In private rented accommodation and arguments putting your housing at risk?
It’s not easy to find an affordable home to rent in Brighton and Hove, so anything that makes it hard to stay in your home is a real worry.
Are you sharing with housemates or in a place where your neighbours are uncomfortably close?
Are there arguments and complaints that make you feel uncomfortable in your home or may put your tenancy at risk?
Are you finding it difficult to communicate with your landlord?
We can help
Brighton and Hove Independent Mediation service is funded by Brighton and Hove City Council to offer mediation services to resolve conflict that is affecting your housing. This free service is available to you if you live in:
- Private rented accommodation in Brighton and Hove, or
- Supported Housing in Brighton and Hove
Top Tips
Please visit our Top Tips for Neighbour Disputes page. This has a short video and and tips about managing conflict with neighbours. This guidance applies to housemates as well as neighbours.
Our support
We have a team of trained and experienced volunteer mediators who can work with you to find ways to resolve arguments affecting you in your home.
Please note that at present, we are able to provide face-to-face services only in limited circumstances, due to the COVID-19 crisis. We are able to offer telephone support and in some cases mediation support via video link. Please be aware that our service is very busy at the moment, so there will be a wait before we can provide support in new cases.
Mediation
Mediation is an informal way of resolving disputes. It involves each person understanding a little about the other’s point of view and the ways in which the problem is affecting everyone involved. It is not about deciding who is right or wrong, but about finding a way forward that is acceptable to all.
Each person has a chance to say what they need to without interruption. Our job is to help those involved to find a way forward. Usually a solution will be found which we will write down to remind everyone what was agreed. This is known as a goodwill agreement and is not a legally binding document.
Normally we arrange to meet people face–to–face. one at a time and then together. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 situation means we are unable to do this for now. In some circumstances we can arrange mediation by video conference or by telephone. We will need to talk with all concerned before deciding whether these options are possible.
The first step is one to one telephone support.
We will arrange a time for a mediator to call you. The mediator will:
- Talk with you about the problems you are facing, and help you decide what might be helpful to improve the situation.
- Listen and offer you support
- Not tell you what to do, or do things for you
- Treat everything you say in the strictest confidence (not telling anyone else unless someone is in danger)
- Discuss possible options for mediation support.
We usually offer up to three telephone support calls and you can discuss the timings of these with your mediator.
How we work
| Our service is confidential |
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| Taking part is voluntary |
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| We don’t take sides or give advice |
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Accessing our services
If you are in the situation described at the top of the page and you would like to access our services, you can either:
- refer your case to us yourself by using this form
- ask your key worker or supporter from another agency to refer your case using this form
If you want to find out more about using our service first, please email [email protected]
