Preserve Strong Communities with Housing Mediation

Center for Conflict Resolution mediates with hundreds of tenants and landlords each year, helping parties to come to practical agreements that meet their needs. The story below describes one of our recent mediations:

Catherine had lost her job and was unable to keep up with rent payments to her landlord, Yolanda. Catherine knew that she needed to move out of her unit, but needed time to plan. She indicated that she spoke with a legal aid attorney and they informed her that she would only have a few weeks to move out of the house. 

Yolanda attended the mediation with her young son. Yolanda explained she needed the rent money in order to pay the mortgage on the house and support her son. She said she was just making it each month and could possibly lose her house. 

Catherine and Yolanda agreed that they had a great relationship in the past. Yolanda indicated that she knew that Catherine had not intended to miss rent payments, but simply lost her job. Because of this, Yolanda said she was willing to forgo the late fees that had been accrued. Catherine acknowledged that she owed the Yolanda the past rent and was grateful that the landlord was willing to forgo the late fees. She was willing to make payments to repay the money she owed the landlord.

The parties reached an agreement that allowed Catherine time in the apartment until she received her next paycheck from her new job, which would allow her to pay moving expenses and to put down a deposit on a new unit. Payments on back rent would begin with Catherine's following paycheck in one month's time. The parties agreed on a realistic monthly payment amount, and that Catherine would make sure the house was presentable for viewings by interested parties.

The parties signed an agreement.