Eviction Backlog Calculator

Eviction queues accumulate cost during delays.

Cases in backlog

Avg monthly rent in arrears

Avg wait months

Avg legal cost per case

Collection likelihood %

Total backlog exposure

$346,290

Rent lost in arrears

$302,400

Legal cost total

$105,000

How the math works

Rent lost = cases × arrears × wait months. Legal = cases × cost/case. Unrecoverable portion = (rent + legal) × (1 − collection).

42 × $1,800 × 4 mo = $302k rent. + $105k legal = $407k. At 15% collection: $346k unrecoverable exposure.

How to Use

Enter cases in backlog.
Enter avg monthly rent in arrears.
Enter avg wait months to eviction.
Enter avg legal cost per case.
Enter collection likelihood %.
Read total exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Typical timelines?

Pre-pandemic: 30-60 days in most states, 90-120 in tenant-friendly jurisdictions. Post-pandemic: 60-120 days normal, 180-360 days in cities with active backlog (NYC, LA, SF). Each month of delay adds unreimbursed rent + costs.

Cost components?

Legal (filing + attorney): $800-2,500 per case. Court filing fees: $150-500. Marshal/sheriff service: $200-500. Lost rent during pendency (biggest). Damages to unit often uncollectible. Typical all-in cost per eviction: $4,000-12,000.

Prevention?

Strong tenant screening (credit, criminal, income/rent ratio). Lease guarantors. Security deposits sized to cover 1-2 months eviction delay. Active collections before delinquency hits 60 days. Payment plan options before legal. Prevention pennies beat eviction dollars.

What documentation matters here?

Written leases, move-in/move-out inspections with photographs, ledger entries showing every payment and charge, served notices with proof of service, and contemporaneous emails or texts. Courts weigh written evidence heavily; informal understandings rarely stand. Institutional operators run a monthly file audit to catch gaps before they matter. Good paper trails recover most of what's owed.