Landlords in Maricopa County sought to evict 7,809 renter households in September. That’s the second-highest number of filings the county justice courts have ever seen in a single month.

Last month’s filings were about 26% higher than the average for September and were just shy of the busiest month ever, which was August of 2005, when 7,902 evictions were filed. 

Filings in the county have been trending upward since the end of pandemic-era pauses on some types of evictions.

As rent prices have risen over the past few years, the average amount tenants owe has also dramatically increased. In 2019, the average eviction judgment in Maricopa County was just under $2,000. It’s now over $3,000, according to court records.

Maricopa County does offer emergency rental assistance and legal help for some qualifying tenants.