Can a Landlord-Tenant Dispute in Florida Be Resolved Through Mediation?
Direct Answer
Yes. Florida landlord-tenant disputes can often be resolved through community mediation centers, court-referred mediation, or private mediation for commercial lease disputes.
Yes, and it is often the fastest and most cost-effective path to resolution. Residential landlord-tenant disputes — including security deposit claims, eviction negotiations, habitability complaints, and lease termination disagreements — can be mediated through several channels in Florida. Community mediation centers operating under Florida Statute §44.201 provide free or low-cost mediation for residential disputes in most counties. The Orange County Dispute Resolution Services, Broward County's Community Justice Project, and Miami-Dade's Citizen Dispute Settlement Center are examples. For disputes that have already been filed in county court, the judge may refer the case to mediation under Rule 7.090 (small claims) or Rule 1.700 (civil). Commercial landlord-tenant disputes are typically handled through private mediation and are often required by the lease agreement's dispute resolution clause. Mediation is particularly valuable in eviction cases where the tenant may be able to pay arrears over time — a negotiated payment plan can avoid the cost of a formal eviction proceeding for the landlord and a judgment on the tenant's record.