Landlords in Arkansas and Oklahoma are facing growing headaches when it comes to serving evictions, especially with a group they call "serial property hoppers."
These are tenants who move from one rental to another, often leaving unpaid rent and damaged properties behind. The problem has gotten worse in recent years, leaving property owners frustrated and out of pocket.
Serial property hoppers take advantage of loopholes in the eviction process. In both states, landlords must follow strict rules to remove a tenant, like giving proper notice and going to court. This can take weeks or even months.
Meanwhile, these tenants rack up unpaid rent and then skip out before the eviction is final, only to repeat the cycle somewhere else.
“It’s like they know the system better than we do,” said an Arkansas landlord who asked to stay anonymous. “I had one guy live in my place for three months, never paid a dime after the deposit, and by the time I got him out, he was already set up in a new rental down the road.”
In Oklahoma, the story is similar. Landlords say these tenants use fake names, bad credit histories, or sob stories to get in the door. Once they’re in, it’s a battle to get them out.
“I’ve lost thousands trying to chase these people,” said an Oklahoma landlord who also wanted to remain unnamed. “They trash the place, leave, and I’m stuck fixing it up for the next person.”
The eviction process itself adds to the challenge. In Arkansas, landlords have to give tenants a three-day notice to pay rent or leave before they can even file in court. If the tenant fights it, the case can drag on.
Oklahoma has a similar setup, with a five-day notice period and court delays that can stretch out for weeks. During this time, serial property hoppers often vanish, leaving landlords with no way to collect what’s owed.
Some landlords say the courts are part of the problem. With so many cases piling up, judges can’t always move fast. Plus, tenants sometimes file appeals or claim hardships to buy more time.
“The law feels like it’s on their side, not ours,” the Arkansas landlord added.
There’s also a financial hit. Fixing up a property after a bad tenant can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. One Arkansas landlord said he spent $2,500 repairing walls, floors, and a busted sink after a hopper left.
“I can’t raise rent enough to cover that kind of loss,” he said.
Local officials are starting to notice. In Arkansas, some counties are looking at ways to speed up eviction hearings. Oklahoma has talked about tougher penalties for tenants who dodge rent on purpose.
But for now, landlords feel stuck. They’re calling for better tools, like a statewide database to track problem tenants, though privacy laws make that tricky.
For many, it’s a personal struggle too. “I’m not some big company—I’m just trying to pay my bills,” the Arkansas landlord said.
“These hoppers make it so hard to trust anyone.” The Oklahoma landlord agreed: “It’s not fair that honest people get burned like this.”
As serial property hoppers keep moving, landlords in both states are left cleaning up the mess--and hoping for change.
