Landlord & tenant · Iowa
the short answer
Your landlord has 30 days, counted from the later of the tenancy ending and getting your mailing address. No written statement in that time and the landlord loses the right to keep anything. Bad-faith withholding adds up to twice the monthly rent. Give no address within a year and the deposit is gone.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
Iowa Code § 562A.12
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
deadline
30 days
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Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Iowa. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
No written statement within 30 days forfeits all right to withhold any portion. Bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, on top of actual damages, and the court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
which court
District court sitting in small claims
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
small claims limit
$6,500
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
also
The 30 days run from termination and from the landlord receiving your mailing address, whichever is later. Give no address within a year and the deposit reverts to the landlord.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
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