City Launches Low to No-Cost Mediation Program For Landlords And Tenants

The City of Pasadena has established a new partnership with the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution to provide low to no-cost mediation services for renters and landlords. This collaboration seeks to promote constructive dialogue and peacefully resolve housing-related disputes, enhancing community harmony and housing stability across the city.

Through this partnership, professional mediators from Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution will offer support to renters and property owners navigating disputes related to Pasadena’s Just Cause for eviction regulations. These regulations protect tenants by requiring landlords to provide legitimate reasons for terminating a tenancy, such as non-payment of rent, lease violations, or owner occupancy.

The mediation services address typical housing issues including assisting tenants in establishing manageable repayment schedules after falling behind on rent, facilitating agreements between landlords and tenants regarding issues such as noise disturbances or relocation within a property, and helping tenants communicate directly with landlords to resolve maintenance concerns, including appliance repairs or carpet replacement.

With over 30 years of experience in mediation and community service, the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution offers a constructive alternative to the often prolonged and costly court process. The center’s professional mediators utilize a neutral, confidential, and respectful approach, ensuring that solutions are mutually beneficial and sustainable.

This collaboration is led by Sara Campos, Director of Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution and a certified bilingual mediator with substantial experience in legal mediation. Campos has trained and mentored numerous mediation professionals and has served on several mediation panels, including The Second Appellate District Court Panel and the L.A. Superior Court panel. She is recognized for her leadership and contributions to community mediation, including a 2022 White House recognition for Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution’s Landlord/Tenant Options Counseling Clinic, honoring its response to the Attorney General’s Call to Action to address housing stability and eviction crises.

Joining Campos is attorney Stephanie Schestag, who brings valuable legal and entrepreneurial experience to the partnership. Schestag received her mediation training at Loyola Law School and holds a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Mills College.

Pasadena residents interested in accessing these services should contact the city’s Rent Stabilization Department directly. Housing counselors are available to assist tenants and landlords, providing guidance and assessing eligibility for the mediation program.

For more information and additional resources, visit the Rent Stabilization Department’s website at CityOfPasadena.net/Rent-Stabilization/.