Evading the eviction moratorium: Changing patterns in formal and informal evictions and eviction tactics during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments implemented eviction moratoria to prevent landlords from removing tenants due to unpaid rent. Rather than reduce evictions, what if these new tenant protections merely shifted the tactics used by landlords to displace tenants? This study draws on an original survey, administrative data, and in-depth interviews with low-income tenants to uncover the changing role of formal and informal evictions and eviction tactics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate that the moratorium was associated with fewer formal evictions and eviction tactics, but this coincided with a higher prevalence of informal evictions and eviction tactics. Landlords unable to use housing courts to formally evict a tenant turned to informal, and often illegal, actions to remove tenants. These findings highlight the importance of measuring informal evictions and eviction tactics and the limitations of eviction moratoria in protecting low-income renters from displacement.