A Scottish mediation company and the SafeDeposits Scotland Trust are to create eight workshops aiming to improve relationships between agents, landlords, and tenants in the private rented sector.

Designed primarily for agents in Scotland, the workshops will give participants the chance to learn about the causes of conflict and how it can escalate, as well as how to avoid situations where relationship breakdowns can lead to conflict.

The three-hour sessions will also offer advice on how best to manage and resolve conflict, with a view to avoiding costly and time-consuming disputes, tenancies ending prematurely, deposit disputes, and cases being referred to the Housing and Property Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal.

The workshops have been endorsed by the Scottish Government’s Letting Agent Registration Team and will count for three hours worth of formal continuing professional development for letting agents.

“The skills participants will gain from these sessions will help to reduce conflict in the private rented sector, and help to further educate letting agents. We are hopeful that in gaining conflict resolution skills, the letting agents on this workshop will work towards a more co-operative private rental sector in Scotland” says John Duff, chairman of SafeDeposits Scotland Trust.

Scottish Mediation, a company founded in 1990, says its purpose is to promote an understanding of mediation in dealing with conflict situations, both in terms of housing and other areas.

Meanwhile SafeDeposits Scotland, a grant-giving charity trust, promotes and facilitates education, training and best practice within the private rental sector by funding projects that provide tangible benefits to landlords, agents and tenants.

No dates or locations for the workshops have been decided.