Resolving landlord-tenant disputes: talk, document, mediate, then court

Start with a conversation

Whether the issue is money, repairs or move-out, start the same way before you escalate:

• Name the issue in one sentence and check what the lease says about it.
• Listen to the other side's version and ask what outcome they want.
• Offer a specific fix with a date, such as a repair visit or a payment plan.
• Follow up in writing with what you agreed.

Keep a written record

If the dispute goes further, the side with clear records is easier to believe. Keep:

• The lease, addenda and any notices, with how and when each was delivered.
• The rent ledger and payment receipts.
• Move-in and move-out condition reports and dated photos.
• Repair requests, work orders and completion notes.
• Messages, plus a short written summary after any phone call or visit.

Try mediation

In mediation, a neutral person helps both sides reach their own agreement. Some states require or encourage it at certain points:

• Hawaii: a landlord's notice for unpaid rent must also go to a state-funded mediation center that offers free landlord-tenant mediation. If the tenant schedules mediation, the landlord must take part (HRS § 521-68(a), (c)).
• Maine: the court may refer the parties in an eviction case to mediation at any time, and a mediated agreement must be written, signed and approved by the court (14 M.R.S. § 6004-A). The court offers day-of-hearing mediation without an additional charge (Maine Judicial Branch: residential nonpayment guide).
• Kansas: from July 1, 2026, the court must consider mediation in an eviction case unless it finds mediation would not materially help or is impracticable (K.S.A. 61-3806(c)).
• New Hampshire: small claims over $5,000 heard without a jury go to mediation first (RSA 503:1, IV).

Elsewhere, check your court's website or ask the clerk whether a mediation program is available.

Small claims court for money disputes

Small claims courts hear money claims, such as unpaid rent after move-out or a disputed deposit, with simpler procedures. Limits vary:

• California: up to $6,250, or $12,500 when the person suing is a natural person (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.220(a)(1)) (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 116.221).
• Texas: justice courts hear civil claims up to $20,000, not counting interest (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031), under rules that may not require a party to have a lawyer (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.060).
• New York: up to $10,000 in New York City Civil Court, $5,000 in city courts outside the city and in district courts, and $3,000 in town and village courts (N.Y.C. Civ. Ct. Act § 1801) (N.Y. Uniform City Ct. Act § 1801) (N.Y. Uniform Just. Ct. Act § 1801).
• Maine: up to $10,000 since January 1, 2026, not counting interest and costs (14 M.R.S. § 7482).

In some states an eviction is a separate kind of case. Maine and New Hampshire, for example, handle possession outside small claims.

Stay clear of retaliation

Many states bar landlords from punishing renters for exercising their rights, and the protected period can be long:

• California: for 180 days after a tenant in good faith requests repairs or complains to you or a government agency about habitability, you may not recover possession, raise the rent or cut services because of it (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5(a)).
• Texas: for six months after a tenant in good faith uses a legal remedy, gives a repair notice or complains to a code agency, retaliation such as filing an eviction or raising the rent is barred (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331).
• New York: refusing to renew, or offering a renewal at an unreasonable increase, after a good faith complaint can count as retaliation (N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 223-b).

Never try to settle a dispute by changing locks or cutting utilities. California, for example, bars doing either with intent to force a tenant out (Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3(a), (b)).

When to get legal help

Talk with a lawyer, or a legal aid office if you qualify, before you file or answer an eviction, when a dispute involves a discrimination claim or an injury, or when a large sum is at stake. Check your state court's website for self-help guides, such as the Maine Judicial Branch eviction guide.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by state and city, so confirm how they apply to your situation with a local attorney.

How Rentari helps

Messaging with renters, maintenance requests, payment receipts and lease documents stored on the lease give you a dated record of what was said, asked and paid. Rentari keeps the record; it does not file anything with a court or give legal advice.

Sources and further reading

• Hawaii Revised Statutes 521-68: notice for nonpayment and mediation
• Maine Revised Statutes title 14, 6004-A: mediation in eviction cases
• Maine Judicial Branch: evicting a tenant for nonpayment
• Kansas Statutes 61-3806
• New Hampshire RSA 503:1: small claims
• California Code of Civil Procedure 116.220: small claims jurisdiction
• California Civil Code 1942.5: retaliation

Common questions