I have been trying to research online and I'm not getting anywhere. I live in Iowa, and my lease automatically renewed May 1 for another year because I didn't give 62 days notice. I unexpectedly was able to buy a house, which was not something I thought I would be able to do. Now my landlord is saying that I will be responsible to pay rent here until another tenant can be found. I heard from a friend that there is an exception to the lease laws when you give proper notice (which I gave over 45 days notice) and are buying a house. Is there any validity to that? Can anyone help me find the right places to go online to look this up for myself? I'm not trying to get out of the work, I just don't know where to go. Thank you to anyone who can help me.

Check this link. It is the Iowa Landlord Tenant Laws, you should be able to find it here
http://www.thelpa.com/lpa/landlord-tenant-law/iowa-landlord-tenant-law.html

Your rental agreement is the first place to look, since it should contain all the reasons and the notice for either party to terminate the lease.

Next will he or does the lease allow you the right to sublet,

If not, what is the rental situation, if you give him a 30 or 60 days notice that you are moving, should he be able to find a tenant ? He does have a legal obligation to actively look for one. If he does not, then normally that relieves you of any rental payment due. ( but of course it would end up in court)

Not saying there is not a code in Iowa about it, but all I could find is that it would be up to the rental or lease agreement that you signed.

The key here will be whether it's enforceable to have the lease automatically renew for a year. In my state it is not permitted. Read through the above link to the laws - and ask a local attorney whether the renewal is enforceable if you don't find it addressed specifically in the laws.

Most attorney's would answer a simple question like that at no charge I'd think.