A place to discuss the real issues and repair broken trust.

Nisha*, a commercial tenant, had been complaining that her lessor Trent* wanted to go back on his word. She claimed that Trent had ripped up the rent waiveragreement they entered at the beginning of the COVID pandemic and was forcing her out of business.

Tensions escalated during mediation. Trent accused Nisha of misleading him on her trading figures, which were the basis he had agreed to waive her rent.

In a private session with the mediator, Trent admitted to being upset because he had found out Nisha was looking for other properties. Trent had agreed to the rent waiver because he wanted to have guaranteed funds coming in to pay his mortgage. He felt betrayed by Nisha.

In her own private session with the mediator, Nisha revealed that she would lose her house if Trent called in the security deposit on her commercial space. This,
in addition to finding out she was pregnant, had led Nisha to withhold her trading figures, and to instead look around for other options.

Nisha wanted to continue to run her business and pay as much rent as she could afford. Trent did not want to see Nisha lose her home.

Discussing the real underlying motivations at play helped restore trust between the parties. They were able to reach an agreement that accommodated both of their situations.

* All names have been changed.