antieviction

Antieviction refers to policies, programs, and movements aimed at preventing eviction and reducing tenant displacement. It seeks to keep renters in stable housing by limiting grounds for eviction, providing financial support, and expanding access to legal and mediation services.

Policy tools include just-cause eviction protections that restrict reasons a landlord can terminate a tenancy; eviction moratoriums or temporary pauses during emergencies; rent stabilization or control to limit rent increases; protection against unlawful screening; procedural safeguards such as proper notice and court review; and publicly funded rental assistance, legal aid, and relocation aid. In some places, anti-eviction measures are complemented by investments in public housing and affordable housing production.

Implementation varies by jurisdiction and may be targeted to certain populations or areas experiencing high displacement. The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread eviction moratoriums and increased emphasis on tenant protections, while some jurisdictions have rolled back or modified these measures as conditions changed.

Proponents argue that antieviction policies reduce homelessness, maintain community stability, and protect vulnerable households from predatory practices. Critics contend that overly restrictive protections can dampen housing supply, raise costs for landlords, and create administrative or legal delays. Evidence on housing supply effects is mixed and often depends on design, funding levels, and enforcement.

Antieviction is closely related to broader affordable housing policies and tenant-rights movements. Key metrics include eviction filing and eviction judgment rates, displacement indicators, and homelessness data, all of which inform policy evaluation and reform.