New York City is experiencing a surge in evictions, reaching the highest levels seen since 2018. According to data from the Department of Investigations cited by Gothamist, city marshals have removed more than 11,200 households so far this year, averaging about 1,500 evictions per month. This rate surpasses any year since 2018, when monthly evictions peaked at approximately 1,666.
The city contains around 2.2 million rental units. The recent increase in evictions comes as housing courts work through a backlog of cases that accumulated after the pandemic-era eviction moratorium ended in 2022. The clearing of this backlog has contributed to the current rise in evictions.
Ann Korchak of Small Property Owners of New York stated that eviction is “a last resort,” but necessary to keep buildings solvent.
City marshals appear to be financially benefiting from the uptick in removals. Last year, 29 officers collectively earned nearly $20.5 million, up from $14 million in 2019.
Since 2021, landlords across New York City have filed nearly half a million eviction cases. The Bronx has seen the largest share of these filings; over nine percent of its households received court notices last year. Although fewer than ten percent of filings lead to formal eviction orders, resolving these cases can take months or even years and often leaves both tenants and landlords uncertain about their future.
Despite the rise in actual evictions this year, new eviction filings have slowed somewhat. In 2025 so far, landlords are initiating about 9,500 cases each month compared with 10,500 during the same period last year.
Legal protections such as New York City’s right-to-counsel program have provided some relief for tenants facing eviction; however, access remains inconsistent due to income limits and capacity issues.
“One financial shock can be the precipitating factor for an eviction case,” Peter Hepburn of Princeton’s Eviction Lab told Gothamist.
Last month, the Robin Hood Foundation reported that one out of every four low-income residents in New York City cannot consistently afford rent payments and are vulnerable to displacement if faced with unexpected expenses. Housing advocates warn that increased evictions affect not only individual families but also schools, workplaces, neighborhoods—and property owners themselves.
