Landlord & Housing · free generator
Iowa Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Iowa, that is not a judgment call: under Iowa Code section 562A.12 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law — rental deposits), your former landlord generally has 30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Iowa Code § 562A.12 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Iowa hears claims up to $6,500 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under Iowa Code section 562A.12 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law — rental deposits) (Iowa Code § 562A.12), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. A written statement showing the specific reason for each withholding (including the nature of any damage when withheld for restoration) is required within the same 30-day window; missing it forfeits all rights to withhold any portion. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where Iowa law allows claims up to $6,500, and I will pursue every remedy available under Iowa Code § 562A.12, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in Iowa
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- Iowa Code § 562A.12
- When the clock starts
- The landlord has 30 days from the later of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions to return the deposit or send a written statement of reasons for withholding. The clock does not start until the tenant supplies an address, so tenants should provide one in writing at move-out.
- Itemized deductions
- A written statement showing the specific reason for each withholding (including the nature of any damage when withheld for restoration) is required within the same 30-day window; missing it forfeits all rights to withhold any portion.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Bad-faith retention subjects the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rental payment in addition to actual damages, and the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in any action on the rental agreement.
- Small claims limit
- $6,500 (District Court sitting in small claims, Iowa Code § 631.1)
Worth knowing: Iowa caps deposits at two months' rent and requires them to be held un-commingled in a federally insured institution, but any interest earned during the first five years of the tenancy belongs to the landlord, not the tenant. In court, the burden of proving the reason for withholding falls on the landlord by a preponderance of the evidence. Beware the one-year trap: if the tenant never provides a mailing address or delivery instructions within one year of termination, the deposit reverts to the landlord entirely.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Iowa small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord has 30 days from the later of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions to return the deposit or send a written statement of reasons for withholding. The clock does not start until the tenant supplies an address, so tenants should provide one in writing at move-out.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($6,500 (District Court sitting in small claims, Iowa Code § 631.1)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Iowa?
The landlord has 30 days from the later of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions to return the deposit or send a written statement of reasons for withholding. The clock does not start until the tenant supplies an address, so tenants should provide one in writing at move-out. The governing statute is Iowa Code section 562A.12 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law — rental deposits). A written statement showing the specific reason for each withholding (including the nature of any damage when withheld for restoration) is required within the same 30-day window; missing it forfeits all rights to withhold any portion.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Iowa?
Bad-faith retention subjects the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rental payment in addition to actual damages, and the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in any action on the rental agreement. These cases are built for small claims court — the Iowa limit is $6,500 (District Court sitting in small claims, Iowa Code § 631.1), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Iowa renters should know about deposits?
Iowa caps deposits at two months' rent and requires them to be held un-commingled in a federally insured institution, but any interest earned during the first five years of the tenancy belongs to the landlord, not the tenant. In court, the burden of proving the reason for withholding falls on the landlord by a preponderance of the evidence. Beware the one-year trap: if the tenant never provides a mailing address or delivery instructions within one year of termination, the deposit reverts to the landlord entirely.
Keep going
Related letters
Lease Termination Letter →
Formal notice with your move-out date, inspection request, and deposit instructions.
Demand Letter for Payment →
The last letter before small claims - amount, deadline, and consequence, in writing.
Repair Request Letter to Landlord →
A dated repair demand with a 14-day deadline your landlord can't claim they never got.