Application help

We can help you understand what the form is asking. If you need to help to fill in the VCAT application form, talk to us.

• Call us on 1300 018 228, Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm. For guardianship cases call us 9am - 5pm.
• If you’re overseas, call us on +61 3 8685 1462.
• If you need to speak to someone in your own language you can ask for an interpreter. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

We can:

• ask you questions about what you want
• explain what the questions mean
• explain what documents you need
• explain the process.

We can’t give you legal advice. This means we can’t:

• tell you what to write
• give you advice on how to present your case
• give you advice on how to win the case.

If you do choose to get legal advice, you’ll need to pay their fees (if any).

If you want to talk about what you should do, you can access free or low-cost legal advice or find a private lawyer.

See also What support can I get on the day at VCAT?

If you don’t have email or the internet you can talk to us to apply to VCAT. We can send you a hard copy form.

We can help you complete the form but we can't give you legal advice or tell you what to write.

• Call us on 1300 018 228 (1300 01 VCAT), Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm. For guardianship cases call us 9am - 5pm.
• If you’re overseas, call us on +61 3 8685 1462.
• If you need to speak to someone in your own language you can ask for an interpreter. Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Find out more about support services at VCAT

See also What support is there for people with a disability? 

For some residential tenancy issues, you must send a notice (eg. notice to vacate) to the renter (tenant) before you can apply to VCAT.

When you send a notice, there is a minimum time you must wait before you can take further action. This period of time is set by the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and is called the ‘minimum notice period’.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) explains how much time you must wait before you can take further action. This may be sending a second notice or applying to VCAT.

Use CAV’s tables to understand the notice periods. Then if you give a notice by mail, add the extra time for delivery.

Find out more about serving notices from Consumer Affairs Victoria.

If you have a rental property dispute in Victoria, you might be able to seek compensation from your landlord or tenant. The specific circumstances of your situation will determine whether or not you’re eligible to do so. 

Check the most common residential tenancy issues to find out what you can seek compensation for before applying.
 

For rental disputes, you may need to work out how much rent you owe or are seeking as part of your residential tenancy case.

Check out Consumer Affairs Victoria’s rent calculator to help you with your claim.

If you have a dispute involving building, construction, or a single building trade (eg. painting, electrical work or plumbing), check how to apply: building and construction disputes. 

If your dispute is about a lawyer’s costs or services, find the right application form under our legal practice section.

For disputes about other products or services, you can apply using our goods and services application form.

If you are making a claim against a business or company you need to provide an ASIC extract with your application. It confirms you’re taking legal action against the right person and the address is correct. We can't progress your application without it.

ASIC Current Company Extract

You must buy this document if your dispute is with a company. It confirms you're taking legal action against the right company and that the registered address is correct. To do this:

• Watch the video: How to download an ASIC Current Company Extract.
• Search the ASIC Registers.
• Buy the Current Company Extract document for $10.
• If the company is trading under a business name in your dispute, you must also get a Business Names Extract from the ASIC Registers.
• Don't get the free Summary PDF. It doesn't have the information you need.

If you need help, call ASIC on 1300 300 630.

ASIC Business Names Extract

You must buy this document if your dispute is with a business. It confirms you're taking legal action against the right business holder and that the business address is correct. To do this:

• Watch the video: How to download an ASIC Business Names Extract.
• Search the ASIC Registers.
• Buy the Business Names Extract document for $10.
• Look at the holder of the business name. If it's a company, go back and change the respondent to 'Company'.
• Don't get the free Summary PDF. It doesn't have the information you need.

If you need help, call ASIC on 1300 300 630.

Incorporated Association Extract

You must buy this document if your dispute is with an incorporated association. It confirms the incorporated association is registered and your application is sent to the correct contact person and registered address.

Buy and download the Extract from the Consumer Affairs website.

For help watch the video or call Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81.

For real estate agencies and community organisations

If you are registering to use the hub for the first time you will need to:

1. Download and complete the VCAT Residential Tenancies Hub terms and conditions of use and the Registration and direct debit form.

2. Return the completed forms via email to vcatonline.residential@vcat.vic.gov.au or by post to:

Registrar, Residential Tenancies Division
VCAT Residential Tenancies Hub
55 King St
Melbourne 3000

3. We will then send you login details.

For tenants and landlords

Register on the Residential Tenancies Hub. You will need to download and complete the VCAT Residential Tenancies Hub terms and conditions of use.

To update details on your Residential Tenancies Hub account, use the Residential Tenancies account details request form. Send the completed form by email or post:

• email vcatonline.residential@vcat.vic.gov.au
• mail to Residential Tenancies List, VCAT, GPO BOX 5408 Melbourne VIC 3001.

For technical support information about VCAT online forms, see: Online applications and passwords.