The tribunal (VCAT)

It is best to try and resolve your problem by talking to your landlord or real estate agent. But if you have a problem with your landlord that you cannot resolve, you can apply to the Tribunal (VCAT). If you decide to apply, you can contact us for advice.

To make an application, you need to fill out the VCAT  Application form. Follow the instructions on the form. Make sure that where the form asks you to name the landlord, you put the landlord’s name and not the name of the agent. If the landlord is a company, include the ACN. If you are a public tenant, your landlord will be the Director of Housing.

You must send a copy of your application to the landlord, preferably by registered mail. Keep the mail receipt and your copy of the application.

You don’t have to pay an application fee if you have a Health Care Card or if you are applying to get your bond money back.

The application fee from 1 July 2020 is $65.30, but it might change. You can check the VCAT website for the latest fees.

If you don’t have a Health Care Card and you can’t afford the application fee you can ask for fee relief.

If you want to pay the fee in cash, you will need to take your application to VCAT in person.

In urgent situations we offer a duty lawyer to represent tenants at VCAT, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, when they face losing their rental property and also in urgent matters related to health or safety for those working in a community organisation. Find out more about the VCAT Duty Lawyer service and your eligibility .

You will receive a notice from the Tribunal telling you when and where your hearing is to take place. The amount of time you will have to wait for a hearing depends on the type of application and how busy the Tribunal is.

If you are unable to go to the Tribunal on the day of the hearing, you can call us for advice about requesting an adjournment. A request for an adjournment must be made at least 2 business days before the hearing and must be supported with documentation (such as a medical certificate). There is no guarantee that an adjournment will be granted, but there is a good chance if your landlord agrees to it.

If you need an interpreter, you should contact the Tribunal before the date of the hearing to let them know. The Tribunal should arrange for an interpreter; otherwise you should ask for an adjournment.

When you make an application to the Tribunal, you are responsible for proving your case. This means that you will have to provide evidence to support your claim. The type of evidence needed will depend on the situation.

Before the hearing, you should photocopy any letters or documents that you want the Tribunal to see, and arrange for any witnesses to attend on the day of the hearing. The Tribunal will not adjourn your case because you haven’t got your witnesses or documents with you, and they will not make phone calls to verify your claims.

It is better to have someone give evidence in person rather than rely on a letter or statutory declaration. If a witness refuses to attend the hearing and you believe that their evidence is important, you can ask the Tribunal to issue a witness summons. Be aware that the Tribunal may order that you pay the witness’s travel expenses and/or other allowances. You must apply for a summons before your hearing date. This is an order that a person must attend the Tribunal hearing and give evidence. Otherwise, a witness can give their evidence in a statutory declaration (available at most newsagents).

To prepare for the hearing, make a few brief notes outlining what you want to say, including a list of documents that you want to show the Tribunal. Being organised is the key to presenting a good case.

Generally, each party is required to present their own case at the Tribunal. However you may be represented by a professional advocate (such as a tenancy worker) when:

• the landlord is trying to have you evicted
• the landlord is a professional advocate
• the landlord is represented by a professional advocate
• the Tribunal allows you to be legally represented

If you believe that you will need representation, you should contact us as soon as you receive the Notice of Hearing. You can also seek advice and possibly representation from a duty lawyer at the Tribunal.

Make sure that you arrive at the Tribunal on time. If you are late, the hearing will go ahead without you so plan to get there at least 15 minutes before the hearing time.

After you have told the counter staff that you have arrived, you will be called into the hearing room. The ‘Member’ (the person who will decide your case) will ask you and the landlord or agent to take an oath on the Bible or to make an affirmation that you will tell the truth.

The way in which your case is heard will depend on the particular Member who hears your case, however usually the person who made the application will be asked to present their case first.

Never lose your temper. Keep your arguments clear and to the point and try not to be intimidated by the landlord, agent or Tribunal Member. Make sure you are given the opportunity to mention everything you believe is relevant to your case before the Member makes their decision.

After hearing both you and your landlord or agent, the Tribunal Member will make an ‘order’ which is the decision on your case. If you do not understand the order, ask the Member to explain it to you slowly. You will be sent a written copy of the order a couple of weeks after the hearing. You can ask the Member to provide written reasons for their decision, but you should ask for written reasons before the end of the hearing. The Tribunal must provide the reasons within 60 days of making the order.

If you are unhappy about the decision made by the Tribunal, you can make an appeal but only in very limited circumstances. Appeals must be made to the Supreme Court and this can be very expensive. You must lodge your appeal within 28 days of the date of the order. If you want to appeal, you should contact us for advice as soon as possible.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
55 King Street Melbourne 3000
1300 01 8228(1300 01 VCAT)
fax (03) 9628 9822
Open 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

‘A Day at the Bench’ (videos on how to apply and prepare for a Tribunal hearing)
Fees and costs for a VCAT hearing