Living in community is not always easy.
Although you have no secrets other than
being respectful of each other
and avoiding activities that may disturb others,
problems between neighbors
, particularly those who live in PH (Horizontal Property) or apartment buildings, are common and in many cases more than
a headache
.
From
excessively loud music
during the early hours of a weekday, to the
careless use of the common areas
or the leaking of the bathroom in the apartment above that is not fixed.
Many can be the triggers for neighborhood conflicts that do not always end in the best way.
Before the problem progresses and becomes unsustainable, solutions can be resorted to through
agreements between both parties
.
The
CABA Ombudsman's Office,
through the Mediation, Consolidation and Arbitration Council, offers
peaceful conflict resolution
services , applying
collaborative techniques
in pursuit of building solutions based on dialogue.
What is it about?
The Ombudsman of CABA offers peaceful resolution services for conflicts between neighbors.
Photo: File
What are the most common conflicts between neighbors?
From the CABA Ombudsman's Office they highlighted that neighbors usually come for conflicts such as:
. Annoying noises.
Without a doubt, noise is one of the factors that generates more neighborhood confrontations.
There is everything: neighbors who put on the washing machine during the night or the music is too loud, those who move furniture at any time, children who run or play with the ball, etc.
. Building issues:
Leaks, medians, new works, among others.
The breaks and the reforms in the houses also promote discord between the neighbors due to the noise, the annoyance and the dirt that they cause.
. Conflicts in the consortium.
The inappropriate use of common areas is another source of fights and disagreements between neighbors, whether due to annoying noise, dirt or invasion of space.
. Pet related issues
.
It happens especially when there is a noisy animal.
It also often happens that some owners let their pets walk alone through common spaces, dirtying and disturbing the rest of the neighbors.
. Accessibility.
Among the most common cases, it can happen that people with some type of disability, who have a reserved parking space at the door of their house, find it occupied by the car of other neighbors.
Conflict between neighbors, what services does the Ombudsman's Office provide?
It is an institution that has three extensions: the Community Mediation Center, the Conciliation and Arbitration Center, and a Mediation and Conciliation Service with the City Government.
Annoying noises: one of the most common conflicts between neighbors.
Photo: Shutterstock
1) Community Mediation Center.
It addresses non-equity
issues
such as:
Coexistence
Annoying noises
leaks
pet ownership
Occupation of public space
Discrimination or workplace violence.
It offers a
fast
(two or three meetings in three weeks),
confidential, informal
(it does not require the intervention of lawyers) and
impartial
service (the mediator is a neutral third party who does not impose the solution or take sides with any of those involved).
The matter
is resolved by decision of the parties
.
2) Conciliation and Arbitration Center:
this space handles
heritage
situations
such as:
Rights of consumers and users
Civil disputes (as long as they are not between family members) or commercial
Consortium conflicts.
If there is an agreement, before or after the confrontation, those involved can resolve if they submit to the decision of an impartial third party to define.
What are the advantages over a judicial process?
The
times are much shorter
(these processes are usually resolved in a maximum of three months), there are more chances of
preserving interpersonal relationships
and the arbitration decision is binding, that is, it imposes an obligation on both parties.
}3) Mediation and Conciliation Service with the Government of Buenos Aires:
Conflicts regarding:
Tree pruning
Arrangement of the sidewalks
Issues pertinent to the right to health, education and housing.
It is a short process, of no more than three meetings, very different from the times that could be sued in court.
Before the problem between neighbors worsens, you can resort to mediation to reach an agreement.
Photo: Courtesy of the Ombudsman
Conflicts between neighbors: how is the conciliation process offered by the Ombudsman
The maintenance of future relationships
is promoted
Harmony is sought by facilitating communication
An attempt is made to reduce the area of conflict by attacking the problem
Mutual satisfaction options
are created
through an agreement that brings them closer to a solution that arises from dialogue, cooperation and consensus, maintaining the balance between the parties.
Mediation processes
can
be both
face-to-face
and
virtual
through the Zoom platform.
There are also cases in which they work with
hybrid processes
in which Ombudsman personnel assist those who cannot or do not know how to use electronic media so that they can participate in the hearings.
Neighborhood issues are addressed through community mediation:
When it is possible
to count on the will of the parties,
the vast majority of cases can be resolved with an agreement.
In cases where, for whatever reason,
an agreement cannot be reached
, the neighbor is usually guided with the tools that remain at his disposal to try to find a solution to his problem.
It is important to note that
all those cases that are going through
situations of violence
cannot
be submitted to a community mediation process in this ombudsman's office .
The teams of both internal services and the register of
external
mediators and conciliators are made up of
professionals from different disciplines
.
Generally, conflicts are usually resolved
in no more than two meetings
, although sometimes it is necessary to set up more meetings, as well as agreement follow-up meetings.
Contact with the CABA Ombudsman:
Headquarters Address:
Avenida Belgrano 67
3, City of Buenos Aires
Phone
0800-999-3722
WhatsApp
11-7128-8301
Email
consultas@defensoria.org.ar
Social networks
@DefensoriaCABA
LN
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