Housing report shows eviction rates in metro Atlanta surpass NYC's, Houston's — even whole states'

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Peter Hepburn (left), a researcher with The Eviction Lab, speaks in Atlanta in September 2026. The Eviction Lab studies the scope of the eviction crisis in Atlanta and its impact on renters.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

Researchers with a national nonprofit recently held a forum in Atlanta revealing the scope of the city’s eviction crisis and some potential solutions. The Eviction Lab reports the five-county Atlanta metro area had 142,047 eviction cases filed in the past 12 months.

That averages out to a 24% eviction filing rate or about one eviction filing for every four renters in the Atlanta metro area. The national average eviction filing rate is 7%. Atlanta’s eviction filing rate is higher than larger cities like New York, Houston, Boston and even some entire states. 

Eviction Lab researcher Peter Hepburn said a law giving renters a seven-day grace period to pay could mean fewer evictions are filed.

“If rent is due on the 5th, and it doesn't get paid on the 5th, but the tenant's going to get paid on the 10th and going to be able to pay their landlord, why are we creating a civil court case out of something that could be a simple transaction a few days later?” he said.

Hepburn shared his findings at an invitation only session at the Atlanta History Center. Attendees included lawyers, city of Atlanta employees, and housing advocates. 

Atlanta Chief of Staff Courtney English said he is looking at the data to identify opportunities to prevent an eviction. 

“Eviction relief is great, cutting people checks to help pay back rent, but it is like throwing a pebble into the ocean,” English said. “It is not nearly enough to stem the tide, if you will. What we really have to do is go further upstream before a person gets evicted in the first place.”

The city of Atlanta is working to identify community hubs to provide easier access to legal resources for people facing eviction or housing instability. 

Colin Delargy is the assistant director for housing strategy with the Atlanta Mayor’s Office. Delargy said the office is planning to expand an “Access to Counsel” partnership with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer’s Foundation which started at Thomasville Heights Elementary School. 

"We found that through their presence there and easy access they were able to reduce evictions," he said, "but most importantly is that fewer students were transferring midterm out of the elementary school. 

That, in turn, helps maintain student stability, learning outcomes, and future economic achievement, Delargy said.

Another proposed solution includes raising eviction filing fees. The average cost for a landlord to file an eviction in the Atlanta metro ranges from $55 to $75. 

Hepburn said a slightly higher fee could make landlords slower to file evictions.

"The national average is $110, so it's cheaper here," he said. "And if you look next door at Alabama, it's about $275. And you know what? There are a lot fewer eviction cases that get filed in Alabama."

The report also shares the geography and demographics of people facing evictions, including a list of the top 100 evictors.