MANY property disputes being settled through arbitration could be resolved more quickly and cheaply if parties took up the chance for a preliminary hearing.

Arbitrator Andrew Ozanne, pictured, said that in his experience 30% of cases could be resolved at an early hearing, saving time and costs for both parties.

But commercial property specialist Tony Rowbotham said that in his experience, 75% of the time the parties in property disputes failed to take up the offer of the preliminary session and missed this chance of early resolution.

He added that it often made sense to settle the dispute at the earliest opportunity, particularly if a working relationship was to be maintained.