Mediation

Mediation is a settlement meeting with a neutral person who cannot force a deal. It is not a judge and not an HOA hearing. Some states give homeowners a statutory mediation path (Florida's HOA mediation process is a common example; the response and session clocks live in Florida law, not in every state's code). Other states leave mediation to the contract in your CC&Rs.

If a letter says "you must mediate," read whether that is a statute, a CC&R clause, or just the manager's preference. Binding arbitration is different: an arbitrator can decide the fight. Mediation cannot, unless you sign a settlement.

What to check: who picks the mediator, who pays, whether the clock on a fine or lien pauses, and whether your state ombudsman offers a cheaper complaint path first. General information, not legal advice.

This is general information from an AI helper, not legal advice. Confirm it against your documents and your state's law. If a deadline or hearing is coming up, talk to a licensed lawyer.