Surge in Evictions: Unraveling the Stories Behind Maricopa’s Displaced Residents

Katrina Sandoval relocated to Maricopa in 2010, living on Cahill Drive in The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado, with a monthly rent of $1,800. Unfortunately, the landscape changed when her husband lost his finance job, leading to their eviction on February 17.

While the eviction itself is not disputed, a contentious issue arose regarding the treatment of Sandoval’s belongings. The landlords demanded $2,500 in storage fees, despite not storing the items, raising legal and ethical questions about the fairness of such a charge. Two landlord-tenant attorneys suggested that while this might be legal, it could also violate the requirement for storage fees to be reasonable.

“The charge you impose must bear a relationship to the cost of self-storage,” remarked attorney Steven Warren Smollens, questioning the justification for such a fee given that all of Sandoval’s belongings were in her garage.

Among the items locked away were critical necessities such as a wheelchair for Sandoval’s disabled daughter, family medical documents, and children’s clothing. As a result of this situation, legal implications appear to be evolving.

On February 28, Sandoval spoke from a hotel room, where her family found temporary shelter. Relatives were helping with the hotel bill but couldn’t afford to retrieve her belongings. Meanwhile, a junk removal crew was seen at her previous residence. Neighbors reported witnessing children’s toys and important documents being discarded, raising further alarm.

Arizona law prohibits landlords from charging storage fees for essential items like clothing or medical documents, yet the Sandovals felt powerless. Neighbor Michelle, a retiree, expressed her devastation upon watching the trashing of critical items, underscoring the human cost of eviction.

Efforts to contact Lux Home Group, the property management responsible for the eviction, saw the company’s website suddenly go offline as reports circulated. Subsequent attempts to reach their spokespeople yielded minimal cooperation, complicating the situation further.

Frustration among those familiar with the case is palpable. “The property management people are careless and evil,” lamented Michelle, capturing the sentiment of many affected by similar experiences. Sandoval is now weighing the possibility of filing a civil lawsuit against the management but struggles with the financial implications involved.

Evictions are not isolated incidents in Maricopa. The number of people displaced is on the rise; from four evictions in December 2023 to 22 in December 2024, and even higher numbers registered in January. Despite cooling rental prices in the Valley, landlords have evicted a record 87,197 tenants in 2024.

Experts cite an influx of new apartment constructions, particularly luxury units, leading to a troubling disparity in availability and affordability. As rent prices have fallen slightly in the Valley, the evictions continue to spike, revealing a crisis in housing stability.

Half of Maricopa’s January evictions involved middle-income renters, highlighting a growing trend of financial strain. For many households, rent now exceeds 30% of income, a critical threshold for economic strain. In fact, the burden of costs has more than doubled since 2001 for those in the middle-class earning over $45,000 annually.

The Sandoval family was feeling this burden acutely, with rent consuming nearly half of their monthly income. With ongoing financial challenges, their situation has deteriorated significantly since they first moved into their home.

In a broader context, eviction statistics have shown sharp increases, with landlord filings rising significantly from late 2023 to early 2024 in Maricopa. This surge is particularly concerning for the middle class, which traditionally has not faced such hardships in housing stability.

Concerning recent eviction trends, constable William Lee Griffin noted an increase in cases among middle-class families, emphasizing the changing dynamics of housing insecurity. As he navigates these scenarios, he expresses a desire to help both landlords and struggling tenants.

For the Sandovals, temporary accommodations are unsustainable, costing them upwards of $8,000 monthly in a cramped hotel room. The financial implications are dire, as they consider bankruptcy to move forward.

Recent legislative proposals aimed at aiding renters have failed to pass, subjecting families to a landlord-friendly environment. As the pressures mount, the future for middle-class renters in Arizona remains uncertain, creating a pressing need for systemic change.

The question persists: Will legislative reforms materialize in time to alleviate the burdens faced by families like the Sandovals in Maricopa? This situation serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing housing crisis.

Editor’s note: Katrina Sandoval is a pseudonym.