Sara Bybee: 'Despite important efforts to reduce evictions and keep families housed, there is one glaring problem that remains unaddressed: Landlords in Utah wield too much power in the Legislature.'
have previously reported on Utah state landlord-tenant policies being some of the least tenant-friendly in the United States. With three day pay-or-vacate laws and mandatory treble damages — in which tenants are required to pay three times their daily rent for every day they occupy the unit past the eviction date — debts quickly accrue.
Furthermore, most tenants don’t show up to court after being served official eviction papers, which means that a default judgment is issued . Unlike landlords, most tenants do not have legal representation in matters of eviction, further disadvantageing them in a situation that is already stacked against them. These policies disproportionately affect low-income renters and people of color.
None of this information is new. Utahns have been aware of these disparities for years and have been working to improve court processes and unfair housing policies. There have been a few notable accomplishments: Since late 2019, limited legal licensing allows non-attorneys to provide limited legal advice to tenants facing the threat of eviction.
Despite these important efforts to reduce evictions and keep families housed, there is one glaring problem that remains unaddressed: Landlords in Utah wield too much power in the Legislature. The Law Offices of Kirk Cullimore are responsible for nearly half of all eviction lawsuits handled in Utah. Despite assurances from Kirk Cullimore Sr. that his son, state Sen. Kirk Cullimore Jr. no longer handles eviction cases for the firm, Cullimore Jr. has boasted of
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