Preserve Strong Communities with Housing Mediation

Back Rent and Bedbugs

Henry and Michael had an amicable landlord-tenant relationship for five years, and after the judge in eviction court referred them to mediation, they both expressed a desire to preserve that relationship. They ended up in court primarily due to lack of communication. Michael failed to pay a couple of months’ rent and when Henry tried to reach out to him, Michael ceased all communication. Henry, frustrated about his money and inability to speak with his tenant, sued for eviction.

During the mediation, both parties were friendly with each other. Michael admitted he failed to make the payment and acknowledged that he cut off all communication with the landlord. Henry was kind and told Michael that he understood, but that he needed to get paid in order to run the building, and his finances had been stressed by some recent necessary repairs.

Over the past five years, there had been a couple of other times when Michael could not pay the rent and would communicate his inability to pay to Henry, and the two would come up with a payment plan. These payments ranged from week-to-week or even day-by-day. Henry was surprised Michael did not inform him about his financial hardships like he had in the past. Michael said that he was embarrassed and for that reason decided to not answer Henry’s efforts to speak with him.

Michael also mentioned that he recently heard from another tenant that there was an issue with bedbugs in her unit. This was news to Henry, and he was alarmed, and glad that Michael had mentioned it. Michael was concerned the infestation would spread to other units, and offered to help Henry look into companies to evaluate the situation.

During the mediation, communication was the main issue. The landlord informed the tenant that the only reason he sued him was because he couldn’t think of any other way to get him to respond. Since both were interested in continuing their relationship, they were able to come to an agreement. Michael told Henry that his work hours had picked up over the past couple of weeks and that he could pay him in cash for the past due rent the next day. He also promised Henry that the next time he thought he might have difficulty paying on time that he would contact him and be transparent about his financial situation. Henry promised to immediately look into and correct the potential bedbug infestation.

When the mediation ended, both parties shook hands over their agreement. Mediation gave them a chance to problem-solve together and provided a venue for them to exchange important information.