Increasing numbers of tenancy disputes are being resolved through mediation rather than adjudication.

Figures from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) show that the number of disputes over tenancy deposits that are resolved before going to adjudication has risen by 31% in England and Wales, 18% in Scotland and 56% in Northern Ireland over the past 12 months.

TDS – which offers an early resolution process to help landlords and tenants reach an amicable settlement through its schemes – said fewer than 1% of the tenancy deposits it protects in England and Wales end in a dispute.

While there were 17,628 dispute cases between April 2018 and March 2019, of that figure, 23% were resolved in the pre-adjudication stages.

Alison MacDougall, director of dispute operations at TDS, said: “Resolving disputes over how the tenancy deposit should be divided quickly is beneficial for both the landlord and the tenant.

“That’s why we actively open a dialogue between the parties to secure a swift and amicable agreement.

“Disputes can be tense for parties involved in a tenancy, but we find that by facilitating a negotiation, we can help defuse situations and settle disagreements quickly and fairly.

“The parties all benefit from keeping control of the decision rather than asking a third party to make a decision for them.”