Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.9
Termination of life estate — nonfarm tenancy
Operative Text
Upon the termination of a life estate, a tenancy granted by the life tenant which is not a farm tenancy shall continue until one of the following first occurs: 1. The date previously agreed upon for termination of the tenancy without notice. 2. If the tenant is a tenant at will, upon the expiration of the period provided by section 562.4. 3. If the tenancy is for less than one year, sixty days after the end of the month in which the life estate terminated. 4. If the tenancy is for a year or more, one year after the end of the month in which the life estate terminated. However, if the lease is binding upon the holder of the successor interest by the provision of a trust or by specific commitment of the holder of the successor interest, the lease shall terminate as provided by that provision or commitment.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.9 addresses what happens to a non-farm tenancy when the landlord who created it held only a life estate — meaning their ownership interest ends at death or some other triggering event. Rather than immediately voiding the tenancy, the law allows it to continue for a defined period that varies based on the type of tenancy: an at-will tenancy follows the standard notice period under § 562.4, a short-term tenancy (less than one year) continues for sixty days after the end of the month in which the life estate ended, and a longer tenancy (one year or more) continues for up to one year after that month. If a trust provision or a specific commitment by the successor interest holder makes the lease binding on them, the lease instead ends according to those terms.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who acquire an interest in a property after a life tenant's interest terminates should be aware that Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.9 may require them to honor an existing non-farm tenancy for a period that can extend up to one year beyond the end of the month in which the life estate terminated. Compliant operators in this situation typically review any trust documents or prior commitments that might bind them to the lease's original terms, since such provisions can alter the default continuation periods. Understanding the type of tenancy involved — at-will, short-term, or year-or-more — is central to determining the applicable continuation period under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.9, tenants in a non-farm tenancy created by a life tenant have a statutory right to remain in the property for a defined period even after the life tenant's interest ends, and a new property owner generally cannot immediately displace them. The length of that protected period depends on the nature of the tenancy — at-will, less than one year, or one year or more — and may be further shaped by trust provisions or commitments made by the successor interest holder. Tenants who believe this protection is being disregarded may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Iowa landlord-tenant law to understand the options available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation