What is the legal procedure of forcible entry and detainer?

The legal procedure of forcible entry and detainer refers specifically to the process that landlords must follow to regain possession of their property from a tenant who is unlawfully occupying it. This procedure is crucial for ensuring that landlords have a legal basis for removing a tenant, rather than resorting to self-help methods, which can lead to legal complications.

In most jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, this process involves filing a complaint in the appropriate court, serving the tenant with notice, and potentially going through a hearing where evidence is presented. If the court rules in favor of the landlord, it can issue an order allowing the landlord to take possession of the property, often with the assistance of law enforcement.

This option highlights the critical aspect of property rights and the legal framework that supports landlords in their rights to reclaim their property, distinguishing it from other issues like eviction notifications, security deposits, or lease extension processes, which do not specifically pertain to forcible entry and detainer. Each of those other choices addresses a different area of landlord-tenant law, making this answer more focused on the eviction process itself.