Alexandria has logged 4,100 eviction cases so far this year; 84% of tenants received no legal information
Filings averaged 95 per week through October, with only 16% of tenants receiving legal information
Landlords filed 4,107 eviction cases in Alexandria through late October, averaging approximately 95 cases per week, and only 16% of tenants received legal information, according to city data reviewed by The Alexandria Brief.
Courts issued 1,398 writs of eviction, meaning those households were legally ordered to leave their homes. The average unpaid rent: $5,261.
The data, published on the city’s Office of Performance Analytics dashboard, shows housing instability affecting thousands of Alexandria families.
The numbers
2025 through late October:
- Summonses filed: 4,107 (up 19% from 2024)
- Writs issued: 1,398 (down 9% from 2024)
- Average debt: $5,261
- Cases for unpaid rent: 95%
- Tenants receiving legal information: 16%
- Landlord judgment rate: 27% (down 20% from 2024)
The average debt of $5,261 represents roughly two to three months of rent at typical Alexandria rates.
Recent Surge
The city recorded 3,738 eviction filings as of Oct. 2, according to ALXnow reporting. By Oct. 26, that number had grown to 4,107 — an increase of 369 cases in 24 days.
The federal government shutdown began on October 1. Approximately 13,000 federal employees reside in Alexandria.
Virginia law provides 60-day eviction protections to furloughed workers who request them and provide documentation, but the city doesn’t track how many residents have utilized these protections.
Five properties drive the surge
Mayor Alyia Gaskins told the City Council on Oct. 1 that a small number of properties are responsible for the increase.
“When you dive deeper into the data, what we’re finding is that it’s a small number of corporate landlords that are really driving increases in filings,” Gaskins said. “It’s about five properties where we’re seeing the greatest eviction filing.”
Gaskins didn’t name the properties at the public meeting.
City officials are examining Alexandria's authority to address properties with high eviction rates and what additional authority might be needed from the state, according to my October reporting.
Serial filings
City officials also identified “serial filings” — repeated eviction cases against the same tenants, Gaskins said in October.
“What we’ve talked about as a committee is kind of how do we begin to pinpoint who those people are, how do we engage with them, and how do we help put them on a pathway to better stability,” Gaskins said.
The dashboard doesn’t show data on repeat filings.
Most cases don’t reach judgment
Landlords won judgments in only 27% of cases filed in 2025. The other 73% resolved before court judgment through tenant payments, negotiated plans, voluntary move-outs, or dismissals.
Post-pandemic context
Gaskins told the council in October that eviction filings have increased substantially since 2020, when the city recorded 2,632 filings. However, 2020 figures reflected pandemic-era moratoriums and court closures.
After rental assistance programs ended in late 2021, filings spiked above 500 per week before settling into the current baseline of 300-400 per week — higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Who’s affected
Gaskins told the council that 57% of Alexandria households are renters, comprising a total of 43,000 rental households. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,280, she said.
The dashboard doesn’t show demographics of tenants facing eviction, which neighborhoods are most affected, or what happens to families after eviction.
Legal information gap
Virginia’s eviction process involves nine steps from initial notice to sheriff-enforced removal. According to the Virginia Poverty Law Center: “The earlier in the process you learn your rights and options, the better chance you have to avoid eviction.”
In some cases, tenants can pay everything owed by the court date and avoid judgment — but only for unpaid rent evictions.
Yet 84% of tenants in 2025 received no legal information, according to the dashboard.
Free legal resources:
- Eviction Legal Helpline: 1-833-NoEvict
- Local Legal Aid: 1-866-LEGL-AID
- Virginia Poverty Law Center: vplc.org
City response
Alexandria’s Eviction Prevention Task Force coordinates services across multiple agencies and nonprofits. The task force is part of a broader housing safety initiative, including the city’s Safe Housing Team, according to Gaskins’ October remarks.
Available help:
- Emergency rental assistance: Department of Community and Human Services, 703-746-5700 or text 703-346-5599
- Legal Services of Northern Virginia: 703-778-6800
- Legal Aid Justice Center: 703-778-3450
- Landlord-tenant mediation: Office of Housing, 703-746-4990
Task force contact: evictionprevention@alexandriava.gov
The dashboard doesn’t show how many households the task force serves or its intervention success rates.
The housing gap
With landlords filing approximately 95 eviction cases weekly:
- 28 committed affordable rental units are currently available, according to Nov. 4 city data.
- Section 8 waitlists are closed (101-month average wait when open).
- Public housing waitlists are closed.
The city is updating its Housing Master Plan through 2040.
If you’re facing eviction
- Get help immediately: Call DCHS at 703-746-5700 or text 703-346-5599.
- Get legal information: Call 1-833-NoEvict or 1-866-LEGL-AID.
- Don’t ignore court papers: You must respond to avoid default judgment.
- Federal workers: Request 60-day protection if furloughed.
Methodology
This analysis utilizes the City of Alexandria Office of Performance Analytics' eviction dashboard, which is updated weekly. The Alexandria Brief reviewed annual, monthly, and weekly data through October 26, 2025, as well as historical trends from 2019.
Additional information from:
- My previous ALXnow reporting, Oct. 2, 2025.
- City eviction prevention resources.
- Virginia Poverty Law Center materials.
- City's affordable housing program documents.
- Screenshots captured Nov. 5, 2025.
The Alexandria Brief is a new community-focused news publication. We will continue monitoring eviction data monthly.
