Gimmie Dat Deposit Back!

Home / States / Iowa

Iowa security deposit: 30 days to get it back

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or send a written statement of the reasons for withholding. If the tenant gives no address or instructions within one year after the tenancy ends, the deposit reverts to the landlord.

Double-check before you rely on this. Parts of this page come from legal-aid and other secondary summaries instead of the official statute text. Confirm the deadline and penalty in Iowa Code § 562A.12, and check whether a local ordinance changes the rules.

What the law requires

Itemized statement
A written statement of the reasons for withholding. Allowed deductions: unpaid rent or other amounts owed, repairs beyond normal wear and tear, and costs of regaining possession if the tenant did not leave in good faith. Deductions for damage must describe the damage. In a dispute the landlord must prove the reason for withholding.
Forwarding address
Yes. The 30 days start only after the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions; if none is given within one year of the tenancy ending, the deposit reverts to the landlord.
If the landlord breaks the rules
Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, plus actual damages. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action on the rental agreement.
Loss of the right to deduct
A landlord that misses the 30-day written-statement deadline forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit.
Deposit cap
Two months' rent.
Small claims limit
$6,500 in Small Claims Court (division of the Iowa District Court)

If your landlord misses the deadline

  1. Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
  2. Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite Iowa Code § 562A.12. Give a date to respond.
  3. If you still aren't paid, file in Small Claims Court (division of the Iowa District Court). Deposit claims up to $6,500 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Iowa demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. Under Iowa Code § 562A.12, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit, or send an itemized statement of any deductions, within 30 days after the tenant moves out and gives a forwarding address. That deadline passed on [deadline date].

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

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

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or send a written statement of the reasons for withholding. If the tenant gives no address or instructions within one year after the tenancy ends, the deposit reverts to the landlord.

What happens if a Iowa landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, plus actual damages. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action on the rental agreement. A landlord that misses the 30-day written-statement deadline forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit.

Do I have to give my Iowa landlord a forwarding address?

Yes. The 30 days start only after the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions; if none is given within one year of the tenancy ending, the deposit reverts to the landlord.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Iowa?

Deposit claims up to $6,500 can be filed in Small Claims Court (division of the Iowa District Court). Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.