Eviction filings in Denver were up in October 2021 compared to the previous year, but they were still below pre-pandemic numbers, according to recent reports from the Denver County Court.
The last time eviction filings were lower than 2020 was in 2008, the year of the Great Recession. Two years later, they peaked, at 10,241.
There were 423 filings in October 2021 versus 229 in the same month last year. Compare that to October 2019, when there were 807 eviction filings. Evictions were only up by one between October and September 2021, suggesting the end of the federal eviction moratorium, which expired in September, has not led to a much feared eviction frenzy.
"Rent payments have remained strong and steady, and eviction lawsuits have been abnormally low throughout the pandemic," noted Drew Hamrick, general counsel and senior vice president of government affairs at the Colorado Apartment Association, in a statement from mid-October. "The expiration of the eviction moratorium allowed our housing markets to return to normal, and that return hasn't brought a surge in eviction filings. Colorado's numbers remain well below pre-pandemic levels."
Based on city filings, certain zip codes are being hit harder than others.
In the last two weeks of October, the 80239 zip code, which includes Montbello and Central Park, faced the most eviction filings: 29.
The 80220 zip code -- which includes Delmar Parkway, North Aurora, City Park, Congress Park, East Colfax, Hale, Hilltop, Lowry Field, Montclair and Central Park -- saw 21 eviction filings.
The 80219 zip code -- which includes parts of North Alameda, South Alameda, Lasley, Thraemoor, Athmar Park, Barnum, Barnum West, College View, Harvey Park South and Harvey Park -- had 14.
Meanwhile, rent prices keep rising.
Denver's apartment market continues to favor landlords, with low vacancy rates and steadily rising rent, according to the Denver Metro Area Apartment Vacancy and Rent Survey, published by the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business and Colorado Economic Management Associates.
Average rent in Denver is now $1,726.36, according to the study. By the end of the third quarter this year, rent had grown 13.5%.
Eviction filings have traditionally risen during holidays and shoot up in January. October marked the second highest month of eviction filings since January 2021, when there were 661.
