Is it legal for me to cancel a lease on a house if the roof leaks and the landlord wont fix it.?

Well first off, read the lease once and see what you signed! Second if he won't go to the municipality and ask the building inspector what type of rights renters have. Odd are he'll refer you to another office who can help strongarm the landlord. That's how I would go about it!

Nope, but you need to go about it legally. I would send a notorized copy of the complaint to the land lord, with instructions that you are giving him 5 days to fix the problem at which time he will be in violation of the lease. To make sure he gets full understanding of the problem, take pictures. Contact your city inspector to file a complaint stating that it is a safety hazard, the owner gets a code violation and you have the option to break your lease. Send a copy of the violation with your notice that you will be moving within x amount of days. That should keep you in the clear, although you are still liable for the rent during the time you are living in the apartment, you might consider trying to strike a deal to live out your security deposit, as your landlord, might not refund it.

Call the city people about it, like the renters association. you can move but then you would have to prove the leak after you get charged with breaking the lease I would just get it fixed and keep the bill then take it off your rent.

Give him written notice by registered mail about the roof and if he doesn't fix it have it repaired and pay for it yourself and withhold the rent until you recover the expense. Keep all receipts!

ofcourse is not illegal..your landlord has the right to fix what ever is wrong in the house/aparment..

Because you already told the landlord and he won't fix it, and because the cost of fixing the roof would be expensive - the only thing you can do is move out. In Iowa, you can give the landlord a written notice telling him that you want him to fix the leaky roof because it is a health and safety problem and if it is not fixed in 7 days you will move out without owing the landlord any further rent, and your lease will be void because he failed to fix the problem. Assuming he is not going to fix it, you will have to move out. You may want to wait until 7 days before your next rent payment is due, because you won't get back the rent that you already paid. But this will get you out of the lease. Just send the letter certified and keep a copy for yourself. You can also go to www.iowalegalaid.org for more info

Provided you have copies of your letters of complaint and can add it to some photos, I would submit a notice IMMEDIATELY stating when you are leaving and asking for a full refund of your deposit.

it is illegal to the 100th degree, you will be fined 5 times the amount of the loan and thrown in jail for 25 years

I think you can stop paying your rent if things like that are not fixed. ... or something. Sorry I'm not more helpful :p