Landlord & Tenant Mediation in Devon and Cornwall

Disputes between landlords and tenants — whether commercial or residential — can be complex, costly and damaging to ongoing relationships. Mediation allows both parties to resolve their differences quickly and confidentially, often preserving the tenancy or reaching a clean exit on agreed terms.

What kinds of landlord and tenant disputes can be mediated?

Laurence mediates a wide range of landlord and tenant disputes including rent arrears and rent review disagreements, forfeiture and relief from forfeiture, service charge disputes, lease renewal negotiations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, breach of covenant claims, and disputes about the condition or use of premises.

Possession claims

Possession is often the real issue behind a landlord and tenant dispute, whether it follows rent arrears, a breach of covenant, forfeiture or simply the end of a term. Commercial possession disputes frequently turn on forfeiture and whether relief will be granted. Residential possession raises its own difficulty: a tenant who will need to be rehoused by the local authority may be unable to agree to give up possession without risking a finding that they have made themselves intentionally homeless. Mediation remains worthwhile in those cases. Even where the order for possession has to be made by the court, the parties can settle the arrears, agree a realistic timetable, deal with costs and narrow the issues so that the hearing is short and undefended.

Commercial and residential disputes

Laurence handles both commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes. Commercial cases often involve lease renewals, break clauses, and dilapidations claims. Residential disputes frequently concern deposit deductions, disrepair, and unlawful eviction. Both types benefit significantly from the flexibility mediation offers over court proceedings.

Why mediate?

Landlord and tenant litigation is slow and expensive. Many disputes — even those that appear intractable — settle at mediation because both parties have an ongoing relationship (or need a clean end to one) that makes a negotiated outcome preferable to a court judgment.