Amicably solving housing disputes: Diving into the data

This March the WDRC’s Housing Stability team was invited to present about our work at the Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference, held at the University of Washington School of Law. The panel, “Housing Stability Mediation Program Design & Implementation” aimed to share how our program serves clients who are experiencing a housing-related dispute, and what mutually beneficial outcomes can be achieved.

This article, released by The Center Square, covered the panel and highlighted the WDRC’s work (as well as other WA organizations) to help Tenants and Landlords solve their housing disputes productively and amicably.

But what does it actually look like to resolve a housing dispute amicably? While every situation is unique, WDRC’s Housing Stability Program Coordinator Mia Gover shared the following observations during the WDRC’s panel presentation.

What kinds of resolutions do we see in the mediation room?

The most common resolution our clients come to involves creating a Payment Plan. Approximately 67% of mediated resolutions included a plan that creates a payment structure that works for both parties. This could mean any payment owed is paid back in full over a longer stretch of time, or that the total amount due to a party is changed. 

Communication Plans are another common resolution, with about 52% of agreements including steps for more respectful or productive communication. Communication Plans can be a way for participants to share how they want to receive communication (by email, text, etc), what times are generally good for them to connect, and set some guidelines for ensuring that their communication honors each person’s emotional needs.

"Most problems arise out of some kind of communication issue. Our goal is to increase understanding, share information, listen, and be heard.” - Mia Gover, WDRC Housing Stability Program Coordinator

When tenants and housing providers are in conflict, they sometimes agree that ending the housing relationship will be the best course forward. When this is the case, a Move Out Plan can help to create a structure that allows the tenant to find a new residence, and prevent instability in their housing situation. This strategy, which we see in about 33% of resolutions, can be very effective in preventing homelessness and undue stress for tenants, as well as avoiding the cost and negative impacts of the eviction process for landlords and tenants alike.

Some other resolutions include Repairs and Cleaning (21%), as well as Shared Living Agreements for roommates and neighbors (13%). 

These are just a few of the most common resolutions that our staff and mediators see, but the possibilities are truly endless, and always centered around the needs of the people in the room. In all, we see that an incredible 78% of Housing Stability mediations end in a mutually agreeable resolution. 

Who Uses Housing Stability Mediation Services?

The largest groups that utilize the WDRC’s Housing Stability services are tenants, property managers, and landlords. However approximately 18% of our Housing Stability mediations include roommates, and another 15% of mediations include neighbors.

A little-known fact is that about 13% of Housing Stability mediations include case managers from other agencies, who help to support clients when housing is linked to other services. Their presence can be invaluable when a solution is needed to preserve the parties’ ability to participate in programs like rental assistance, supportive living, section 8 housing, and more. When landlords and tenants need some extra help meeting their goals, case managers from supportive services can add a boost by clarifying program and policy information, helping their client to remember important details and communicate effectively, and offering action items as appropriate to contribute to the resolution.

One example comes from a recent case in which a case manager reached out to us, fearful that their clients' dispute would jeopardize their opportunity to use the supportive services. After mediation, the case manager shared this reflection on the process:

“You guys are FANTASTIC!!! It was incredible how quick you were able to get my clients in for a meeting, and if it wasn’t for you, my client wouldn’t be housed and would have lost out on signing the lease. My clients are getting along together as well. Thank you so much!”

Want to Learn More?

If your interest is piqued, you can read the full article about the WDRC’s presentation here: “Our goal is to increase understanding”: Amicably solving landlord-tenant disputes 

We also encourage you to visit our Housing Stability webpage, and to contact our staff if you or someone you know is experiencing a housing dispute.