562A.27(1)).
• Material lease violation (other than nonpayment): 7 days' notice to remedy the violation or vacate; if the violation is not remedied, another 7-day notice to vacate (Iowa Code § 562A.27(2)).
• No-cause termination of month-to-month tenancy: 30 days' written notice before the next rent due date (Iowa Code § 562A.34).
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) action in Iowa District Court. For Waverly, this would be filed in Bremer County District Court. The tenant will receive a summons with a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant may appear and present their case. The court will issue a judgment. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a writ of removal authorizing the sheriff to remove the tenant.
Step 4 — Writ of Removal: Only the county sheriff, acting on a court-issued writ of removal, may physically remove a tenant from the premises. A landlord who attempts to remove a tenant without this process — by changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — commits an illegal self-help eviction in violation of Iowa Code § 562A.26 and is liable for the tenant's actual damages.
Iowa does not require just cause for eviction when a fixed-term lease has expired or when a month-to-month tenancy is properly terminated with 30 days' notice. However, the formal court process is always required regardless of the reason.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page reflects Iowa law as of April 2026 and is intended to give Waverly renters a general overview of their rights. Laws and local ordinances can change, and individual circumstances vary. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Iowa attorney or contact Iowa Legal Aid. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not represent or advise individual tenants or landlords.
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