My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Iowa
Okay, so I left Iowa for Arkansas in 2007. I did not give notice to my rental agency--I just forgot. It was stupid and trust me, that will NEVER happen again. My roommate and I both had our names on the lease that I was under when I left and that least had been signed by both of us.
Six months ago, I discovered I had a collection on me and my roommate from the rental agency. I have been in contact with them, and they sent me all the information in my file. There is a second contract, which was NOT signed by myself or my roommate. There is a clause in both that say that notice must be made to the rental agency when one or both parties will be leaving. This, as I mentioned before, I did not do. I believe they are holding us both responsible for the damages to the apartment under this second lease.
I believe there is a month to month clause stating if monies for rent are given without a signed contract, the contract goes month to month and I have NO IDEA what that entails.
I am thinking that I don't legally owe money based on the unsigned lease, but I am also thinking that since I didn't give notice like I should have, I probably do owe the money.
Also, the rental agency always sent letters to us under my roommate's name and then my name in the address, therefore when he moved out, they got only forwarded to him. Is this normal practice? Believe me, if I had known they were looking for money from me for the last two years, I would have taken care of the issue much sooner than this.
Can anyone sort this out for me? I will pay the money, obviously, if I owe it, but I am not sure I do.
Thanks!

