30 days, counted from when your landlord has your address.
The rule
In Iowa, the clock starts when: tenancy ends + your mailing address. The landlord then has 30 calendar days, but the duty to refund depends on your address. The statute says:
“A landlord shall, within thirty days from the date of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address or delivery instructions, return the rental deposit to the tenant or furnish to the tenant a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding of the rental deposit or any portion thereof.”
Give the address within a year: after that, Iowa says the deposit reverts to the landlord.
For example, if you returned the keys on Oct 25, 2026 and gave your address the same day, the date would be Nov 24, 2026. Use the Clock for your own dates.
What the landlord has to send
A written statement showing the specific reason, including the nature of any damage.
How much a deposit can be
Two months' rent.
Do this
On move-out day
Send your forwarding address in writing: in Iowa it decides when the refund is owed. Photograph every room before you return the keys.
Deductions and wear and tear
Iowa's statute limits what can be kept to the purposes it lists. We haven't summarised its wear-and-tear language yet; read the section linked above.
For a charge to replace something old, Fair Charge works out a prorated estimate from the item's age and useful life, and says where the useful life comes from. See also the item guides for carpet, paint and cleaning.
If the deadline passes
A late statement forfeits the right to withhold; bad faith adds punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, plus actual damages.
“The bad-faith retention of a deposit by a landlord, or any portion of the rental deposit, in violation of this section shall subject the landlord to punitive damages not to exceed twice the monthly rental payment in addition to actual damages.”
The usual first step is a written demand that states the date the deposit was due and cites the statute. Our demand letter does that and carries any disputed deductions.
Your next steps
- Dated move-out plan for Iowa: notice, the steps that start the clock, and the deadline.
- Letters: forwarding address · deposit demand · notice to vacate
- Small claims: we haven't verified Iowa's limit or self-help page yet.
- Iowa tenant-rights hub
Sources
- Iowa Code §562A.12(3) · checked 2026-10-05
Information, not legal advice. Statutes are quoted from official legislature sites; summaries are ours. Spotted an error? Tell us.