In court-decided eviction outcomes for Solon, IA, tenants prevail in roughly 21.8% 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
48d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Solon, IA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 48 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.7–4.2k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Solon, IA costs landlords $1,651 to $4,170 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$1,127
41% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Solon, IA is $1,127 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 41% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
20.8%
of households
20.8% of occupied housing units in Solon, IA 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
1.8%
1.3% unemp.
1.8% of Solon, IA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 1.3%. 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
Dem margin +38.1% (2024)
7.4
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
7.4
State political climate
Iowa legislature & governorship
2.3
Economic stress
1.8% poverty · 1.3% unemp.
2.8
Supply constraint
$1,127 average · 20.8% renters
5.9
Rent Control risk
41.3% of income on rent
8.4
Eviction process difficulty
48 days filing → judgment
2.6
Tenant organizing strength
20.8% renters
4.6
Housing court bias
County bench composition
5.2
Geographic context
Risk heat across Solon and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Solon compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Johnson County
High
#3of 13 cities
#3 of 13 cities in Johnson County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Iowa
Moderate
#506of 1,026 cities
#506 of 1,026 cities in Iowa for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.5
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 2.5/10. 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
48d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $1,127/mo. A contested eviction takes 48 days and costs $1,651–$4,170 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
20.8%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 3,152 residents, 20.8% rent. 41% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 1.8% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
7.4
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 7.4 and 7.4 (Dem margin +38.1% (2024)). State climate at 2.3, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
2.3
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 2.3/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 2.6, housing court bias 5.2, rent-control risk 8.4. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-2.4 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
2.8
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 2.8. Supply constraint: 5.9. The numbers behind those: 1.8% poverty, 1.3% unemployment, 41% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Solon sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Solon · 48d · ~$2.9k all-in ($61/day) · score 2.5National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Solon, Iowa, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.5/10 (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.
Solon is a city of 3,152 residents where 20.8% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 41.3% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,127/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 Solon eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 2.6/10, 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 Solon closes 48 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 Solon's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 5.2/10 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 Solon runs $1,651 to $4,170 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 48 days of typical timeline and $1,127/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 4.6/10 in Solon, and the city sits at the top of the rent control risk spectrum (8.4/10). 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 Iowa, 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 Solon: 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 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 Iowa's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $4,170 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Solon
Trap · 43.2 POINTS
Politically, Johnson County voted Democratic by 43.2 points in 2020, a baseline that correlates with tenant-protective legislative pressure. Combined with 41.3% rent-to-income ratio, expect baseline enforcement of Iowa Code 562A URLTA.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I really do an eviction myself in Solon, IA?
Yes, you can represent yourself in an eviction case in Iowa. However, the legal process is complex, and any error in notices, filing, or court procedure can lead to delays or even dismissal of your case. For most landlords, especially first-timers, hiring an attorney is a sound investment to ensure it's done correctly and efficiently. The cost of a mistake often outweighs the attorney's fees.
Q2
What if my tenant claims a maintenance issue to avoid paying rent?
In Iowa, tenants generally cannot withhold rent for maintenance issues unless they have followed specific legal steps, such as giving you written notice of the problem and a reasonable time to fix it. If they haven't followed those steps, their claim typically won't stop a non-payment eviction. Always address legitimate maintenance requests promptly, but don't let a tenant use it as an excuse for non-payment without proper legal basis.
Q3
How quickly can I change the locks after an eviction judgment?
You cannot change the locks immediately after a judgment. After the court grants you a writ of possession, you must coordinate with the sheriff's department. The sheriff will be the one to officially execute the writ and perform the lockout, typically posting a notice of the lockout date. Only after the sheriff has completed this process can you legally change the locks and regain possession of your property.
Q4
Are there any rent control rules I need to worry about in Solon?
No, there are no statewide rent control laws in Iowa, and Solon does not have any local rent control ordinances. Our Iowa rent control rules page confirms this. This means you generally have the flexibility to set and adjust rent based on market conditions, provided you give proper notice for rent increases as specified in your lease or by state law.
Q5
What if my tenant leaves belongings behind after an eviction?
Iowa law dictates how you must handle a tenant's abandoned property. You can't just throw it away. You typically need to store it for a certain period and notify the tenant of where they can retrieve it. If they don't claim it within the specified time, you may then dispose of or sell the items, with specific rules for applying proceeds to any debts. Consult legal counsel or review Iowa Code § 562A.29 for the precise requirements.
Q6
Can I include a clause in my lease that waives the 3-day notice period?
No, you cannot. Provisions in a lease that attempt to waive a tenant's rights under Iowa Code § 562A, such as the right to a proper notice period before eviction, are generally unenforceable. The law is designed to protect tenants, and you must adhere to the statutory notice periods regardless of what your lease states. Always follow the letter of the law for notices.
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Solon, IA Eviction Risk 4.3/10: Landlord Playbook for 2024
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Solon, IA's 4.3/10 eviction risk means 3-day notices and 48-day evictions. Expect $1,651-$4,170 costs. Get your step-by-step landlord guide.
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Solon, Iowa isn't a huge city, but for landlords, it presents a specific set of circumstances. With a population of just over 3,100, you're dealing with a smaller, more tight-knit rental market. This means tenant relationships can feel more personal, but the rules are still the rules. Our data gives Solon an Eviction Risk Score of 4.3/10, placing it in the moderate tier. That's better than many larger cities, but it's not a free pass. You still need to know what you're doing.
The local rental landscape here in Johnson County has a renter share of about 20.8%, with a average rent of $1,127/month. Rent-to-income ratio is 41.3%, which is high enough to flag some potential payment issues down the line. While the eviction process difficulty sub-score is low at 2.6/10, don't mistake "easier" for "simple." You still need to follow Iowa eviction law to the letter. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you the specific, actionable steps you need to manage your Solon rentals effectively.
A 2.5/10 places Solon in the 62nd percentile of Iowa 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 Solon (2.5/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
