Philadelphia Eviction process

[Robert Gorra]

Can someone help me understand the eviction process in Philadelphia?

On Thursday Sept.3rd I’m closing on a house I bought at auction. The owner still lives there. When can I start the eviction process, and what steps do I need to take, if her and I cannot work something out between us?

[Joseph ODonovan]

@Robert Gorra If the occupant of the property is not under a lease then the process of removing them is by Ejectment (very different from an Eviction). The ejectment must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia as opposed to Landlord Tenant Court. No notice is necessary in an Ejectment. Expect the process to take anywhere from 3 - 6 months but longer if the defendant engages legal counsel and attempts to defend the claim. Obviously this can get very costly. Cash for keys may be the best remedy. Many lawyers have blogs on Ejectment in Philadelphia so if you google it you can get a better understanding of the process. Good luck!