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Housing mediation

Reaching resolutions through mediation. 

Mediation for private tenants and landlords

Housing mediation 

Housing Rights provides a free mediation service for:  

  • tenants and landlords in the private rented sector and
  • young people 

What is mediation? 

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process. It gets people to work together to resolve their housing issues.  Both parties need to agree to take part in the mediation process.  

How mediation works 

A mediator will help you and the person you are in a dispute with come to an agreement. The mediator will help both sides of a dispute talk and listen to each other. They try to solve the problem and do not judge. 

Mediation is free and it can take place:  

  • by phone
  • in person or
  • online 

 Housing mediation can help resolve disputes without needing to go to court. It provides a constructive environment to: 

  • help the parties communicate with each other
  • promote problem solving thinking
  • improve understanding
  • explore options
  • facilitate an agreement  

 Benefits of housing mediation include: 

  • improving relationships
  • finding a quicker resolution than legal action at a lower cost
  • sustaining accommodation
  • ending a tenancy well 

 Housing Rights currently provides mediation to:

  • private rented tenants and landlords/letting agents and
  • young people between 18-25 years old 

Housing mediation for private rented accommodation  

Tenancy disputes between landlords and tenants are quite common.   

We can provide mediation when: 

  • the tenancy is in Northern Ireland and
  • the tenancy is still active  

 Mediation is used to address issues such as: 

  • rent arrears
  • maintenance and repair issues
  • disagreements over responsibilities
  • ending a tenancy
  • antisocial behaviour
  • neighbour disputes 

We cannot help with disputes about deposits if the deposit was paid after 1 April 2013. This is because the deposit should be protected in a tenancy deposit scheme. Speak to one of our advisers if you need advice on deposit protection.  

Housing mediation for young people 

We can help when:  

  • one party is aged between 18-25
  • the dispute is related to housing  

Mediation for young people can help with disputes in: 

  • temporary accommodation/ hostels
  • shared accommodation
  • student accommodation
  • social housing
  • private rentals
  • family disagreements about housing 

We can help with disputes between: 

  • tenants
  • neighbours
  • tenants and landlords
  • tenants and accommodation staff
  • family 

Access our mediation service  

If you live in Northern Ireland and want to use our mediation service, get in touch.  

Call us on 028 9024 5640, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 2.30pm

Listen for the options on the phone message and choose the option for mediation. 

Email [email protected] 

Use the housing mediation service

Fill in the form below if you'd like to use the Housing Mediation Service.

If you don’t answer, can we text or leave a voicemail?
Are you under 25 years of age?
Why are you completing this form?
I'm a private tenant
I'm a private landlord
Which of these applies?

Sorry, we cannot help you until you can confirm that you are a registered landlord. Please do not submit this form.

Our housing mediation service can only help with tenancy disputes if the landlord of the property is registered. You can check to see if you are registered by

It is an offence to rent out property in Northern Ireland if you are not a registered landlord. Registration costs £70 for three years and can be done online. Visit NI Direct to find out more.

Once you have confirmed that you are registered, you can complete this form again and submit it. Our mediation service can only help if we have proof that you are registered.

I'm a letting agent
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