How We Saved a Landlord Over $32,000.
Pre-filing mediation is a powerful, effective tool for landlords and tenants to resolve conflict and establish a framework for ongoing conversation without the need for court intervention. We are thrilled to share a recent success story that highlights how this approach saved a local landlord tens of thousands of dollars and significant time, all while keeping tenants in their homes and preserving their rental records.
Here’s how we did it:
A local landlord contacted our eviction prevention team with a list of tenants, each owing less than $1,500. Abiding by Fair Housing regulations, this was the criteria she determined to ensure tenants were offered mediation services equally and impartially. Our team then contacted each tenant, encouraging them to meet with their landlord and one of Shelterwell’s mediators at a scheduled time.
Our mediators met with the landlord and tenants at the apartment complex, successfully negotiating agreements with all 14 tenants. Most agreements included payment plans, with 93% of tenants complying with their agreement and remaining in their homes.
Evictions rarely result in landlords recovering unpaid rent. To date, with some payment plans ongoing, the landlord has recovered 80% of the unpaid rent by avoiding eviction. They also avoided court costs, filing fees, and the expenses of preparing vacant units for new tenants. Overall, by utilizing Shelterwell’s pre-filing mediation services, the landlord saved $32,322.38.
While there are clear, tangible benefits for landlords, pre-filing mediation similarly impacts tenants.
In a survey by Shelterwell, 63% of landlords stated they would not rent to a tenant with a prior eviction filing, regardless of the case outcome. An eviction filing, even if resolved before court, can have a lasting impact on a tenant’s ability to find and secure housing and, in some cases, employment. In Oklahoma, evictions are filed in Small Claims Court as “Forcible Entry and Detainer,” a term that can mistakenly imply criminal activity rather than a rental dispute.
Of tenants surveyed by Shelterwell while at eviction court, 54% stated they took time off from work to attend court, 37% arranged transportation, and 13% made childcare arrangements. To address this issue, Shelterwell’s mediators often conduct pre-filing mediation on-site in Oklahoma County, removing travel barriers for landlords and tenants. For properties outside Oklahoma County or tenants whose work schedules prevent them from attending in-person sessions, pre-filing mediation can be conducted over the phone or via Zoom.
Additionally, pre-filing mediation has the potential to relieve an overburdened court system by decreasing the number of evictions filed each month. Nearly 18,000 evictions were filed in Oklahoma County last year, with this year’s numbers on track to be similar or higher. With eviction dockets ballooning to as many as 300 eviction cases to be heard in just 90 minutes, there is little time for negotiation.
By choosing pre-filing mediation, landlords and tenants can resolve disputes efficiently, saving time and money while improving relationships and avoiding the long-term consequences of eviction. Mediation services may be requested by landlords, property managers, tenants, or nonprofit service providers through a simple form on Shelterwell’s website. For more information on mediation services, email info@shelterwell.org.
Your support allows us to continue to offer these vital services at no cost to landlords or tenants. Please consider donating today.