Outcomes for November 2017

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: 2017-11-01 Search Period End: 2017-11-30 Earliest Case: 2017-11-01 Latest Case: 2017-11-30 Total Cases: 3124 Total Transfers: 83 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 36.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 55.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Gilbertville Least stable with 10+ filings: Turners Falls Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 107 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 southeast 490 15.7% western 481 15.4% northeast 468 15.0% central 453 14.5% eastern 427 13.7% quincy district 112 3.6% cambridge district 54 1.7% chelsea district 51 1.6% pittsfield district 47 1.5% malden district 38 1.2% woburn district 28 0.9% lynn district 27 0.9% fall river district 26 0.8% somerville district 26 0.8% stoughton district 26 0.8% bmc dorchester 22 0.7% brockton district 22 0.7% dedham district 20 0.6% lowell district 18 0.6% springfield district 18 0.6% waltham district 17 0.5% barnstable district 16 0.5% salem district 16 0.5% wrentham district 16 0.5% attleboro district 15 0.5% bmc west roxbury 15 0.5% framingham district 15 0.5% fallmouth district 14 0.4% haverhill district 10 0.3% northern berkshire district 10 0.3% concord district 9 0.3% holyoke district 9 0.3% bmc east boston 8 0.3% westfield district 8 0.3% ayer district 7 0.2% newton district 7 0.2% edgartown district 6 0.2% northampton district 6 0.2% orleans district 6 0.2% brookline district 5 0.2% lawrence district 5 0.2% newburyport district 5 0.2% plymouth district 5 0.2% taunton district 5 0.2% wareham district 4 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% chicopee district 3 0.1% natick district 3 0.1% new bedford district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% peabody district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% greenfield district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1982 3 Natural Person 1142 3121 Total 3124 3124 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 63.4% 0.1% Natural Person 36.6% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1795 187 1982 Optional 510 632 1142 Total 2305 819 3124 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 57.5% 6.0% 63.4% Optional 16.3% 20.2% 36.6% Total 73.8% 26.2% 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 2 1 3 Optional 228 2893 3121 Total 230 2894 3124 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% Optional 7.3% 92.6% 99.9% Total 7.4% 92.6% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 188 6.0% 1 2143 68.6% 2 639 20.5% 3 103 3.3% 4 31 1.0% 5 11 0.4% 6 4 0.1% 7 2 0.1% 8 1 0.0% 9 1 0.0% 11 1 0.0% Total 3124 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 1627 52.1% Cause 1132 36.2% No Fault 255 8.2% Foreclosure 109 3.5% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Gilbertville 434 5 Florence 421 4 Tyringham 305 1 Warwick 256 2 Turners Falls 243 10 Pittsfield 160 72 Fall River 155 138 Springfield 150 231 Savoy 144 1 New Bedford 134 128 Housatonic 132 1 Holyoke 130 52 Hyde Park 125 42 Fitchburg 121 49 Dorchester 116 107 Salem 113 47 South Grafton 111 5 Brockton 110 104 Vineyard Haven 105 2 East Falmouth 103 6 Orange 102 8 Mattapan 101 37 Southbridge 101 17 Lawrence 100 77 Whitinsville 100 7 Indian Orchard 99 10 Worcester 98 179 Hanscom Afb 97 2 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Chelsea 93 33 Chicopee 92 51 Lynn 91 83 Lowell 90 96 Roxbury 90 54 Gardner 88 18 Haydenville 88 1 Buzzards Bay 87 3 North Adams 87 12 Randolph 87 28 Revere 83 43 Petersham 81 1 Newton Center 77 3 Webster 77 13 West Stockbridge 76 1 West Yarmouth 75 4 Haverhill 70 43 Athol 69 8 Westfield 68 28 Ayer 67 5 Lee 67 4 Winchendon 67 7 Whately 66 1 Roslindale 65 19 Swampscott 65 9 Lanesborough 64 2 Dennis Port 63 2 Stoughton 63 17 Westhampton 62 1 Marion 61 3 South Lancaster 61 1 Danvers 60 16 Spencer 59 7 Clarksburg 58 1 Hull 58 6 Milford 57 16 Cambridge 56 59 Hyannis 56 8 Shutesbury 56 1 Whitman 55 8 Peabody 54 28 South Dennis 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Baldwinville 52 1 Dorchester Center 52 48 Woburn 52 20 North Eastham 51 1 Rockland 51 9 Stockbridge 51 1 North Andover 49 14 Framingham 48 33 Salisbury 48 4 Adams 47 4 Holbrook 46 5 Monson 46 4 Saugus 45 12 Leominster 44 18 Oak Bluffs 44 2 Taunton 44 25 Easthampton 43 7 South Yarmouth 43 5 Feeding Hills 42 5 Great Barrington 42 3 Southwick 42 4 Braintree 41 15 Boxborough 40 2 South Easton 39 4 Attleborough 38 17 East Dennis 38 1 Everett 38 16 Marlborough 38 15 North Attleborough 38 11 Barre 37 2 Millbury 37 5 North Falmouth 37 1 Quincy 37 35 Uxbridge 37 5 Clinton 36 5 West Tisbury 36 1 Charlestown 35 6 Groton 35 4 Medford 35 20 Plympton 35 1 West Springfield 35 10 Pocasset 34 1 Three Rivers 34 1 Dracut 33 10 Ashby 32 1 Beverly 32 13 Canton 32 7 East Boston 32 13 Fiskdale 32 1 Granby 32 2 Waltham 32 20 Wareham 32 7 Abington 31 5 Gloucester 31 9 Malden 31 19 Methuen 31 15 Northampton 31 9 Norwood 31 9 Bedford 30 4 Bellingham 30 5 Groveland 30 2 Ipswich 30 4 Mansfield 30 7 Jamaica Plain 29 11 Lunenburg 29 3 Raynham 29 4 Burlington 28 7 East Sandwich 28 1 Greenfield 28 5 Lakeville 28 3 Ludlow 28 6 Mashpee 28 4 Brimfield 27 1 Sagamore Beach 27 1 Sunderland 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Bridgewater 26 7 Carver 26 3 Dudley 26 3 South Boston 26 9 Middleborough 25 6 Amesbury 24 4 Auburn 24 4 Edgartown 24 1 Georgetown 24 2 Plainville 24 2 Chelmsford 23 8 Avon 22 1 Boylston 22 1 Bradford 22 3 Franklin 22 7 Littleton 22 2 Winthrop 22 4 Oxford 21 3 Plymouth 21 12 Seekonk 21 3 Westborough 21 4 Wilbraham 21 3 Brighton 20 9 East Freetown 20 1 Hudson 20 4 North Reading 20 3 Reading 20 5 Ware 20 2 Hanson 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Warren 19 1 Westport 19 3 East Wareham 18 4 Fairhaven 18 3 Swansea 18 3 Weymouth 18 10 Allston 17 5 Foxborough 17 3 Newburyport 17 3 Rowley 17 1 Tewksbury 17 5 Wilmington 17 4 Arlington 16 7 Chatham 16 1 Dedham 16 4 Mattapoisett 16 1 Roxbury Crossing 16 10 Topsfield 16 1 Wakefield 16 4 East Taunton 15 1 Marblehead 15 3 Marshfield 15 4 Newbury 15 1 Stow 15 1 Dalton 14 1 Hanover 14 2 Northborough 14 2 Shrewsbury 14 5 West Bridgewater 14 1 Belchertown 13 2 Brookline 13 8 East Weymouth 13 7 Shirley 13 1 Westwood 13 2 Billerica 12 5 East Longmeadow 12 2 Lancaster 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Longmeadow 12 2 Millis 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Sterling 12 1 Assonet 11 1 Douglas 11 1 Grafton 11 2 Manchaug 11 1 South Dartmouth 11 4 Sutton 11 1 Townsend 11 1 Needham 10 3 Somerville 10 8 Southborough 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 E. Boston 9 4 Natick 9 3 Rochdale 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Harwich 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Palmer 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 Agawam 7 2 Boston 7 49 Centerville 7 1 Dennis 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Holliston 7 1 North Easton 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Wayland 7 1 Duxbury 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Watertown 6 2 West Roxbury 6 2 Amherst 5 2 Holden 5 1 Norton 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Hadley 5 1 Acton 4 1 Belmont 4 1 Onset 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Andover 3 1 East Walpole 3 1 Falmouth 3 1 Melrose 3 1 Milton 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 Newton 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 28 Waldorf 0 1 span 0 2 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 Berkshire 650 105 Hampden 582 414 Plymouth 449 194 Bristol 438 361 Worcester 370 412 Essex 360 396 Franklin 265 28 Suffolk 255 505 Barnstable 233 45 Norfolk 213 182 Middlesex 177 414 Hampshire 168 31 Dukes 146 6 Nantucket 0 0 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 2712 86.8% Ongoing/Error 412 13.2% 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 1396 51.5% Defaulted 594 21.9% Dismissed 562 20.7% Heard 139 5.1% Other 21 0.8% Total 2712 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 138 168 318 89 21 Foreclosure 25 35 40 6 0 No Fault 49 45 145 14 0 Non-payment 350 346 893 30 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.1% 6.2% 11.7% 3.3% 0.8% Foreclosure 0.9% 1.3% 1.5% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.7% 5.3% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 12.9% 12.8% 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 1444 53.2% 46.2% Judgment inferred 545 20.1% 17.4% No judgment 723 26.7% 23.1% Total 2712 100.0% 63.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 412 15.2% 0 24,532 2,740 3,369 1,129,065 Foreclosure 48 1.8% 0 21,694 957 3,285 45,982 No fault 107 3.9% 0 18,000 1,628 2,536 174,261 Non-payment 877 32.3% 0 31,694 3,124 3,295 2,740,571 Subtotal 1444 53.2% 0 31,694 2,832 3,309 4,089,880 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 26,375 2,904 4,531 185,912 Defaulted 561 20.7% 0 31,694 2,586 3,205 1,450,977 Mediated 730 26.9% 0 24,726 2,981 3,220 2,176,832 Heard 69 2.5% 0 17,954 3,151 3,756 217,458 Other 20 0.7% 240 10,318 2,934 2,549 58,699 Subtotal 1444 53.2% 0 31,694 2,832 3,309 4,089,880 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 9 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% plaintiff 1510 75.9% 55.7% 48.3% unknown 470 23.6% 17.3% 15.0% Total 1989 100.0% 73.3% 63.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1444 Range: 0.000 - 31694.710; Mean: 2832.327; Median: 2007.025; Stddev: 3310.382 Percentiles: 90th: 6243.560; 95th: 8228.670; 99th: 16722.900 0.000 - 10.870: 1 | 10.870 - 67.534: 2 | 67.534 - 163.678: 12 # 163.678 - 394.698: 205 ####################### 394.698 - 949.804: 166 ################## 949.804 - 2283.643: 352 ####################################### 2283.643 - 5488.664: 476 ##################################################### 5488.664 - 13189.861: 149 ################# 13189.861 - 31694.710: 29 ### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 412 Range: 0.000 - 24532.780; Mean: 2740.451; Median: 1614.210; Stddev: 3373.430 Percentiles: 90th: 6747.610; 95th: 9253.400; 99th: 16006.900 0.000 - 109.656: 4 ### 109.656 - 200.659: 45 ############################# 200.659 - 366.504: 27 ################## 366.504 - 668.738: 21 ############## 668.738 - 1219.529: 45 ############################# 1219.529 - 2223.290: 62 ######################################### 2223.290 - 4052.542: 81 ##################################################### 4052.542 - 7386.167: 60 ####################################### 7386.167 - 13461.360: 28 ################## 13461.360 - 24532.780: 7 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 48 Range: 0.000 - 21694.990; Mean: 957.974; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 3320.477 Percentiles: 90th: 337.650; 95th: 6141.960; 99th: 21694.990 0.000 - 301.534: 39 ##################################################### 301.534 - 485.355: 2 ### 485.355 - 3247.376: 1 # 3247.376 - 8394.042: 2 ### 8394.042 - 21694.990: 1 # No Fault: Count: 107 Range: 0.000 - 18000.000; Mean: 1628.608; Median: 835.050; Stddev: 2548.469 Percentiles: 90th: 3706.510; 95th: 4410.860; 99th: 15760.900 0.000 - 168.597: 2 ### 168.597 - 283.785: 35 ##################################################### 283.785 - 477.205: 3 ##### 477.205 - 801.992: 5 ######## 801.992 - 1347.370: 11 ################# 1347.370 - 2263.157: 16 ######################## 2263.157 - 3800.929: 19 ############################# 3800.929 - 6383.128: 6 ######### 6383.128 - 10719.107: 1 ## 10719.107 - 18000.000: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 877 Range: 0.000 - 31694.710; Mean: 3124.939; Median: 2328.340; Stddev: 3297.854 Percentiles: 90th: 6424.870; 95th: 8249.990; 99th: 17289.050 0.000 - 10.870: 1 | 10.870 - 67.534: 1 | 67.534 - 163.678: 2 | 163.678 - 394.698: 59 ######### 394.698 - 949.804: 109 ################# 949.804 - 2283.643: 246 ####################################### 2283.643 - 5488.664: 336 ##################################################### 5488.664 - 13189.861: 95 ############### 13189.861 - 31694.710: 18 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 64 Range: 0.000 - 26375.180; Mean: 2904.887; Median: 1584.145; Stddev: 4567.517 Percentiles: 90th: 6559.330; 95th: 14143.480; 99th: 26375.180 0.000 - 304.269: 14 ##################################################### 304.269 - 500.017: 6 ####################### 500.017 - 821.285: 4 ############### 821.285 - 1348.561: 4 ############### 1348.561 - 2213.942: 11 ########################################## 2213.942 - 3634.234: 12 ############################################# 3634.234 - 5965.261: 5 ################### 5965.261 - 9791.016: 2 ######## 9791.016 - 16069.967: 3 ########### 16069.967 - 26375.180: 2 ######## Defaulted: Count: 561 Range: 0.000 - 31694.710; Mean: 2586.412; Median: 1695.380; Stddev: 3208.529 Percentiles: 90th: 5873.870; 95th: 7571.970; 99th: 13711.460 0.000 - 183.260: 28 ############ 183.260 - 325.458: 77 ################################## 325.458 - 577.394: 31 ############## 577.394 - 1023.755: 58 ########################## 1023.755 - 1814.586: 81 #################################### 1814.586 - 3215.723: 119 ##################################################### 3215.723 - 5698.153: 94 ########################################## 5698.153 - 10096.342: 45 #################### 10096.342 - 17888.729: 11 ##### 17888.729 - 31694.710: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 730 Range: 0.000 - 24726.580; Mean: 2981.963; Median: 2269.320; Stddev: 3222.920 Percentiles: 90th: 6458.450; 95th: 8441.000; 99th: 17289.050 0.000 - 10.579: 1 | 10.579 - 62.616: 1 | 62.616 - 148.111: 6 # 148.111 - 348.506: 72 ############## 348.506 - 818.218: 58 ########### 818.218 - 1919.194: 156 ############################### 1919.194 - 4499.810: 268 ##################################################### 4499.810 - 10548.604: 114 ####################### 10548.604 - 24726.580: 23 ##### Heard: Count: 69 Range: 0.000 - 17954.780; Mean: 3151.575; Median: 2189.000; Stddev: 3784.358 Percentiles: 90th: 7138.130; 95th: 10987.000; 99th: 17954.780 0.000 - 278.500: 5 ################# 278.500 - 442.865: 3 ########## 442.865 - 703.888: 4 ############# 703.888 - 1118.410: 4 ############# 1118.410 - 1776.700: 4 ############# 1776.700 - 2822.109: 16 ##################################################### 2822.109 - 4482.290: 10 ################################# 4482.290 - 7118.770: 9 ############################## 7118.770 - 11305.680: 4 ############# 11305.680 - 17954.780: 3 ########## Other Outcome: Count: 20 Range: 240.000 - 10318.630; Mean: 2934.968; Median: 1968.000; Stddev: 2615.675 Percentiles: 90th: 6116.000; 95th: 6271.950; 99th: 10318.630 240.000 - 349.899: 1 ############# 349.899 - 509.912: 1 ############# 509.912 - 742.894: 2 ########################### 742.894 - 1082.118: 1 ############# 1082.118 - 1576.032: 3 ######################################## 1576.032 - 2295.177: 4 ##################################################### 2295.177 - 3342.259: 2 ########################### 3342.259 - 4866.822: 1 ############# 4866.822 - 7086.604: 4 ##################################################### 7086.604 - 10318.630: 1 ############# 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 1456 73.2% 53.7% 46.6% Issued 1277 64.2% 47.1% 40.9% Levied 274 13.8% 10.1% 8.8% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 44 16.1% 2.2% 1.6% 1.4% Foreclosure 37 13.5% 1.9% 1.4% 1.2% No Fault 16 5.8% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% Non-payment 177 64.6% 8.9% 6.5% 5.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 274 100.0% 13.8% 10.1% 8.8% 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 18 6.6% 0.9% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 104 38.0% 5.2% 3.8% 3.3% Mediated 145 52.9% 7.3% 5.3% 4.6% Heard 7 2.6% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 274 100.0% 13.8% 10.1% 8.8% 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 37 109 33.9% Non-payment 177 1627 10.9% No Fault 16 255 6.3% Cause 44 1132 3.9% Unknown/Other 0 1 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 104 594 17.5% Mediated 145 1396 10.4% Heard 7 139 5.0% Dismissed 18 562 3.2% Other 0 21 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 2353 87 189 Non-payment 0 610 27 56 No Fault 0 684 46 102 Foreclosure 3 1061 68 148 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2353 47 118 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 1267 60 137 Defaulted 9 2353 43 148 Mediated 0 1061 37 80 Heard 3 756 89 141 Other 0 1095 188 308 All Outcomes 0 2353 47 118 All Cases: Count: 2712 Range: 0.000 - 2353.000; Mean: 47.122; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 118.764 Percentiles: 90th: 79.000; 95th: 168.000; 99th: 593.000 0.000 - 3.056: 16 # 3.056 - 7.226: 15 # 7.226 - 15.683: 1054 ##################################################### 15.683 - 32.833: 1008 ################################################### 32.833 - 67.615: 306 ############### 67.615 - 138.154: 135 ####### 138.154 - 281.211: 84 #### 281.211 - 571.336: 55 ### 571.336 - 1159.724: 29 # 1159.724 - 2353.000: 3 | By Reason Cause: Count: 734 Range: 0.000 - 2353.000; Mean: 87.341; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 189.075 Percentiles: 90th: 183.000; 95th: 456.000; 99th: 770.000 0.000 - 3.056: 4 # 3.056 - 7.226: 4 # 7.226 - 15.683: 177 ####################################### 15.683 - 32.833: 239 ##################################################### 32.833 - 67.615: 123 ########################### 67.615 - 138.154: 80 ################## 138.154 - 281.211: 49 ########### 281.211 - 571.336: 33 ####### 571.336 - 1159.724: 19 #### 1159.724 - 2353.000: 3 # Non-payment: Count: 1619 Range: 0.000 - 610.000; Mean: 27.590; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 56.850 Percentiles: 90th: 42.000; 95th: 70.000; 99th: 325.000 0.000 - 2.544: 3 | 2.544 - 5.281: 14 # 5.281 - 10.131: 289 #################### 10.131 - 18.726: 772 ##################################################### 18.726 - 33.957: 315 ###################### 33.957 - 60.949: 129 ######### 60.949 - 108.784: 47 ### 108.784 - 193.553: 26 ## 193.553 - 343.778: 5 | 343.778 - 610.000: 16 # No Fault: Count: 253 Range: 0.000 - 684.000; Mean: 46.387; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 102.299 Percentiles: 90th: 59.000; 95th: 216.000; 99th: 682.000 0.000 - 14.261: 50 ############################ 14.261 - 22.288: 94 ##################################################### 22.288 - 34.539: 58 ################################# 34.539 - 53.235: 23 ############# 53.235 - 81.765: 10 ###### 81.765 - 125.303: 2 # 125.303 - 191.745: 2 # 191.745 - 293.139: 4 ## 293.139 - 447.871: 2 # 447.871 - 684.000: 7 #### Foreclosure: Count: 106 Range: 3.000 - 1061.000; Mean: 68.689; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 148.435 Percentiles: 90th: 154.000; 95th: 326.000; 99th: 683.000 3.000 - 5.990: 1 # 5.990 - 11.214: 15 ################## 11.214 - 20.344: 44 ##################################################### 20.344 - 36.298: 17 #################### 36.298 - 64.177: 7 ######## 64.177 - 112.893: 4 ##### 112.893 - 198.024: 11 ############# 198.024 - 346.786: 2 ## 346.786 - 606.740: 2 ## 606.740 - 1061.000: 3 #### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 562 Range: 0.000 - 1267.000; Mean: 60.100; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 137.558 Percentiles: 90th: 129.000; 95th: 245.000; 99th: 669.000 0.000 - 2.813: 4 # 2.813 - 6.269: 13 ### 6.269 - 12.857: 135 ################################ 12.857 - 25.416: 227 ##################################################### 25.416 - 49.359: 76 ################## 49.359 - 95.003: 34 ######## 95.003 - 182.017: 34 ######## 182.017 - 347.900: 12 ### 347.900 - 664.136: 20 ##### 664.136 - 1267.000: 6 # Defaulted: Count: 594 Range: 9.000 - 2353.000; Mean: 43.093; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 148.045 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 132.000; 99th: 492.000 9.000 - 16.266: 249 ##################################################### 16.266 - 28.810: 211 ############################################# 28.810 - 50.469: 66 ############## 50.469 - 87.863: 19 #### 87.863 - 152.428: 26 ###### 152.428 - 263.901: 11 ## 263.901 - 456.367: 2 | 456.367 - 788.669: 8 ## 788.669 - 2353.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1396 Range: 0.000 - 1061.000; Mean: 37.306; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 80.508 Percentiles: 90th: 60.000; 95th: 118.000; 99th: 535.000 0.000 - 5.990: 4 | 5.990 - 11.214: 353 ####################################### 11.214 - 20.344: 476 ##################################################### 20.344 - 36.298: 297 ################################# 36.298 - 64.177: 133 ############### 64.177 - 112.893: 55 ###### 112.893 - 198.024: 34 #### 198.024 - 346.786: 16 ## 346.786 - 606.740: 15 ## 606.740 - 1061.000: 8 # Heard: Count: 139 Range: 3.000 - 756.000; Mean: 89.065; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 141.975 Percentiles: 90th: 319.000; 95th: 473.000; 99th: 630.000 3.000 - 5.757: 1 ## 5.757 - 10.415: 18 ############################### 10.415 - 18.283: 31 ##################################################### 18.283 - 31.574: 29 ################################################## 31.574 - 54.027: 14 ######################## 54.027 - 91.957: 12 ##################### 91.957 - 156.031: 12 ##################### 156.031 - 264.270: 7 ############ 264.270 - 447.118: 8 ############## 447.118 - 756.000: 7 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 21 Range: 0.000 - 1095.000; Mean: 188.667; Median: 30.000; Stddev: 308.120 Percentiles: 90th: 660.000; 95th: 724.000; 99th: 1095.000 0.000 - 16.427: 4 ########################################## 16.427 - 26.611: 5 ##################################################### 26.611 - 42.744: 2 ##################### 42.744 - 68.304: 3 ################################ 68.304 - 274.604: 1 ########### 274.604 - 435.643: 1 ########### 435.643 - 690.781: 2 ##################### 690.781 - 1095.000: 2 ##################### -- 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/.