In March, in response to COVID-19, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a temporary halt on orders to forcibly remove tenants. This month, in response to the state’s supreme court order, Bernalillo County announced its plan to launch a free mediation program for landlord-tenant disputes. The program is intended to assist landlords and tenants that are struggling to pay rent as a result of the pandemic to create workable rent payment arrangements.
Judge Frank Sedillo, who is spearheading the program, clarified that tenants eligible to participate in the program must prove that they are unable to pay rent as a result of the pandemic. In a recent interview about the program, Judge Sedillo said, “What we’re hoping to do is help landlords and tenants resolve their disputes so that after the emergency is over the tenants will be able to stay on the property longer and the landlords will hopefully be able to work out some payment arrangements.”
The program launched May 11th and has about a dozen mediators, who are either former judges or attorneys, that are assisting with the program. Individuals who are interested in either participating in the Landlord-Tenant Settlement Program or serving as a volunteer settlement facilitator should contact the court’s Mediation Division at 505-841-8167.
