Executive Summary
In this quarterly report, the RVA Eviction Lab presents and analyzes a series of data on eviction and housing instability in Virginia during the third quarter of 2021. As in our previous reports, we compare 2021 quarterly eviction data to pre-pandemic levels, using the 2019 quarterly data as a benchmark. In light of the expiration of the CDC federal eviction moratorium on July 31st, we also include the number of unlawful detainers filed in Virginia with a pending hearing date of October 13th or later. This report is broken down into three scales of analysis: state, region (Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia), and the City of Richmond. Third quarter eviction data for every jurisdiction in Virginia is provided in the appendix.
Highlights of 2021’s third quarter include:
- Statewide eviction totals in July and August show eviction filings rising across the Commonwealth from July to August. While September totals show a decrease in filings, typical delays in data reporting, along with the number of pending cases, suggest cases are on the rise (see page 4 for more details).
- U.S. Census survey responses of Virginia renters indicate improving levels of housing instability and eviction pressures across the state, with about 52% of households (compared to 62% during the second quarter) who are not caught up on rent fearing eviction in the next two months.
- As of the end of third quarter, there were 5,268 pending eviction cases with a hearing date of October 13th or later.
- In the City of Richmond, eviction filings and judgments remain spatially concentrated in ZIP codes in Southside neighborhoods. The North Side ZIP code of 23227 had a default judgment rate of 60% (Page 24)
From March 2020 through the end of this past quarter, 28,957 eviction judgments were issued across the Commonwealth. At the regional scale, there were 4,523 evictions in Central Virginia, 6,989 evictions in Hampton Roads, and 3,138 in Northern Virginia. And finally, the City of Richmond had a total of 1,688 evictions since the pandemic began.
It is important to note that a lag is typically observed in the courts’ reporting of eviction filings and judgments across the state, most significantly in the final month of the quarter. This results in an undercount of quarterly eviction numbers in our reports in September. Thus, based on the revisions of the second quarter’s eviction data, we expect third quarter numbers, specifically September’s (which currently are well below the July and August numbers), provided in this report to increase, and, in some cases, likely exceed the second quarter’s numbers.
For example, in the 2021 Q1 report, 1,035 statewide eviction filings were reported in March. However, in the Q2 report, updated court data indicated that March filings increased to 3,737, a 261% increase. Based on previous court data revisions to quarters 1 and 2, we have estimated the expected increase for the 3rd quarter:
- Estimated 1,999 more statewide eviction filings will be reported in September
- Estimated 753 more statewide eviction judgments will be reported in September
- Estimated 74 more eviction filings in Richmond will be reported in September
- Estimated 6 more eviction judgments in Richmond will be reported in September
This quarterly report should be read within the context of the expiring CDC protections and COVID-19, and the ongoing impact of the Commonwealth’s Rent Relief Program. While the number of evictions continues to be low relative to the pre-pandemic levels, both eviction filings and eviction judgments have steadily increased since the Spring of 2021. The relatively slow pace of eviction growth is likely the result of efforts across the Commonwealth from attorneys, community-based organizations and government agencies to prevent evictions. Importantly, Virginia law requires that landlords apply for rent relief before evicting tenants for non-payment of rent.
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