Struggling to communicate through an issue with your landlord? Landlord-tenant mediation may be right for you.
Landlord-tenant mediation is one of our most common types of civil mediations. Often, it involves disputes around rent charges, return of the deposit, or other aspects of the leasing agreement.
Through the mediation process, landlords and tenants are able to present their perspectives while also hearing from the other side. This means that sometimes parties are able to clear the air about unclear charges, rental expectations, or other communication issues they may have run into over the course of the living situation. Most of the time, parties choose to discuss their biggest grievances with the other party.
Mediators help distill down the fundamental issues of the dispute and talk through different solutions to the disagreement. As with many examples of mediation, both parties routinely walk away having succeeded in settling the dispute. But, not without some compromise.
I discussed many examples of landlord-tenant disputes that come to our center with our Mediation Manager Ethan Campbell. He explained that these forms of mediation are central to repairing harm in our community.
Through landlord-tenant mediation, RSCCM can support better communication and more balanced solutions to issues of housing. Ethan provided the following fictional example to demonstrate this.
Landlord-Tenant Mediation Example
“Jane MacDonald, a local tenant at Oak Bath Meadows, contacted our center after falling behind on rent due to unexpected medical expenses. As a single parent working multiple jobs, they were worried about losing their housing and wanted a neutral space to discuss solutions before the landlord pursued legal action.
Our trained mediator first met with the tenant to explain the process and identify key concerns.
Once the landlord agreed to participate, a joint session was scheduled, providing a structured and supportive environment for open communication and problem-solving.
The two-hour mediation resulted in a collaborative agreement that included a manageable repayment plan for past-due rent, the tenant’s commitment to apply for rental assistance, clear expectations for future communication and payments, and the landlord’s agreement to pause eviction proceedings as long as the plan was followed.
Through mediation, the tenant maintained stable housing while the landlord avoided the time, cost, and uncertainty of court. Both parties gained a clearer understanding of their responsibilities, and respectful communication was restored.
This case highlights how mediation empowers tenants and landlords to reach practical, mutually beneficial solutions. Which can help prevent unnecessary conflict and support housing stability within the community.”