Q1 Report - Overview: Eviction in Dane County

More renters faced eviction in Dane County in the past three months than at any point in at least the past five years, according to the latest Tenant Resource Center data. Landlords filed for 803 evictions between January 1st and March 31st, a 19% jump from the previous quarter.

This quarter, most evictions (89%) were ultimately dismissed, in large part due to the intervention of TRC services, including CORE funding, legal representation, and mediation. TRC distributed $3,713,180.19 in CORE funds to pay past-due rent, provided no-cost legal representation for 127 households, and had staff present for more than 1,327 initial appearances and trials. These interventions helped get at least 234 cases dismissed with stipulated agreements and 110 due to being paid-in-full (259 cases filed this quarter are still ongoing).

Fifty-six households received judgments of eviction. The majority (89%) of judgments were default judgments, which are awarded automatically when a tenant does not appear at their hearing or trial date.

Roughly 786 unique households faced eviction this past quarter, with 14 households receiving two eviction filings during this period. One household received three filings in as many months. While most tenants facing eviction this quarter were in eviction court for the first time, at least 13 percent of tenants had been to eviction court at least one other time since 2024.

The vast majority (88%) of these households faced eviction because of non-payment of rent. The average amount owed at the time of filing totaling ​​was $4,019 - a higher amount than in previous quarters. Landlords filed for as little as $120. The remaining cases were filed either due to other lease violations, “holding over” past the end of their lease term, or a combination of reasons.

The EDDP program’s partner attorneys defended 15% of tenants this quarter and attended 233 hearings and trials. Only 1% of tenants who were represented obtained an attorney through a non-EDDP partner organization, underscoring the vast need the program’s services.