Designed for private sector letting agents in Scotland, the workshops will give participants the chance to learn about the causes of conflict and how it can escalate, as well as how to avoid situations where relationship breakdowns can lead to conflict.

Scottish Mediation, which was founded in 1990, seeks to promote an understanding of mediation in dealing with conflict situations, both in terms of housing and other areas.

A grant-giving charity, the Trust was established to help improve Scotland’s PRS. It promotes and facilitates education, training and best practice within the sector by funding projects that provide tangible benefits to landlords, letting agents and tenants alike.

The three-hour sessions will also offer advice on how best to manage and resolve conflict, with a view to avoiding costly and time-consuming disputes, tenancies ending prematurely, deposit disputes, and cases being referred to the Housing and Property Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal.

The workshops have been endorsed by the Scottish Government’s Letting Agent Registration Team and will count for three hours worth of formal continuing professional development (CPD) for letting agents.

Graham Boyack, director of Scottish Mediation, said: “Scottish Mediation is confident that the funding awarded, which will allow us to work with agents throughout Scotland, will help build positive relationships in the private rented sector.”

John Duff, chairman of SafeDeposits Scotland Trust, said: “The skills participants will gain from these sessions will help to reduce conflict in the private rented sector, and help to further educate letting agents. We are hopeful that in gaining conflict resolution skills, the letting agents on this workshop will work towards a more co-operative PRS in Scotland.

“The SafeDeposits Scotland Trust is proud to have funded such a wide range of important projects that share our aims of making the PRS in Scotland fairer for all parties.”

Details of the exact dates and locations of the workshops have not yet been finalised but will appear on the Scottish Mediation website and social channels when they are.