In court-decided eviction outcomes for Donnellson, IA, tenants prevail in roughly 17.1% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
49d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Donnellson, IA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 49 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.7–3.6k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Donnellson, IA costs landlords $1,671 to $3,608 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$644
24% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Donnellson, IA is $644 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 24% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
28.1%
of households
28.1% of occupied housing units in Donnellson, IA are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
13.9%
1.7% unemp.
13.9% of Donnellson, IA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 1.7%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +27.8% (2024)
4.6
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
4.6
State political climate
Iowa legislature & governorship
2.3
Economic stress
13.9% poverty · 1.7% unemp.
5.1
Supply constraint
$644 average · 28.1% renters
4.3
Rent Control risk
23.8% of income on rent
6.9
Eviction process difficulty
49 days filing → judgment
2.0
Tenant organizing strength
28.1% renters
5.4
Housing court bias
County bench composition
6.7
Geographic context
Risk heat across Donnellson and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Donnellson compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Lee County
Low
#8of 12 cities
#8 of 12 cities in Lee County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Iowa
Moderate
#568of 1,026 cities
#568 of 1,026 cities in Iowa for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.4
/ 10 · VERY LOW
The verdict
A Very low-tier market.
Composite 2.4/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.4 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
49d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $644/mo. A contested eviction takes 49 days and costs $1,671–$3,608 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
28.1%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 776 residents, 28.1% rent. 24% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 13.9% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
4.6
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 4.6 and 4.6 (GOP margin +27.8% (2024)). State climate at 2.3, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
2.3
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 2.3/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 2, housing court bias 6.7, rent-control risk 6.9. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-3.0 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
5.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 5.1. Supply constraint: 4.3. The numbers behind those: 13.9% poverty, 1.7% unemployment, 24% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Donnellson sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Donnellson · 49d · ~$2.6k all-in ($54/day) · score 2.4National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Donnellson, Iowa, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.4/10 (VERY LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Donnellson is a city of 776 residents where 28.1% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 23.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $644/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Donnellson eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 2/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Donnellson closes 49 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Donnellson's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 6.7/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Donnellson runs $1,671 to $3,608 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 49 days of typical timeline and $644/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 5.4/10 in Donnellson, and the city carries meaningful rent control exposure (6.9/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Iowa, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Donnellson: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a VERY LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Iowa's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $3,608 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Donnellson
Trap · 19.3 POINTS
Politically, Lee County voted Republican by 19.3 points in 2020, a baseline that correlates with landlord-neutral legislative pressure. Combined with 23.8% rent-to-income ratio, expect baseline enforcement of Iowa Code 562A URLTA.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I evict a tenant in Donnellson for not having a job?
No, you cannot evict a tenant simply because they lost their job or don't have one. Eviction must be based on a breach of the lease agreement, such as non-payment of rent, violating lease terms, or the expiration of a tenancy. Iowa does not have statewide source-of-income protection, but job status alone is not a valid reason for eviction.
Q2
What if my tenant pays a partial rent payment after I've given them a 3-day notice?
Accepting a partial payment after issuing a 3-day pay-or-quit notice can be tricky. In many cases, it can be interpreted as you waiving your right to proceed with the eviction based on that specific notice, meaning you'd have to issue a new notice. If you decide to accept a partial payment, get a written agreement from the tenant stating that they acknowledge the remaining balance is still due by a specific date, and that you reserve all rights under the original notice if the full amount isn't paid. Better yet, consult an attorney before accepting partial payments post-notice.
Q3
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Donnellson?
You are not legally required to have a lawyer for an eviction in Iowa. You can represent yourself. However, the legal process has strict rules and deadlines. Mistakes in paperwork, notice serving, or court procedure can cause significant delays or even dismissal of your case, costing you more time and money. For these reasons, many landlords find it beneficial to hire an attorney, especially if the tenant disputes the eviction. Given the moderate risk score for Donnellson, an attorney can be a good investment.
Q4
What's the maximum late fee I can charge in Donnellson?
Iowa law (Iowa Code § 562A.9(4)) states that late fees cannot exceed $12 per day or $60 per month, whichever is less. Your lease agreement must clearly state any late fee policy. Make sure your fees comply with this state statute.
Q5
Can I raise the rent in Donnellson whenever I want?
Iowa does not have statewide rent control, as confirmed by our Iowa rent control rules guide. This means you can raise the rent. However, you must provide proper written notice to your tenant. For month-to-month tenancies, a 30-day written notice is typically required before the rent increase takes effect. For tenants on a fixed-term lease, you can only raise the rent at the end of the lease term, unless the lease specifically allows for increases mid-term (which is rare).
Q6
What happens if my tenant abandons the property?
If you believe a tenant has abandoned the property, meaning they've moved out without formally terminating the lease and left personal belongings, you need to follow specific steps. Iowa Code § 562A.29A outlines the procedure. You must give written notice to the tenant that you intend to terminate the lease if they don't respond within a certain timeframe (usually 30 days). You also have rules for handling their abandoned personal property, typically requiring you to store it for a period and then dispose of it if unclaimed. Do not immediately change locks or dispose of belongings without following the legal process, as this could lead to legal liability.
A 2.4/10 places Donnellson in the 49th percentile of Iowa cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Donnellson (2.4/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
