Outcomes for February 2019

Residential summary process: Outcomes Report This report examines cases filed at least one year before reading, for which outcomes were largely known. Search Period Start: 2019-02-01 Search Period End: 2019-02-28 Earliest Case: 2019-02-01 Latest Case: 2019-02-28 Total Cases: 3006 Total Transfers: 67 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 31.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 53.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Monroe Bridge Least stable with 10+ filings: Gardner Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 111 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 515 17.1% central 507 16.9% western 415 13.8% eastern 412 13.7% southeast 352 11.7% metro south 225 7.5% quincy district 78 2.6% cambridge district 61 2.0% chelsea district 34 1.1% malden district 34 1.1% springfield district 26 0.9% waltham district 23 0.8% lynn district 21 0.7% somerville district 18 0.6% bmc west roxbury 17 0.6% orleans district 16 0.5% bmc east boston 15 0.5% fall river district 14 0.5% lowell district 14 0.5% barnstable district 13 0.4% dedham district 12 0.4% wrentham district 10 0.3% attleboro district 9 0.3% bmc dorchester 8 0.3% brockton district 8 0.3% framingham district 8 0.3% haverhill district 8 0.3% holyoke district 8 0.3% pittsfield district 8 0.3% salem district 8 0.3% westfield district 8 0.3% newton district 7 0.2% northern berkshire district 7 0.2% palmer district 7 0.2% fallmouth district 6 0.2% lawrence district 6 0.2% brookline district 5 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% plymouth district 5 0.2% stoughton district 5 0.2% woburn district 5 0.2% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% wareham district 4 0.1% bmc south boston 3 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% southern berkshire district 3 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% northampton district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc brighton 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2046 14 Natural Person 960 2992 Total 3006 3006 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 68.1% 0.5% Natural Person 31.9% 99.5% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1982 64 2046 Optional 450 510 960 Total 2432 574 3006 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 65.9% 2.1% 68.1% Optional 15.0% 17.0% 31.9% Total 80.9% 19.1% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1 13 14 Optional 148 2844 2992 Total 149 2857 3006 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.4% 0.5% Optional 4.9% 94.6% 99.5% Total 5.0% 95.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 167 5.6% 1 1936 64.4% 2 740 24.6% 3 112 3.7% 4 39 1.3% 5 5 0.2% 6 6 0.2% 7 1 0.0% Total 3006 100.0% Note: Households may appear with zero adults due to clerical delay entering known defendants, identity protection obscuring known defendants (e.g., 42 USC Sections 13701 through 1404 Violence Against Women Act), or no adult defendants (e.g., abandonment of minors). Initiating Action Count Percent Non-payment 1889 62.8% Cause 794 26.4% No Fault 226 7.5% Foreclosure 95 3.2% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Monroe Bridge 1190 1 New Ashford 438 1 Housatonic 398 3 West Dennis 321 7 Thorndike 289 2 Florence 210 2 West Wareham 184 4 Gardner 177 36 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Holyoke 135 54 Provincetown 135 4 Springfield 135 208 New Bedford 124 118 Fitchburg 116 47 Indian Orchard 109 11 Leverett 108 2 Sunderland 108 4 North Brookfield 106 5 Baldwinville 105 2 Randolph 105 34 Worcester 104 190 Athol 103 12 Fall River 103 92 Three Rivers 102 3 Stoughton 100 27 Hyde Park 98 33 Greenfield 97 17 Lowell 95 102 Dennis Port 94 3 West Yarmouth 94 5 Webster 89 15 Cataumet 88 1 Roxbury 88 53 Mattapan 87 32 Gilbertville 86 1 Lawrence 85 65 Milford 85 24 Dorchester 81 75 Lynn 81 74 Holland 80 2 Hyannis 78 11 Foxborough 77 13 Brockton 75 71 Rockland 74 13 Clinton 73 10 Haverhill 73 45 Roslindale 72 21 Chelsea 71 25 Rockport 71 5 Adams 70 6 East Falmouth 69 4 Pittsfield 69 31 Whately 66 1 Salem 65 27 Granville 63 1 Millville 62 2 Chicopee 61 34 Cambridge 60 64 Lynnfield 60 7 Peabody 60 31 Ware 60 6 Colrain 59 1 Marlborough 59 23 Southbridge 59 10 Winchendon 58 6 Whitinsville 57 4 Revere 56 29 West Springfield 56 16 Framingham 55 38 Whitman 55 8 Sagamore 54 2 Westborough 54 10 Malden 52 31 Abington 50 8 Everett 50 21 Hinsdale 49 1 Leominster 49 20 Quincy 49 46 Plainville 48 4 South Easton 48 5 Turners Falls 48 2 Dracut 47 14 Holbrook 46 5 Waltham 46 28 Forestdale 45 2 Norwood 45 13 Chelmsford 44 15 Oak Bluffs 44 2 Taunton 44 25 Westfield 43 18 Jamaica Plain 42 16 Southwick 42 4 Spencer 42 5 Braintree 41 15 Franklin 41 13 Palmer 41 5 Shirley 41 3 South Hadley 39 7 Millis 38 3 Plymouth 38 22 Danvers 37 10 Tewksbury 37 11 Watertown 37 12 Dedham 36 9 North Adams 36 5 Salisbury 36 3 Charlestown 35 6 Monson 35 3 West Barnstable 35 1 Berlin 34 1 Feeding Hills 34 4 Mendon 34 2 Pepperell 34 4 Somerville 34 26 Bridgewater 33 9 Hopedale 33 2 Lee 33 2 Littleton 33 3 Canton 32 7 Fiskdale 32 1 Easthampton 31 5 Gloucester 31 9 Lincoln 31 2 Norton 31 6 Beverly 30 12 Cotuit 30 1 Dorchester Center 30 28 Buzzards Bay 29 1 East Boston 29 12 Maynard 29 3 Essex 28 1 Newburyport 28 5 Osterville 28 1 Wakefield 28 7 Woburn 28 11 Allston 27 8 South Dennis 27 1 Wrentham 27 3 Weymouth 26 14 Mansfield 25 6 Methuen 25 12 Newton Center 25 1 Northbridge 25 4 Orange 25 2 Tisbury 25 1 Williamstown 25 2 Georgetown 24 2 Templeton 24 2 Kingston 23 3 Ludlow 23 5 Marshfield 23 6 Attleborough 22 10 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Hubbardston 22 1 Middleton 22 2 Millbury 22 3 Raynham 22 3 Saugus 22 6 South Grafton 22 1 Winthrop 22 4 Middleborough 21 5 North Andover 21 6 Oxford 21 3 Brighton 20 9 Brookline 20 12 Marblehead 20 4 Marion 20 1 Walpole 20 5 Westwood 20 3 Acushnet 19 2 E. Boston 19 8 Hadley 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Amesbury 18 3 Barre 18 1 Cherry Valley 18 2 East Wareham 18 4 North Billerica 18 2 Swansea 18 3 Winchester 18 4 Carver 17 2 Dudley 17 2 Medford 17 10 North Attleborough 17 5 Northampton 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Ashburnham 16 1 Belmont 16 4 Chatham 16 1 East Weymouth 16 9 Grafton 16 3 Mattapoisett 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Orleans 16 1 Topsfield 16 1 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 Lexington 15 5 Newbury 15 1 Stow 15 1 Agawam 14 4 Centerville 14 2 Dighton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Hanover 14 2 Holliston 14 2 Shrewsbury 14 5 Swampscott 14 2 Ayer 13 1 Cohasset 13 1 Halifax 13 1 Hingham 13 3 Hopkinton 13 2 West Boylston 13 1 West Roxbury 13 4 Andover 12 4 Ashland 12 2 Boston 12 75 Fairhaven 12 2 Lancaster 12 1 Natick 12 4 North Grafton 12 1 Rutland 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Waban 12 1 Westport 12 2 Assonet 11 1 Blackstone 11 1 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Melrose 11 3 Milton 11 3 Pembroke 11 2 Scituate 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Amherst 10 4 Roxbury Crossing 10 6 Southborough 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Hull 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Onset 9 2 Stoneham 9 2 Wareham 9 2 Burlington 8 2 Harwich 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Reading 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 South Boston 8 3 South Yarmouth 8 1 Tyngsborough 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Arlington 7 3 Billerica 7 3 Bradford 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Mashpee 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Auburn 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 Bellingham 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 North Reading 6 1 Holden 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 Acton 4 1 Barnstable 4 2 Falmouth 3 1 Needham 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton Highlands 3 3 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Newton 1 1 (not given) 0 11 North Egremont 0 1 span 0 5 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 527 375 Plymouth 403 174 Worcester 403 449 Bristol 347 286 Berkshire 322 52 Essex 309 340 Norfolk 300 256 Franklin 284 30 Barnstable 279 54 Suffolk 226 447 Middlesex 210 490 Hampshire 168 31 Dukes 73 3 Nantucket 56 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2654 88.3% Ongoing/Error 352 11.7% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1232 46.4% Dismissed 687 25.9% Defaulted 622 23.4% Heard 104 3.9% Other 9 0.3% Total 2654 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 117 88 183 61 9 Foreclosure 15 39 33 7 0 No Fault 37 36 142 7 0 Non-payment 518 459 873 29 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.4% 3.3% 6.9% 2.3% 0.3% Foreclosure 0.6% 1.5% 1.2% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.4% 1.4% 5.4% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 19.5% 17.3% 32.9% 1.1% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1336 50.3% 44.4% Judgment inferred 535 20.2% 17.8% No judgment 783 29.5% 26.0% Total 2654 100.0% 62.2% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 223 8.4% 0 78,266 3,048 6,213 679,750 Foreclosure 58 2.2% 0 28,404 2,381 6,318 138,120 No fault 95 3.6% 0 22,148 2,365 3,708 224,691 Non-payment 959 36.1% 0 132,772 3,578 5,318 3,432,156 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 2,000 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 Subtotal 1336 50.3% 0 132,772 3,350 5,442 4,476,719 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 64 2.4% 0 26,828 2,876 4,111 184,076 Defaulted 601 22.6% 0 132,772 3,425 6,257 2,058,812 Mediated 621 23.4% 0 23,400 3,104 3,017 1,928,085 Heard 41 1.5% 0 78,266 6,828 14,574 279,987 Other 9 0.3% 500 6,526 2,861 2,231 25,757 Subtotal 1336 50.3% 0 132,772 3,350 5,442 4,476,719 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 6 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1420 75.9% 53.5% 47.2% unknown 445 23.8% 16.8% 14.8% Total 1871 100.0% 70.5% 62.2% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1336 Range: 0.000 - 132772.700; Mean: 3350.838; Median: 2281.910; Stddev: 5444.583 Percentiles: 90th: 6947.170; 95th: 9375.000; 99th: 17228.340 0.000 - 162.186: 11 ## 162.186 - 342.608: 178 ########################## 342.608 - 722.510: 70 ########## 722.510 - 1522.442: 198 ############################ 1522.442 - 3206.797: 369 ##################################################### 3206.797 - 6753.418: 351 ################################################## 6753.418 - 14221.271: 109 ################ 14221.271 - 29945.770: 24 ### 29945.770 - 63055.669: 1 | 63055.669 - 132772.700: 2 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 223 Range: 0.000 - 78266.750; Mean: 3048.210; Median: 1421.000; Stddev: 6227.880 Percentiles: 90th: 7085.000; 95th: 10788.000; 99th: 21679.940 0.000 - 172.111: 6 ######## 172.111 - 340.471: 39 ################################################## 340.471 - 672.570: 15 ################### 672.570 - 1327.652: 28 #################################### 1327.652 - 2619.835: 41 ##################################################### 2619.835 - 5168.736: 40 #################################################### 5168.736 - 10196.577: 21 ########################### 10196.577 - 20114.258: 12 ################ 20114.258 - 39677.407: 2 ### 39677.407 - 78266.750: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 58 Range: 0.000 - 28404.940; Mean: 2381.383; Median: 206.280; Stddev: 6373.263 Percentiles: 90th: 14661.080; 95th: 19431.050; 99th: 28404.940 0.000 - 238.683: 40 ##################################################### 238.683 - 406.434: 10 ############# 406.434 - 9829.399: 1 # 9829.399 - 16709.528: 3 #### 16709.528 - 28404.940: 3 #### No Fault: Count: 95 Range: 0.000 - 22148.960; Mean: 2365.178; Median: 832.220; Stddev: 3727.823 Percentiles: 90th: 5501.270; 95th: 9375.000; 99th: 22148.960 0.000 - 224.166: 34 ##################################################### 224.166 - 373.915: 4 ###### 373.915 - 623.256: 4 ###### 623.256 - 1038.425: 5 ######## 1038.425 - 1729.705: 11 ################# 1729.705 - 2880.728: 7 ########### 2880.728 - 4797.251: 17 ########################### 4797.251 - 7988.378: 5 ######## 7988.378 - 13301.797: 3 ##### 13301.797 - 22148.960: 3 ##### Non-payment: Count: 959 Range: 0.000 - 132772.700; Mean: 3578.891; Median: 2648.580; Stddev: 5320.911 Percentiles: 90th: 6961.090; 95th: 9117.350; 99th: 14736.930 0.000 - 162.186: 5 # 162.186 - 342.608: 52 ######### 342.608 - 722.510: 45 ######## 722.510 - 1522.442: 152 ########################## 1522.442 - 3206.797: 311 ##################################################### 3206.797 - 6753.418: 293 ################################################## 6753.418 - 14221.271: 85 ############## 14221.271 - 29945.770: 12 ## 29945.770 - 63055.669: 1 | 63055.669 - 132772.700: 1 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 64 Range: 0.000 - 26828.920; Mean: 2876.191; Median: 1617.685; Stddev: 4144.113 Percentiles: 90th: 5663.300; 95th: 9346.040; 99th: 26828.920 0.000 - 275.032: 12 ############################################# 275.032 - 457.998: 3 ########### 457.998 - 762.241: 4 ############### 762.241 - 1268.149: 5 ################### 1268.149 - 2109.395: 14 ##################################################### 2109.395 - 3508.254: 8 ############################## 3508.254 - 5834.338: 11 ########################################## 5834.338 - 9702.248: 3 ########### 9702.248 - 16133.973: 2 ######## 16133.973 - 26828.920: 1 #### Defaulted: Count: 601 Range: 0.000 - 132772.700; Mean: 3425.646; Median: 2258.400; Stddev: 6262.463 Percentiles: 90th: 6964.040; 95th: 9608.810; 99th: 16448.280 0.000 - 181.506: 17 ##### 181.506 - 378.542: 77 ######################### 378.542 - 788.298: 33 ########### 788.298 - 1640.432: 102 ################################# 1640.432 - 3412.535: 165 ##################################################### 3412.535 - 7097.815: 145 ############################################### 7097.815 - 14761.755: 50 ################ 14761.755 - 30699.749: 8 ### 30699.749 - 132772.700: 1 | Mediated: Count: 621 Range: 0.000 - 23400.000; Mean: 3104.807; Median: 2395.860; Stddev: 3019.778 Percentiles: 90th: 6452.870; 95th: 8780.330; 99th: 14592.750 0.000 - 136.181: 4 # 136.181 - 241.822: 58 #################### 241.822 - 428.815: 21 ####### 428.815 - 759.808: 29 ########## 759.808 - 1345.691: 62 ###################### 1345.691 - 2382.753: 121 ########################################## 2382.753 - 4218.438: 152 ##################################################### 4218.438 - 7467.749: 108 ###################################### 7467.749 - 13219.295: 43 ############### 13219.295 - 23400.000: 9 ### Heard: Count: 41 Range: 0.000 - 78266.750; Mean: 6828.966; Median: 2003.570; Stddev: 14755.429 Percentiles: 90th: 14725.510; 95th: 28602.450; 99th: 78266.750 0.000 - 340.251: 9 ##################################################### 340.251 - 623.242: 2 ############ 623.242 - 1140.909: 2 ############ 1140.909 - 2087.865: 4 ######################## 2087.865 - 3820.106: 4 ######################## 3820.106 - 6988.849: 7 ######################################### 6988.849 - 12785.349: 2 ############ 12785.349 - 23388.737: 3 ################## 23388.737 - 42785.237: 1 ###### 42785.237 - 78266.750: 2 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 9 Range: 500.000 - 6526.980; Mean: 2861.920; Median: 2058.500; Stddev: 2366.573 Percentiles: 90th: 6526.980; 95th: 6526.980; 99th: 6526.980 500.000 - 646.637: 2 ##################################################### 646.637 - 1081.231: 1 ########################### 1081.231 - 1807.457: 1 ########################### 1807.457 - 2336.773: 1 ########################### 2336.773 - 3905.525: 1 ########################### 3905.525 - 5048.922: 1 ########################### 5048.922 - 6526.980: 2 ##################################################### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1310 70.0% 49.4% 43.6% Issued 1134 60.6% 42.7% 37.7% Levied 245 13.1% 9.2% 8.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 14 5.7% 0.7% 0.5% 0.5% Foreclosure 19 7.8% 1.0% 0.7% 0.6% No Fault 28 11.4% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% Non-payment 184 75.1% 9.8% 6.9% 6.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 245 100.0% 13.1% 9.2% 8.2% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 20 8.2% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 90 36.7% 4.8% 3.4% 3.0% Mediated 130 53.1% 6.9% 4.9% 4.3% Heard 5 2.0% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 245 100.0% 13.1% 9.2% 8.2% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 19 95 20.0% No Fault 28 226 12.4% Non-payment 184 1889 9.7% Cause 14 794 1.8% Unknown/Other 0 2 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 90 622 14.5% Mediated 130 1232 10.6% Heard 5 104 4.8% Dismissed 20 687 2.9% Other 0 9 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 0 2057 86 247 Non-payment 0 2076 36 151 No Fault 0 1561 39 114 Foreclosure 8 1411 59 154 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2076 46 170 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 2076 51 182 Defaulted 0 1570 34 115 Mediated 0 2057 35 135 Heard 3 1850 205 442 Other 10 199 43 60 All Outcomes 0 2076 46 170 All Cases: Count: 2654 Range: 0.000 - 2076.000; Mean: 46.347; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 170.267 Percentiles: 90th: 52.000; 95th: 126.000; 99th: 987.000 0.000 - 4.770: 14 # 4.770 - 10.096: 467 ################### 10.096 - 20.341: 1299 ##################################################### 20.341 - 40.044: 537 ###################### 40.044 - 77.937: 146 ###### 77.937 - 150.814: 69 ### 150.814 - 290.972: 51 ## 290.972 - 560.531: 28 # 560.531 - 1078.953: 11 | 1078.953 - 2076.000: 25 # By Reason Cause: Count: 458 Range: 0.000 - 2057.000; Mean: 86.932; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 247.574 Percentiles: 90th: 158.000; 95th: 367.000; 99th: 1563.000 0.000 - 6.468: 6 ## 6.468 - 12.942: 96 ############################## 12.942 - 25.030: 171 ##################################################### 25.030 - 47.598: 70 ###################### 47.598 - 89.730: 47 ############### 89.730 - 168.391: 26 ######## 168.391 - 315.249: 13 #### 315.249 - 589.430: 14 #### 589.430 - 1101.318: 6 ## 1101.318 - 2057.000: 8 ## Non-payment: Count: 1879 Range: 0.000 - 2076.000; Mean: 36.599; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 151.040 Percentiles: 90th: 33.000; 95th: 63.000; 99th: 632.000 0.000 - 4.770: 9 | 4.770 - 10.096: 375 ################### 10.096 - 20.341: 1020 ##################################################### 20.341 - 40.044: 321 ################# 40.044 - 77.937: 73 #### 77.937 - 150.814: 28 # 150.814 - 290.972: 18 # 290.972 - 560.531: 10 # 560.531 - 1078.953: 5 | 1078.953 - 2076.000: 15 # No Fault: Count: 222 Range: 0.000 - 1561.000; Mean: 39.369; Median: 18.500; Stddev: 114.230 Percentiles: 90th: 47.000; 95th: 156.000; 99th: 371.000 0.000 - 14.073: 64 ###################################### 14.073 - 24.242: 90 ##################################################### 24.242 - 41.274: 38 ###################### 41.274 - 69.797: 11 ###### 69.797 - 117.566: 6 #### 117.566 - 197.566: 5 ### 197.566 - 331.544: 4 ## 331.544 - 555.921: 2 # 555.921 - 1561.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 94 Range: 8.000 - 1411.000; Mean: 59.883; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 154.300 Percentiles: 90th: 142.000; 95th: 222.000; 99th: 1411.000 8.000 - 13.921: 8 ######## 13.921 - 23.738: 55 ##################################################### 23.738 - 40.013: 9 ######### 40.013 - 66.995: 4 #### 66.995 - 111.730: 7 ####### 111.730 - 185.895: 5 ##### 185.895 - 308.854: 4 #### 308.854 - 512.708: 1 # 512.708 - 1411.000: 1 # By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 687 Range: 0.000 - 2076.000; Mean: 51.410; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 182.917 Percentiles: 90th: 67.000; 95th: 151.000; 99th: 1087.000 0.000 - 6.475: 16 ### 6.475 - 12.968: 197 ################################## 12.968 - 25.102: 307 ##################################################### 25.102 - 47.776: 75 ############# 47.776 - 90.148: 37 ###### 90.148 - 169.328: 28 ##### 169.328 - 317.290: 8 # 317.290 - 593.787: 6 # 593.787 - 1110.473: 6 # 1110.473 - 2076.000: 6 # Defaulted: Count: 622 Range: 0.000 - 1570.000; Mean: 34.762; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 115.962 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 116.000; 99th: 311.000 0.000 - 6.269: 1 | 6.269 - 12.209: 161 ######################### 12.209 - 23.005: 335 ##################################################### 23.005 - 42.622: 67 ########### 42.622 - 78.272: 22 ### 78.272 - 143.055: 9 # 143.055 - 260.783: 13 ## 260.783 - 474.722: 10 ## 474.722 - 1570.000: 3 | Mediated: Count: 1232 Range: 0.000 - 2057.000; Mean: 35.983; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 135.250 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 73.000; 99th: 385.000 0.000 - 4.764: 2 | 4.764 - 10.076: 210 ################## 10.076 - 20.282: 629 ##################################################### 20.282 - 39.893: 265 ###################### 39.893 - 77.575: 63 ##### 77.575 - 149.979: 27 ## 149.979 - 289.100: 12 # 289.100 - 556.417: 9 # 556.417 - 1070.058: 4 | 1070.058 - 2057.000: 6 # Heard: Count: 104 Range: 3.000 - 1850.000; Mean: 205.202; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 442.894 Percentiles: 90th: 382.000; 95th: 1553.000; 99th: 1563.000 3.000 - 6.389: 4 ######## 6.389 - 12.650: 23 ############################################### 12.650 - 24.215: 26 ##################################################### 24.215 - 45.580: 13 ########################### 45.580 - 85.046: 7 ############## 85.046 - 157.953: 5 ########## 157.953 - 292.631: 10 #################### 292.631 - 541.422: 6 ############ 541.422 - 1001.009: 1 ## 1001.009 - 1850.000: 9 ################## Other Outcome: Count: 9 Range: 10.000 - 199.000; Mean: 43.667; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 60.743 Percentiles: 90th: 199.000; 95th: 199.000; 99th: 199.000 10.000 - 13.701: 4 ##################################################### 13.701 - 25.259: 2 ########################### 25.259 - 45.904: 1 ############# 45.904 - 61.687: 1 ############# 61.687 - 199.000: 1 ############# -- Data Sources (report errors to hello@masslandlords.net): County Data Households Percent Renters Barnstable 96,509 20.0% Berkshire 53,792 30.0% Bristol 220,528 37.3% Dukes 18,146 22.6% Essex 297,898 36.9% Franklin 30,927 34.1% Hampden 179,970 39.5% Hampshire 60,002 30.7% Middlesex 612,366 38.1% Nantucket 11,399 30.8% Norfolk 269,717 31.6% Plymouth 191,041 22.6% Suffolk 309,945 63.7% Worcester 316,162 35.2% County Households: 2019 ACS TableID S1101 County Households and Renters, Dukes and Nantucket: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts County Households and Renters, Large Counties: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S11&g=0400000US25.050000&d=ACS%201-Year%20Estimates%20Subject%20Tables&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=true Dukes County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts Nantucket County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts -- Methodology Publicly available records at MassCourts.org are read fully manually at two intervals: 1.) For a filings report, once within approximately one week of filing; 2.) For an outcomes report, once again approximately 12 to 18 months after filing. Cases are searched by 'case type' = 'summary process', party type = 'plaintiff' within date ranges, typically weekly. MassCourts.org displays matches, not cases. X plaintiffs on a single case result in X separate matches. Cases are manually de-duplicated. Where the number of matches exceeds the number displayed (e.g., 'Displaying 100 of 257 total matches.'), date ranges are reduced until all cases may be viewed. If the date range cannot be reduced (i.e., is one day) but matches still exceed the display limit of 100, then two additional passes are taken. First, municipalities are filtered in stages. Second, to capture cases with no municipality entered, the search switches from 'case type' to 'case number', guessing the missing numbers assuming serialized entry. This method results in 'matches' reconciled to case counts. This effort costs more than 1 FTE. Summary spreadsheets are produced by copying exactly what is read. The spreadsheets are processed using proprietary software. Repeated analyses of local spreadsheets does not burden the MassCourts servers. The software is developed using best practices for revision control and regression testing. Limitations: Data are snapshots. As such, we cannot track individual cases over time or produce real-time reports. MassLandlords does not have access to court databases beyond what is published in human readable form at MassCourts.org. As of this report, MassLandlords staff were not considering information available to attorneys (e.g., the contents of notices, discovery, evidence, etc.) but not available to the general public. All data presented here are readily verifiable at MassCourts.org without special permission. Information is not independently verified outside of the court record. For instance, clerical errors in address, omissions of a defendant, etc. are not readily verifiable. As this process matures, reporting algorithms may change. Transfers are counted as new cases. Clerical differences between original case and transfer (e.g., middle initial included then dropped; defendant dropped on transfer; street address spelling changed) as well as the potential for indefinite circular transferring (e.g., foreclosure cases moving between housing, land, and/or superior courts) make it very difficult to programmatically identify continuing matters. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.