Either party can also choose to refuse mediation and go straight to the Tenancy Tribunal. However, depending on the circumstances of the dispute, the Tenancy Tribunal may order the parties involved to go back to mediation. The Tenancy Tribunal is a court set up to deal with unresolved problems between landlords and tenants. It is a part of the Department for Courts. The person who makes a decision on a case is called an Adjudicator and an Adjudicator's decision is binding on all parties.
Parties normally represent themselves and it is unusual for parties to be represented by lawyers.
A tenancy adjudicator listens to what each person has to say, hears any witnesses and evidence that either side wants considered, and then makes a decision according to the Residential Tenancies Act. It is a public hearing and either party may take support people with them. The adjudicator writes down his or her decision as a Tribunal Order. The landlord and the tenant are each given a copy. The adjudicators decision is a court order which both sides have to obey.