What do you want to do ?
Application checklist
Before you start your application, check the information you need to give us and have the right documents ready.
Urgent repairs
You must provide phone numbers and email addresses (if possible) for you and the other parties in your application so we can contact everyone.
You need to be prepared to come to VCAT to present your case at short notice.
Note that if your application includes urgent and non-urgent matters, only the urgent matters will be dealt with on the urgently listed hearing date.
If you haven’t heard from VCAT about your urgent hearing 48 hours after you submit your application, contact us.
1
Try to settle
You can try to resolve the issue yourselves without going to VCAT. You can contact the other party – or they can contact you – to try to come to an agreement (settle) before we make a decision.
You can try and resolve the issue right up until the hearing. If you do settle, you must let VCAT know.
It could save you the time and effort of legal action at VCAT.
2
Send a notice or get a report about non-urgent repairs
If you want the rental provider (landlord) to make non-urgent repairs, you must firstly send them a notice that repairs are required. They will then have 14 days to make the repairs.
Get a notice form from Consumer Affairs Victoria’s (CAV) website.
If the owner doesn't perform repairs, you have two options:
Option 1
If the repairs are not done within 14 days after you gave the owner the notice, you can apply to VCAT.
Option 2
- Ask CAV to investigate and prepare a report. Find out more about getting a report for non urgent repairs
- CAV will talk to the owners about getting the repairs done.
- CAV can prepare another report about what repairs are needed.
- If the owner still doesn't make the repairs, you can apply to VCAT and use CAV's report to support your VCAT application.
3
Understand this is a legal process
There will be things that you need to do. For example, prepare evidence, send documents about the issue to the other party and present your side of the case at VCAT.
You and the other parties must follow VCAT's decision.
4
Find the right section number
You can write the section number of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 your issue falls under on the application form.
Urgent repairs – section 73
Non-urgent repairs – section 75
5
Get the right details of who your issue is with
You must provide the other party’s correct details to avoid delays and to be able to enforce the outcome.
Make sure you include the other party’s phone number and email address (if possible) so we can contact them.
Make sure you use the name of the rental provider (landlord) , not the estate agent. Find this on your rental agreement. You can ask your estate agent for a copy.
6
Tell VCAT and the other party what outcome you want
Be clear about the outcome you want and the orders you want VCAT to make in your application so we can progress it without delay or rejection.
Specify the repairs needed and if urgent, why you think they are urgent.
7
Have these documents ready
If your application is non urgent repairs, submit these documents with your application:
- a copy of the repair notice to rental property provider (landlord)
- a copy of the Director's report from Consumer Affairs Victoria if you have obtained one
8
Have your credit card ready
You pay when you submit your application. We only accept Visa or Mastercard online.