In court-decided eviction outcomes for Hill 'n Dale, FL, tenants prevail in roughly 11.8% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
25d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Hill 'n Dale, FL until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 25 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.1–3.6k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Hill 'n Dale, FL costs landlords $1,144 to $3,632 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$1,373
29% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Hill 'n Dale, FL is $1,373 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 29% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
19.9%
of households
19.9% of occupied housing units in Hill 'n Dale, FL are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
19.5%
2.5% unemp.
19.5% of Hill 'n Dale, FL residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 2.5%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +37.0% (2024)
4.1
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
4.1
State political climate
Florida legislature & governorship
1.5
Economic stress
19.5% poverty · 2.5% unemp.
6.1
Supply constraint
$1,373 average · 19.9% renters
6.8
Rent Control risk
28.8% of income on rent
5.3
Eviction process difficulty
25 days filing → judgment
1.3
Tenant organizing strength
19.9% renters
5.6
Housing court bias
County bench composition
6.6
Geographic context
Risk heat across Hill 'n Dale and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Hill 'n Dale compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Hernando County
Very Low
#17of 20 cities
#17 of 20 cities in Hernando County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Florida
Low
#692of 949 cities
#692 of 949 cities in Florida for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.1
/ 10 · VERY LOW
The verdict
A Very low-tier market.
Composite 2.1/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend-0.3 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
25d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $1,373/mo. A contested eviction takes 25 days and costs $1,144–$3,632 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
19.9%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 3,083 residents, 19.9% rent. 29% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 19.5% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
4.1
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 4.1 and 4.1 (GOP margin +37.0% (2024)). State climate at 1.5, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
1.5
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 1.5/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 1.3, housing court bias 6.6, rent-control risk 5.3. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-3.7 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
6.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 6.1. Supply constraint: 6.8. The numbers behind those: 19.5% poverty, 2.5% unemployment, 29% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Hill 'n Dale sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Hill 'n Dale · 25d · ~$2.4k all-in ($96/day) · score 2.1National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Hill 'n Dale, Florida, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.1/10 (VERY LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Hill 'n Dale is a city of 3,083 residents where 19.9% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 28.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,373/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Hill 'n Dale eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 1.3/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Hill 'n Dale closes 25 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Hill 'n Dale's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 6.6/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Hill 'n Dale runs $1,144 to $3,632 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 25 days of typical timeline and $1,373/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 5.6/10 in Hill 'n Dale, and the city has limited rent control exposure (5.3/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Florida, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Hill 'n Dale: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a VERY LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Florida's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $3,632 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Hill 'n Dale
Trap · 19.9%
19.9% renter share against 3,083 residents produces roughly 614 rental occupants in Hill 'n Dale. Hernando County voted R 30.2% in 2020. Eviction filings tend to cluster in the multifamily rental corridor.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I evict a tenant in Hill 'n Dale for being late on rent just once?
Yes, if they don't pay after you serve the 3-day pay-or-quit notice. Florida law allows you to initiate eviction for non-payment of rent, even if it's the first time they've been late. Consistency in enforcing lease terms is important.
Q2
What if my tenant claims they can't pay due to financial hardship?
While you can sympathize, financial hardship is generally not a legal defense against eviction for non-payment of rent in Florida. You are still entitled to collect rent. You can offer a payment plan or a cash-for-keys deal, but you are not legally obligated to do so.
Q3
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Hill 'n Dale?
While you can represent yourself, especially for straightforward cases, it's highly recommended to consult an attorney. Mistakes in procedure can be costly. An attorney ensures compliance with Fla. Stat. § 83 Part II and can navigate any tenant defenses efficiently.
Q4
How long do I have to return a security deposit in Florida?
You have 15 days to return the security deposit if no claim is made. If you intend to make a claim for damages or unpaid rent, you have 30 days to send a written notice by certified mail, detailing your deductions. Missing these deadlines can mean you lose your right to keep any of the deposit.
Q5
Are there rent control laws in Hill 'n Dale or Florida?
No, Florida has a statewide preemption against rent control. This means local governments, including Hill 'n Dale, cannot enact rent control ordinances. Our Florida rent control rules page has more details. This gives landlords significant flexibility in setting and adjusting rents.
Q6
Can a tenant in Hill 'n Dale stop an eviction by paying rent after the 3-day notice?
Generally, yes, if they pay the full amount due (plus any late fees allowed by the lease) within the 3-day notice period. Once you've filed the eviction complaint, accepting full payment may require you to dismiss the case, though you can often negotiate for the tenant to cover your filing fees.
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Hill 'n Dale, FL Eviction Risk 4.5/10: Moderate Process, Landlord Guide
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Hill 'n Dale's 4.5/10 risk score means a 25-day eviction timeline. 3-day notice, $1,144-$3,632 cost. Practical FL landlord playbook inside.
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Landlords in Hill 'n Dale, FL (population 3,083) operate in a unique corner of Hernando County. It's not a huge city, and that often means less bureaucracy, but it doesn't mean zero risk. For everyday landlords with a few units, understanding the local eviction landscape is critical. Our dataset assigns Hill 'n Dale an eviction risk score of 4.5/10, placing it in the moderate tier. This score considers everything from court bias to economic stress on tenants.
A 4.5/10 risk score for Hill 'n Dale suggests a middle-of-the-road experience for landlords facing an eviction. It's not as landlord-friendly as some parts of Florida, but it's far from the tenant-heavy jurisdictions you see elsewhere. Rent-to-income ratio sits at 28.8%, meaning tenants generally spend a reasonable portion of their income on rent ($1,373 average). This can be a good sign for consistent payments. However, only 19.9% of occupied units are rentals, which means a smaller pool of renters compared to more urban areas. You need to know the specific rules here, not just general Florida law.
A 2.1/10 places Hill 'n Dale in the 30th percentile of Florida cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Hill 'n Dale (2.1/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
