There is an old saying that good fences make good neighbors. Essentially, the saying has to do with respecting boundaries and privacy rights. Unfortunately, cooperative housing creates proximity that can lead to flaring tempers and major disputes between residents.
People share outdoor spaces, including playgrounds and yards. Their walls may abut the interior walls of another unit. Perhaps someone who recently moved into the housing co-op has a dog that terrifies the children of a neighboring resident. Maybe the potted plants someone sets out on their balcony or the flowers they add to their backyard cause someone who lives nearby to have allergic reactions.
Noise violations, property maintenance and even personality conflicts can lead to disputes that disrupt the entire community. Those helping to manage the housing co-op may need to help address the dispute before it spirals out of control and leads to legal issues.
What are some of the ways for housing co-ops to address resident conflicts?
With alternative dispute resolution
Mediation and arbitration are both common alternative dispute resolution systems. When parties embroiled in a conflict sit down to arbitrate or mediate, they look for a fair solution or a viable compromise. The process of trying to work together can heal the relationship. The parties may be able to arrive at a solution that is fair for everyone. The co-op can help facilitate the mediation or arbitration to address the resident conflict.
With community rule enforcement
Sometimes, housing co-ops become somewhat complacent about rule enforcement. There may be restrictions on the size of companion animals or rules about yard maintenance. The community may need to start enforcing rules more assertively if minor infractions are what have caused the tensions between residents. The co-op can eliminate interpersonal conflicts by ensuring that everyone adheres to the same standards. If the housing co-op doesn’t help resolve the conflict between residents, then the issue might culminate in claims against the housing co-op. Residents might claim that they allowed harassment or discrimination to occur by failing to address the matter.
Reviewing the nature of a dispute and community rules with a skilled legal team can be the first step toward resolving resident issues at a housing co-op. Those in leadership positions may need help determining what solutions they can employ and what rules may apply given the details of the situation, and that’s okay.