Tenants Served a 7 Day Notice in Retaliation

[Michael Peters]

Live in Des Moines, Iowa and recently found a tenant with an extra dog on the property.  Inherited tenants with 3 dogs already on the lease.  We served a 7 day notice of breach of lease requesting the dog be removed.  I just want to say I love dogs, but these tenants were not properly caring for them or keeping the property clean.  A few days later the tenant walks in to hand over a 7 day notice to terminate the lease citing that the fireplace didn't work at their 2018 move in and that their HVAC unit was replaced in the Fall of 2019 and it took 4 days, in mild weather I might add, due to the insurance claim delay.

Clearly they've done some online research and are trying to use those items to get out of the lease that ends 8/31.  I don't believe they have a legal leg to stand on and this will end up in court.  We'll start marketing and charge the tenants marketing expenses per state law.  Just curious to see how others handle these situations or how to avoid them in the future.