Wolverhampton Council has launched a mediation service for private landlords and tenants to help prevent evictions.
Its Call Us First website replaces the previous Rent with Confidence scheme and aims to prevent homelessness and help people stay in their homes.
The council says it’s a one stop shop, providing an “inclusive, preventative and targeted approach” to support early intervention for private sector tenants, landlords and owner occupiers.
The free, impartial service, which is backed by the NRLA, will also provide updates about legislation changes and the PRS.
Deputy leader and cabinet member for city housing, councillor Steve Evans, explains that the realigned service will establish “a more meaningful and Wolverhampton centred approach, to working with private sector landlords, tenants and owner occupiers to improve properties and management practices”.
He adds: “The new website provides the platform for us to achieve this vision and is part of our ongoing work to provide early intervention to prevent people becoming homeless.”
LandlordZONE parent company HFIS has a similar national service for letting agents and landlords, providing help and information on lettings, with specialist advisors on hand to help with issues including legal disputes, HR and tax.
Mediation can be particularly helpful when trying to negotiate with a tenant who’s fallen into arrears, according to Mike Morgan (pictured), legal division manager at HF Assist and Mediation.
“An independent, professional mediator can help diffuse any conflict and prevent the problem from escalating, resolving the issue as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, often without the need to go to court,” he explains.
“While court cases can easily take up to a year and cost the landlord an average of £3,000 – not counting lost rent – we can reach agreements and often mend relationships between landlords and tenants in a matter of days.”
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