Terms & Conditions

1. About Us

Harding Property Mediation ("HPM", "we", "us", or "our") provides specialist property mediation services. We are an independent mediation practice. We are not a law firm, we are not regulated by the SRA, and we do not provide legal advice.

Our Companies House registration number is 17171069.

Harvey Harding is a qualified solicitor who acts in his capacity as an independent mediator when conducting HPM mediations. In this role, he does not act as a solicitor for any party and owes no solicitor-client duty to any participant.

2. Mediation Services

Our mediation services include:

• Pre-mediation communications with all parties and their representatives.
• Review of position statements and supporting documentation submitted in advance.
• Conducting the mediation day (or half-day, as applicable).
• Facilitating the drafting of a settlement agreement, where agreement is reached.

The mediator acts as a neutral third party. The mediator does not decide the outcome of the dispute, does not impose a solution, and does not give legal advice to any party.

3. Mediation Agreement

Before the mediation takes place, all parties and the mediator will sign a Mediation Agreement. This agreement sets out the terms on which the mediation will be conducted, including confidentiality obligations, the mediator's role, and the fees payable. In the event of any conflict between these Terms & Conditions and the Mediation Agreement, the Mediation Agreement shall prevail.

4. Fees and Payment

Our fees are set out on our Fees page and in the fee quote provided to you in advance. Key points:

• Fees are fixed for the mediation day and are based on the value of the dispute.
• Fees are typically split equally between the parties, unless otherwise agreed.
• Payment is required in advance of the mediation date.
• VAT is charged at the applicable rate.
• Cancellation within 14 days of the mediation date may incur a cancellation fee — details are provided in the Mediation Agreement.

5. Confidentiality

All communications and documents shared during the mediation are confidential and "without prejudice". This means:

• Nothing said or produced during the mediation may be used as evidence in any subsequent court proceedings.
• The mediator will not disclose information shared in private sessions to the other party without express permission.
• The mediator cannot be called as a witness in any subsequent proceedings relating to the dispute.

Exceptions to confidentiality are limited to situations where disclosure is required by law, or where there is a risk of serious harm.

6. Settlement Agreements

If the parties reach an agreement during the mediation, the parties or their legal advisers are responsible for drafting the settlement agreement. The mediator may facilitate that process during the mediation. Once signed, the agreement is a legally binding contract. We strongly recommend that all parties have their own independent legal adviser review the settlement agreement before signing.

7. No Guarantee of Outcome

Mediation is a voluntary process. We cannot guarantee that the mediation will result in a settlement. If no agreement is reached, the parties retain all their legal rights to pursue the matter through other means, including litigation.

8. Limitation of Liability

The mediator acts as a neutral facilitator and does not provide legal advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• HPM's total liability in connection with the mediation shall not exceed the fees paid for that mediation.
• HPM shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss arising from or in connection with the mediation.
• HPM shall not be liable for the terms of any settlement agreement reached between the parties.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

HPM maintains professional indemnity insurance with cover of up to £1.5 million and public liability insurance with cover of up to £10 million.

9. Complaints

We are committed to providing a high standard of service. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, please refer to our Complaints Procedure.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and design, is the property of Harding Property Mediation and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use any content from this website without our prior written consent.

11. Website Use

This website is provided for general information purposes. While we make every effort to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, we do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information on this website. Content on this website does not constitute legal advice.

12. Governing Law

These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update these terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

14. Contact

If you have any questions about these terms, please contact us:

Harding Property Mediation
Companies House registration number: 17171069
Email: [email protected]
Or use our contact form.