Rule 1162.Enforcement in Rem. Conformity to Mortgage Foreclosure.
Adopted March 30, 1960 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceAn action to enforce a ground rent against the land itself follows the mortgage-foreclosure rules, and the resulting judgment is enforced like a foreclosure judgment.
(a)An action in rem to enforce a ground rent shall be in accordance with the rules governing the action of mortgage foreclosure, except that for the purposes of this chapter the terms ‘‘ground rent’’, ‘‘covenantor’’ and ‘‘covenantee’’ shall be substituted for the words ‘‘mortgage’’, ‘‘mortgagor’’ and ‘‘mortgagee’’ in those rules.
(b)Enforcement of a judgment in such action shall be in accordance with the rules governing enforcement of judgment in an action of mortgage foreclosure.
End
Plain-English Summary
This rule covers the in rem side of enforcing a ground rent — proceeding against the land rather than the owner personally. Such an action follows the rules governing mortgage foreclosure, with the chapter’s ground-rent terms substituted as needed, and a judgment is enforced the same way a foreclosure judgment is.
Borrowing the foreclosure machinery makes sense because both remedies reach a charge on real property by selling the land, so the ground-rent holder uses a proven path to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a ground rent enforced against the land?
By an in rem action that follows the mortgage-foreclosure rules, with ground-rent terms substituted for the mortgage terms.
The provisions of this Rule 1162 adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960.
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:ground rent in remenforce ground rent against landground rent foreclosure