Neighbour dispute mediation
When communication between neighbours breaks down, mediation can help resolve their disagreement swiftly, and without involving the police or solicitors. The process is highly effective and completely confidential. WMS is an independent charity with over 20 years’ experience supporting Wandsworth residents with free neighbour mediation.
Neighbour dispute mediation can help with conflict over:
- Noise nuisance complaints
- Hedges
- Parking
- Anti-social behaviour
- Use of shared spaces
- Pets
What is neighbour dispute mediation?
In essence, mediation is a conversation. Neutral, trained and experienced mediators will create a safe space where you and your neighbour can discuss the issues out in the open. You will both have a chance to speak and listen to each other’s point of view, and work together to find solutions you are both happy with. Every dispute brings with it a different set of issues. This is where the flexibility of community mediation can be so helpful for a number of different situations.
Neighbour dispute mediation is:
- Very effective – most parties reach an agreement at the first meeting.
- Voluntary – you are free to decide on solutions (or not) and you can leave at any time.
- Impartial – the mediators are completely neutral, they will not take sides or try to influence you.
- Confidential – we operate independently of the council, police or any other agency. Nothing said in mediation will ever be shared without everyone’s consent (unless there is a safeguarding issue).
How does neighbour dispute mediation work?
Getting started
- You may have been referred by a housing officer, signposted by a community organisation or Citizens Advice, or found us directly.
- Our case managers will contact you first to explain how mediation works and discuss whether it’s right for your situation.
- With your permission, we’ll then contact your neighbour. If everyone agrees, we’ll arrange meetings with two trained mediators with the right experience for your case.
Individual meetings
- The mediator meets with each of you separately first — this won’t involve your neighbour.
- The meeting can take place at your home, at our offices near Clapham Junction, or on Zoom.
- It’s a chance to talk through your situation with the mediators and find out more about the process.
- Everything discussed is confidential and will not be shared with your neighbour or anyone who referred you — except where there is a safeguarding concern that requires action.
- If everyone agrees to go ahead, we’ll arrange a joint session. We can offer up to two joint sessions free of charge.
Joint session
- The joint session can take place in one room or, if you’d prefer not to meet face to face, in separate rooms with the mediators moving between you.
- The mediators will agree some simple ground rules at the start — such as speaking in turns and not interrupting.
- Each person will have a chance to talk about how the situation is affecting them.
- The mediators will help everyone identify the issues that need resolving, and support you in working out practical solutions.
- If an agreement is reached, it can be written down and signed by everyone in the room. It isn’t legally binding, but is made in good faith with the aim of moving things forward.
After the session
- We follow up four to six weeks after the first session.
- Further mediation or individual coaching can be arranged if needed.
- For more detail on the process and timings, visit our FAQ page.
Neighbour dispute mediation Questions
Neighbour mediation is free for all Wandsworth residents.
We have a team of Neighbour mediators who have been specifically trained and are supervised by WMS. They all offer their time and skills to Wandsworth Mediation Service without charging us. The majority of our Neighbour mediators are Wandsworth residents and are looking to invest in their local community.
We always have two mediators on each case who have the right skill set and experience for the parties.
We have seen a huge increase in demand for our service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mediators are fully trained to conduct mediation and conflict coaching sessions online.
Online mediation means you can resolve disputes quicker, and from the comfort of your home. All you need is a computer or mobile phone, a webcam and a quiet location. Our dedicated case managers will provide detailed instructions and guide you through the set-up.
If you are in a situation where your neighbour does not want to mediate, then conflict coaching with two of our trained coaches could be helpful to allow you to reflect on the issues and how you might be approach things differently to reduce stress and anxiety– click here for more details.
If you have more questions, please visit our FAQs or contact us.