Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.1
Lien created — perfection and priority — termination
Operative Text
1. A landlord shall have a lien for the rent upon all crops grown upon the leased premises, and upon any other personal property of the tenant which has been used or kept thereon during the term and which is not exempt from execution. 2. In order to perfect a lien in farm products as defined in section 554.9102, which is created under this section, a landlord must file a financing statement as required by section 554.9308, subsection 2. Except as provided in chapters 571, 572, 579A, 579B, and 581, a perfected lien in the farm products has priority over a conflicting security interest or lien, including a security interest or lien that was perfected prior to the creation of the lien under this section, if the lien created in this section is perfected on either of the following dates: a. Prior to July 1, 2001. b. When the debtor takes possession of the leased premises or within twenty days after the debtor takes possession of the leased premises. 3. A financing statement filed to perfect a lien in the farm products must include a statement that it is filed for the purpose of perfecting a landlord’s lien. Notwithstanding section 554.9515, such financing statement shall continue to be effective until a termination statement is filed. 4. Within twenty days after a landlord who has filed a financing statement receives a written demand, authenticated as provided in article 9 of chapter 554, from a tenant, the landlord shall file a termination statement, if the lien in the farm products has expired or if the tenant is no longer in possession of the leased premises and has performed all obligations under the lease.
Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.1 establishes that a landlord automatically holds a lien on crops grown on leased farmland and on non-exempt personal property kept there during the tenancy as security for unpaid rent. To make that lien enforceable against third parties in farm products, the landlord must file a financing statement under Iowa's commercial code, and a properly timed filing can take priority even over earlier-perfected security interests. The lien remains on record until a termination statement is filed, and the law sets a 20-day deadline for the landlord to file that termination once the tenant's obligations are met and a proper written demand is made.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.1, operators who lease farmland and wish to protect their rent lien in farm products generally file a financing statement that explicitly identifies itself as perfecting a landlord's lien, and they do so before or within twenty days of the tenant taking possession to secure priority. Compliant landlords also track when the tenancy ends and all lease obligations are fulfilled, because once a tenant submits a proper authenticated written demand, the landlord has twenty days to file a termination statement. Keeping accurate records of possession dates, lease terms, and any written demands helps operators stay within the statutory timelines set out in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 570 § 570.1 gives tenants a mechanism to clear a landlord's lien from the public record once the lease has ended and all obligations under it have been fulfilled: the tenant may send an authenticated written demand, and the landlord is then required to file a termination statement within twenty days. If a landlord fails to file that termination on time, the tenant may have grounds to raise that failure as a legal issue, and tenant-rights organizations or an attorney familiar with Iowa agricultural law can explain what remedies may be available. Tenants who believe a lien is being improperly maintained after lease obligations are complete may also consult Iowa's court system or relevant state agencies for guidance on enforcement of 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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation