I have a dispute with my landlord, what should I do?

It is easy for small problems to gather momentum and for disputes to arise. There are both 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' disputes – healthy disputes can result in productive discussions and better decisions being made, however if communication breaks down and relationships are affected the situation becomes unhealthy – and can quickly get out of hand and become destructive. Unresolved disputes also damage the trust that is so essential for effective working.

If things seem to be stuck and aren't moving forward mediation might be a good option to consider. An independent mediator is neutral and will work confidentially to help those in dispute reach an agreement that everyone is comfortable with. Failing that, if the dispute continues you may want to follow your landlords complaints procedure by raising an official complaint. The first person to tell about a problem with housing is the landlord. They might be able to put things right.

If the landlord cannot put things right, you can then contact the Housing Ombudsman.

For more detailed information on complaints and how to resolve them contact the Housing Ombudsman http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/