Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Iowa

My grandma and a friend made a verbal agreement May of 2008 to live at the residence in Grinnell, in exchange for $100.00, paying portion of utilities, using his labor experience to fix the residence in Grinnell, IA 50112 for the future sale in spring 2009. During the period of June to August 2008, My grandma paid for food, cigarettes, $1000.00 for television, $250.00 in back rent of his apartment, and all cars, insurance and gas and clothes. His assistance was minimal if not only the bare essentials of doing his own laundry and dishes.

After several discussions, he was warned that if there were no improvements in labor, rent, and/or utilities, he would be in breach of the agreement. This breach would result in him no longer being able to live at the property in Grinnell, and must pay all back rent, utilities and loans( for television, use of cars, cigarettes, all supplies (health, beauty, cleaning, etc) while at residence and back rents). She has given 3 clear warnings that he has violated set agreement. It is not just the violations of the agreement that this recourse has been reached but more so it has become too much of an expense and financial burden since he has fallen behind in paying back all rent, utilities, loans, maintaining living conditions and miscellaneous incurrence�s that their agreement was voided. He retaliated and countereed with a sepearate bill. They agree and both signed a agreement to make monthly payments. He however took the TV that my grandma finshed paying(over 75%). Also he made a verbal agreement to leave his computer (which he spent his tax return on instead of paying rent) in exchange for her used car. He said he would sign this agreement later. We are trying to get the the title to him but now is wanting the computer since the title is taking 5 days from the state to send to him.

What, if any can my grandma do? Does she need a laywer? Do we need the police involved since he took the tv she has check payments of? Please help?


Asked on 9/21/09, 8:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

The problem that you have, of course, is that nothing was put down in writing and now you have to live with the results. You need the services of an attorney to unscramble this mess and get the tenant out.

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Answered on 9/22/09, 12:19 pm


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