As COVID-19 assistance wound down, Utah eviction filings rose in 2022

The number of housing eviction filings in Utah rose last year but were still lower than before COVID, according to statistics recently released by the Rental Housing Association of Utah.

Eviction filings totaled 6,335 in 2022, which was 39.5 percent higher than 4,542 in 2021 but 11 percent below the average of 7,137 annual filings from 2017 through 2019.

“Utah saw an increase in evictions in 2022 due to a winding down of federal and state rental assistance programs and a lack of affordable housing,” said Paul Smith, the association’s executive director. “Utah has very few evictions compared to surrounding states.”

Despite a growing population, eviction rates have fallen in Utah for more than a decade. In 2012, roughly 3 percent of renter households received an eviction filing. At the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, eviction rates fell to 1.3 percent, primarily due to rental assistance programs. In 2022, the eviction rate was 2 percent, still below the 2.3 percent eviction rate before the pandemic.

According to EvictionLab.org, Utah’s eviction filing rate is the ninth-lowest eviction rate of the 46 states that release those figures. Typically, about half (51 percent) of Utah eviction filings end in an eviction, according to data from the Utah Bar Foundation.

EvicitionLab.org statistics also show that neighboring states like Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico see annual eviction filing rates three to four times higher than those in Utah.

“Most evictions happen because renters cannot or do not pay their rent,” a report by EvictionLab.org stated. “Landlords can evict renters for a number of other reasons, too, including taking on boarders, damaging property, causing a disturbance, or breaking the law.”

Utah received about $344 million for rent-relief programs through COVID impact funding through the U.S. Congress. At the end of last year, Utah had paid $287 million in rental assistance.

“Demand this year has been so high, the state shut down their application portal in early February and anticipates the money will be exhausted by the end of March,” Smith said. “These funds have lasted nearly three years and have assisted thousands of Utah families across the state.”

For renters who receive an eviction notice, they should take it seriously and communicate with the landlord immediately, said DJ Bruhn, 2023 RHA board chair. Most landlords will work with renters, but it is essential to communicate and start resolving the issues immediately, Bruhn said.

Utah has an eviction prevention program through Utah Community Action. There are four full-time eviction prevention specialists available to help renters connect with resources. They can be reached at (801) 214-3109 or mediation@utahca.org. Renters can also call 211 to be connected to housing resources.

Renters unable to pay should try to avoid legal action that would result in a judgement and damage to their credit. “Evictions are costly for both landlords and tenants, and we all want to avoid them if possible,” Bruhn said. “Resolving your case before it goes to court is best for everyone.”

The association suggested that people struggling to pay rent should take inventory of personal resources, including savings, credit cards and by selling assets; ask friends and family for help; turn to their church and community; look into government resources such as rent assistance and government benefits; and vacate the property.

“The worst thing a renter facing eviction can do is ignore it,” Bruhn said. “Evictions can be avoided by moving out if a renter can’t pay. Landlords dislike doing evictions. They are a last resort and only deployed when renters refuse to engage and resolve issues.”

The Rental Housing Association of Utah is a nonprofit trade association that works to protect, educate, connect and grow the rental industry in Utah. It represents roughly 3,500 rental operators and more than 160,000 units.