Moving

Read and Sign Your New Lease

When you are preparing to sign a lease, there are a few items you should look for in the lease. Items such as rent cost, lease duration, security deposit, late fees for rent, subletting possibility, pet restrictions, and any other fees or obligations for the tenant should be included. If when looking over the lease you feel uncomfortable or unsure about a certain clause in the lease, ask the landlord for clarification or seek assistance from a third party. Until you have read and understood the lease, you should not sign any lease.

Additionally, listed below are some common questions that should be answered by the content in the lease agreement.

• How and when is rent paid?
• Which utilities are included with rent?
• Is the rental unit furnished?
• Is a parking space included, or does parking cost an additional fee?
• How are maintenance requests submitted?
• Are you able to paint or make alterations in the rental unit?

Besides paying for rent, there are other deposits and fees associated with rental housing. These deposits and fees will be listed in your lease, so it’s important to read your lease completely before signing. Listed below are common deposits and fees, which may be included in your lease.

• Application/screening fee
• Cleaning deposit and/or fee
• Damage/repair fees
• Parking fee
• Pet deposit and/or monthly fee
• Security deposit (not to exceed two months’ rent)
• Trash collection fee
• Utilities (the landlord may or may not cover any/all utilities)
• Utilities security deposit

Update or Purchase Renter's Insurance

Renter’s insurance is similar to homeowner’s insurance, but renter’s insurance only covers your belongings, not the whole building. Some landlords may require you to obtain renter’s insurance, but it’s suggested that all renters obtain insurance in order to protect themselves. On average, you can expect to spend $17 per month on renter’s insurance, but you may find cheaper prices if you bundle your renter’s insurance with your automobile insurance. Before purchasing renter’s insurance, it’s suggested that you take inventory of your personal belongings in your unit. Insurable items range from jewelry, electronics, textbooks, clothing and furniture.

Activate/Deactivate Your Utilities

The Ames Municipal Utilities provides electric, water and sewer service to the community of Ames, Iowa. For over 120 years, the citizens of Ames have enjoyed the benefits of owning and controlling their Municipal Electric, Water, and Water Pollution Control Utility systems. Visit their webpage to start, stop, or transfer your utilities by clicking here.

Clean Your Apartment

Maintaining a clean and safe rental unit is expected throughout your tenancy, but is especially important prior to moveout. Before you move out of your rental unit, it's important to thoroughly clean every room, including the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen area, dining area, living area, patio, etc. If you fail to perform cleaning procedures in order to restore the unit to its original condition (with exception to normal wear and tear), you risk losing part or all of your security deposit.

Rights and Responsibilities 

Iowa Code 562A.17 

Responsibilities of Tenants:

• Make payment of rent without demand or notice from the property owner at the agreed upon date and location.
• Follow any building and housing codes that apply to tenants, and that affect health and safety in an important way.
• Keep his or her living area clean and dispose of garbage properly.
• Properly use all appliances and facilities such as plumbing, heating, wiring, air conditioning.
• Not damage or abuse the apartment on purpose or carelessly, or knowingly allow someone else to do so.
• Avoid doing things that will disturb the neighbors’ peace and quiet.

Responsibilities of landlords:

• Follow building and housing codes that affect health and safety in an important way.
• Make repairs to keep the house or apartment in a fit and livable condition.
• Keep areas used by the tenants of more than one apartment clean and safe.
• Keep facilities and appliances such as electric wiring, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning in good and safe working order.
• Abide by federal, state, and local laws governing fair housing

Only in limited cases can the landlord and tenant agree that the tenant will be responsible for any of the landlord’s duties. In any case where the tenant agrees to be responsible for the landlord’s duties, the agreement should be in writing, and fair to both.

Repairs

In the event the landlord fails to make the necessary repairs requested, the tenant should properly notify the property management in writing of the needed repairs. If after reasonable time has passed with no actions from the property management, a written complaint can be filed with the City of Ames Inspections Division. A complaint form can be completed by clicking here.

Additionally, once the written document has been received by the landlord, the landlord has seven days to remedy the stated problem(s). If after seven days the problem(s) has not been remedied, the tenant may elect to terminate the rental lease. If, though, the repair(s) is a result of a deliberate or negligent act by the tenant(s), the tenant's family members, or other persons on the premise with the tenant's consent; the tenant(s) may not terminate the rental lease.

Right of Entry

From time to time, a landlord may need to enter your unit to make repairs, perform inspections, or for other reasonable matters. Cooperation should always be sought during these situations, but there are times when either the landlord or tenant(s) are uncooperative. For situations such as these, you may reference the Iowa Landlord and Tenant Law. According to the Iowa Landlord and Tenant Law, a landlord should give the tenant(s) of a unit at least 24 hours notice before entering the rental unit. During the event of an emergency, though, the landlord may enter the unit without reasonable request. Furthermore, the tenant should not deny the landlord reasonable access to a rental unit.

Living in Ames

Bicycles

Under Iowa law, both bicyclists and motorists must comply with the same rules of the road and be afforded the same rights. For more specific City of Ames bicycle information, please follow this link to the Municipal Code.

How to Register a Bicycle:   All bicycles on the ISU campus must be registered. The City of Ames also recommends bicycle owners in the community to register their bikes. By registering your bicycle, you will help deter bicycle theft and assist in returning recovered, stolen, or lost bicycles to their owners. ISU and the City of Ames bicycle registration program is simple, free of charge, and never expires. Bicycle owners fill out a short form, either in person at the locations listed below, or on-line. Owner information is recorded and you receive a sticker with a registration number to affix to your bike.

Tips:   Always lock your bicycle when left unattended. Secure it to a bicycle rack or strong stationary object. Feed a chain through both wheels and the frame and then around the stationary object, or at least make sure the chain goes through the rear wheel and frame. File a report as soon as possible with the police if your bicycle is stolen. For more information on bicycles, click here.

CyRide

CyRide is the city bus system for Ames and operates 13 fixed routes, a East Ames Service Extension (EASE) zone service, a Dial-A-Ride service for persons with a disability, and a late-night service called Moonlight Express. The fixed routes and Dial-A-Ride operate every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Moonlight Express operates on Friday and Saturday nights when Iowa State University is in session.

CyRide offers real-time bus prediction service called MyRide. With MyRide, you can use your touchtone telephone, mobile device, or web enabled computer to see exactly where the bus is at anytime and its predicted time of arrival at your bus stop location. You can also view real-time maps. Click here to visit MyRide. For routes, timetables, fares and more information, call 515-292-1100 or click here to visit www.cyride.com.

Medical Care

• Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff Avenue
• McFarland Clinic, 1215 Duff Avenue
• Primary Health Care, 3510 Lincoln Way
• Planned Parenthood, 2530 Chamberlain Street
• Thielen Student Health Center
• Urgent Care, 3815 Stange Road

Noise

The maximum noise level is 60 decibels (which is equivalent to a normal conversation in an office or restaurant) for the hours of 7 a.m. to midnight. The maximum noise level is 55 decibels (which is equivalent to a normal household conversation) for the hours of midnight to 7 a.m. The sound is measured at the edge of a city street or alley right-of-way nearest to the source of the sound. A measurement may also be taken on the property where the complaining party was disturbed. For more information about the noise ordinance or to request a reading, call Ames Police at 515-239-5133 or visit www.cityofames.org.

Parking

If you own or drive a vehicle in Ames, you should be aware of regulations governing the parking of vehicles in the city. 

• It is unlawful to park vehicles in the same place for more than 48 hours on any city street or municipal parking lot.
• Vehicles cannot obstruct or park across sidewalks, in front of a public or private driveways, or in a front yard.
• Vehicles must park with the front end of the vehicle in the same direction of traffic flow.

Snow Routes:   Certain streets around Ames have been designated as part of the city's snow routes. Parking on snow routes is prohibited from the time the snow ordinance goes into effect until the snow has been plowed from curb to curb, and it has stopped snowing. The snow ordinance goes into effect when 2 inches or more snow has accumulated on major streets (such as Grand, Duff, or Lincoln Way) 

Check the City website, City Channel 12, or local media to find out when and if the snow ordinance is in effect. If snow is expected overnight, please move you car ahead of time. Click here to view additional information on the City's snow ordinance, including a map of snow routes.

Ames Municipal Code:   Click here to view the Ames City Code, Chapter 18, Parking Regulations.

Parking Problem:   To report a parking problem or concern, call the Police Department non-emergency number at 515.239.5133.

Paying Parking Tickets:   To pay parking tickets, click here or go to www.amesparking.com.

Party Planning

Please show courtesy to your neighbors by letting them know when your event will start and when it will end. Also, give them your contact information, and encourage them to call you first with concerns.

Requests may be made to suspend parking restrictions or regulations for special public and private events by contacting the Public Works Department at least 24 hours in advance. To request a temporary parking waiver, contact the Traffic Engineer at 515-239-5160.

To exceed the maximum level of sound, submit an application for a noise permit to the Ames Police Department at least 24 hours prior to your event or by noon on Friday. An additional five decibels may be approved. If you are planning to tap more than one keg of beer during your party, a permit is required from the Ames Police Department. The permit must be applied for 24 hours in advance. A pre-party inspection is required. Keg beer is prohibited in Ames parks. For more information about parties, call Ames Police at 515-239-5133 or visit www.cityofames.org.

Property Maintenance

Lawn care

• Yard waste, including brush, may not be stored outside for more than seven days unless the material is being used for composting, done in accordance with state regulations. Additionally, the burning of garbage, leaves, and yard waste is prohibited.
• Yards that contain noxious weeds (as defined by State of Iowa Code) must be mowed.
• All trees and shrubs should be properly trimmed for pedestrian use.
• The City is responsible for removing damaged or hazardous trees or shrubs within the City right-of-way. This may include items that obstruct the view of traffic.
• Trees located on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. Contact the property owner with concerns about trees or shrubs on private property.

Sidewalks

• To keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe, snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 10 daylight hours of the cessation of the accumulation.
• Property owners are responsible for the sidewalks and areas from the curb to the property line. Sidewalks that become dangerous are the responsibility of the property owner.
• To report a sidewalk that is damaged or has not had snow removed, call the Public Works Department at 515-239-5550.

General Care

•  Electric powered grills are permitted to be on balconies. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated or located on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. These devices are permitted in: 1) one and two family dwellings and 2) where buildings, balconies, and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system. Contact the Fire Department at 515-239-5108.
• Recreational fires are permitted in approved containers. Fires shall be located more than 15 feet away from any structure (including decks, porches, fences, and sheds) and any combustible materials (such as weeds, shrubs, and furniture).
• Vehicles classified as junk vehicles may not be stored within the city limits for more than 48 hours unless the vehicle is stored in a garage, behind an enclosed opaque wall a minimum of 6-feet high, under a tightly fitted vehicle cover, or on the premises of an authorized salvage yard.
• Garbage set outdoors should be kept in a watertight receptacle. The outdoor storage or placement of household appliances or furnishings, unless designed for outdoors, is prohibited.