Mediation
A process where a neutral third party helps a community and residents try to resolve a dispute; some statutes provide for it over rent increases.
Published May 31, 2026
Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps disputing sides try to reach their own agreement. The mediator does not decide the dispute or impose a result; they help the parties communicate and look for common ground. It is generally less formal and less adversarial than going to court.
In manufactured housing, some state statutes provide a mediation pathway for specific disputes — for example, where a committee of residents questions a lot rent increase as unreasonable. In those systems, mediation is often a step that comes after the community and residents meet but before any court proceeding.
Whether mediation is available, and when it applies, depends on the state's statute and any agreement. It is one of several ways disputes can be addressed, alongside a community's internal processes and the courts. This is general information, not legal advice.