In court-decided eviction outcomes for Davison, MI, tenants prevail in roughly 32.9% 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
64d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Davison, MI until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 64 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$2.3–6.7k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Davison, MI costs landlords $2,256 to $6,704 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$891
33% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Davison, MI is $891 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 33% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
52.1%
of households
52.1% of occupied housing units in Davison, MI 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
16.2%
10.2% unemp.
16.2% of Davison, MI residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 10.2%. 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 +4.2% (2024)
5.9
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
5.9
State political climate
Michigan legislature & governorship
3.3
Economic stress
16.2% poverty · 10.2% unemp.
8.0
Supply constraint
$891 average · 52.1% renters
6.9
Rent Control risk
32.8% of income on rent
7.4
Eviction process difficulty
64 days filing → judgment
3.5
Tenant organizing strength
52.1% renters
9.3
Housing court bias
County bench composition
7.2
Geographic context
Risk heat across Davison and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Davison compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Genesee County
High
#3of 18 cities
#3 of 18 cities in Genesee County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Michigan
Very High
#11of 743 cities
#11 of 743 cities in Michigan for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3.6
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3.6/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+1.3 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
64d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $891/mo. A contested eviction takes 64 days and costs $2,256–$6,704 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
52.1%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 5,076 residents, 52.1% rent. 33% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 16.2% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
5.9
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 5.9 and 5.9 (Dem margin +4.2% (2024)). State climate at 3.3, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
3.3
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 3.3/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 3.5, housing court bias 7.2, rent-control risk 7.4. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-1.5 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
8
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the real risk.
Economic stress: 8. Supply constraint: 6.9. The numbers behind those: 16.2% poverty, 10.2% unemployment, 33% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Davison sits in the slow but cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Davison · 64d · ~$4.5k all-in ($70/day) · score 3.6National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Davison, Michigan, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3.6/10 (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.
Davison is a city of 5,076 residents where 52.1% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 32.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $891/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 Davison eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 3.5/10, 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 Davison closes 64 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 Davison's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 7.2/10 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 Davison runs $2,256 to $6,704 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 64 days of typical timeline and $891/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 9.3/10 in Davison, and the city carries meaningful rent control exposure (7.4/10). 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 Michigan, 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 Davison: 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 Michigan's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $6,704 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Davison
Trap · 52.1%
52.1% renter share against 5,076 residents produces roughly 2,644 rental occupants in Davison. Genesee County voted D 9.3% in 2020. Eviction filings tend to cluster in the multifamily rental corridor.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I evict a tenant for any reason in Davison, MI?
No, not for "any" reason. Michigan does not have statewide "just-cause" eviction requirements, meaning you can generally terminate a month-to-month tenancy with proper 30-day notice. However, you cannot evict for discriminatory reasons, in retaliation, or without following the strict legal process for reasons like non-payment or lease violations. Always have a legitimate reason and follow the legal steps.
Q2
What if my tenant damages the property beyond normal wear and tear?
You can use the security deposit to cover damages beyond normal wear and tear. However, you must provide an itemized list of deductions to the tenant within 30 days of them vacating the property. Keep clear documentation (photos, repair receipts) to justify these deductions. If the damages exceed the security deposit, you may need to pursue the tenant in small claims court.
Q3
How long does it typically take to get a court date for an eviction in Davison?
After filing your complaint, it usually takes 10-20 days to get your first court date. This can vary based on the court's schedule. Remember, this is just for the initial hearing; the entire process, including notices and potential appeals, averages 64 days in Davison.
Q4
Is rent control an issue in Davison?
Currently, no. Michigan has a state preemption law against rent control, meaning local municipalities like Davison cannot enact their own rent control ordinances. Our data shows a rent-control-risk sub-score of 7.4/10, which reflects potential future legislative changes at the state level, but for now, it's not a direct local concern. You can read more about this on our Michigan rent control rules page.
Q5
Should I offer "cash for keys" in Davison?
It's often a smart move, especially given the average 64-day eviction timeline and high costs. If a tenant is willing to move out quickly in exchange for a reasonable payment, it can save you significant time, legal fees, and lost rent. Consider it as a business negotiation to cut your losses and regain possession faster.
Q6
Where can I find more information about landlord-tenant laws in Michigan?
You can refer to the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) § 554.601 et seq. for the specifics of landlord-tenant relationships. Additionally, our Michigan eviction risk overview and Genesee County eviction guide provide comprehensive resources tailored to landlords in the region.
A 3.6/10 places Davison in the 99th percentile of Michigan 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 Davison (3.6/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
