Assessment Report I NRC Respondents indicated that they have very weak security of residential tenure in their displacement. Only 5 per cent have written tenancy or rental agreements for their accommodation and the majority of respondents reported that they did not even have a clear verbal agreement on their tenure. As a further indication of highly insecure tenure, 87 per cent of IDP households were either partially or entirely unsure as to whether or not they could choose to remain in their current residence for a further three months from the time of the interview (see Figure 4). Respondents in Quneitra reported more insecure tenure, where 68 per cent were entirely unsure about their next three months, compared to 50 per cent in Dar’a. Focus groups also highlighted the absence or short duration of clear agreements as a significant concern. Informal rental and hosting arrangements were cited as the most common source of HLP-related disputes that IDPs face in displacement. KIIs and FGDs also identified as another key factor in disputes, the lack of access to specialised institutions or a universally accepted body with which to register property ownership or transactions. According to respondents, an informal hierarchy of dispute resolution is in place in both Dar’a and Quneitra. Formal processes are not commonly used to resolve disputes in the first instance. Instead, disputants try to resolve matters between themselves seeking a solution that may be quicker, less costly and more socially acceptable. If parties to a dispute cannot resolve an issue by themselves, they would seek the intervention of authoritative third parties, such as family members or local leaders, including the local mukhtar.12 In the last instance, judicial decision-makers, including Shari’a courts or de facto civil courts may be called upon to intervene in a dispute. 13% Not Sure at all Somewhat Sure 34% 53% Extremely Sure Figure 4: Household survey (n=734): Ability to reside in current residence in the next three months 12 Mukhtar – Prior to the conflict, a local leader appointed by Syrian central government in an executive function at community level. Since the conflict started, sub-districts outside the control of the government may have appointed their own mukhtars in the absence of central government control. NRC Assessment Report I 13