The Rental Housing Association of Utah (RHA) has reported that rental property eviction filings in the first six months of 2022 increased 46 percent compared to the same period in 2021 but remain below pre-pandemic- year levels.
The associations said eviction rates remained low during the pandemic because Utah has distributed approximately $200 million in federal rental assistance since the pandemic began.
“Many renters have been receiving rental assistance from the state and that runs out after 18 months,” said Brad Randall, board chair of RHA. “When their rental assistance runs out, some are not able to pay rent and are receiving eviction notices.”
According to data from the courts, eviction filings in Utah increased to 2,888 in the first half of 2022, up from 1,975 filings in the first half of 2021. For the same period in 2018 and 2019, the number of evictions was 3,523 and 3,478, respectively.
“Evictions are still lower than pre-pandemic years,” Randall added. “If you compare evictions in the first half of 2022 to the first half of 2019, a more typical year before state and federal rental assistance programs took effect, evictions are down 17 percent. Utah evictions are much lower than the national average and lower than our neighboring states.”
Randall said there is still more than $100 million available for Utah renters who have not yet received rental assistance. People who made 80 percent or less of the area median income in 2020 or in the past 60 days are still eligible for rental assistance for up to 18 months. Many renters who started receiving assistance in 2020 are now no longer eligible. Renters can apply directly at www.rentrelief.utah.gov or work through a community partner agency like the Community Action Network.