Delaware report flags low tenant rep rate, need for counsel

A study from the University of Delaware found that only 2% of tenants are represented in Delaware, compared to 86% of landlords represented either by an attorney or an agent.  Also of note is the fact that 28% of the eviction cases involved amounts owed of $1,000 or less, and 11% involved owed rent of $300 or less.  The report concludes that tenant representation would reduce the number of filed or withdrawn evictions (in Delaware, the filing fee is only $45) as well as improve outcomes in adjudicated cases.  Delaware has about 17,000 eviction filings every year and landlords are granted possession in about 4,000 of them.