No Heat or Water
Iowa Code § 562A.23 — written notice, then heat or water bought and deducted from rent
When the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water, hot water, heat or essential services, the tenant may give written notice naming the breach and then:
- Get reasonable amounts of them during the failure and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from the rent.
- Recover damages for the drop in the unit's fair rental value.
- Recover rent already paid for the period, on a pro rata basis.
The rights do not arise until notice is given, or if the tenant or someone there with the tenant's consent caused the condition, and a tenant who uses this section does not also use the general termination remedy for the same breach.
Sources for this section (1)
- Iowa Code § 562A.23 — Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water or essential services
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Iowa attorney.