“Forcible entry and detainer” (FED) is the legal proceeding a landlord uses to evict a tenant. The landlord must follow very specific steps, such as properly serving a notice to quit. The landlord must prove the right to take back the rented property and give the proper legal notice to the tenant. If the landlord does not give the right notice, the court may dismiss the case. See Iowa Code chapter 648.
If you are a tenant or renter and have been served with a notice to quit or other legal papers threatening eviction, you should talk to an attorney immediately.
Iowa Legal Aid has information available on housing and landlord-tenant issues that can be found on its website at: http://www.iowalegalaid.org/.
