Serial Eviction Filing in Knox County, Tennessee

The focus of this research is understanding the prevalence and patterns of serial eviction filing in Knox County, Tennessee. Within the broader literature on eviction there has been a recent emphasis on the role of landlords and their decision-making around filing for eviction. In that vein, the practice of serial eviction filing (multiple evictions filed against the same household over time) has been identified as a behavior employed by some landlords that places undue burden on tenants. However, the extent of serial filing is difficult to assess because of challenges in obtaining and analyzing eviction data at scale, leading existing research to be limited and focused on larger metropolitan areas. This study expands upon current knowledge by assessing serial filing in a mid-size metropolitan region – Knox County, Tennessee – during a period before, during, and after the CDC’s eviction moratorium. It was found that approximately 11% of all eviction filings issued during the period observed were associated with a serial filing chain, though most did not progress beyond a second filing. There were also key differences found in case outcomes, legal representation, and the landlord types responsible for issuing them. Lastly, policy recommendations intended to curb the practice of serial filing on a local level are discussed in the final chapter.