After you apply – Residential tenancy cases

After you’ve applied, it’s important to understand the VCAT process. Find out what you need to do and what happens next.

How to attend your hearing

To avoid missing your hearing, check your notice of hearing for instructions on how to attend by phone, video conference or in person. If you're joining by phone you need to call VCAT’s teleconference number which you will find on your notice of hearing.

1 Apply to VCAT
2 We contact you

We have put in place a range of measures to reduce our current backlogs and the time it takes to have a hearing. We are gradually reducing the number of cases that have been on hold, and will contact you as soon as it’s possible to take the next steps in your case. 

The average time it takes from applying to your VCAT hearing is about 4 weeks. It may be earlier or later depending on what you're applying about.

We prioritise cases that the renting laws say must be heard within a certain time, and those we consider urgent. For example, urgent repairs are heard within 2 business days, and applications involving personal or family violence are heard within 3 business days.

It takes about 7 business days to hear cases about non-urgent repairs.

Applications for possession due to danger, damage, or disruption are scheduled for hearing as soon as possible within 3-4 weeks. Possession applications due to unpaid rent are heard in about 4 weeks, and most other applications for possession are heard within 8 weeks.

Applications involving bond, compensation or pets lodged from 1 October 2023 will be heard within 12 weeks. We’ll contact you when we need more information from you or are ready to hear your case. 

Did you submit an application related to bond or compensation issues before 1 October 2023? Find out how we’re managing your case. 

To help you resolve your dispute faster, we may invite you to a mediation facilitated by the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria. If we decide your dispute is suitable for mediation, the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (DSCV), who partner with us, contacts you to discuss the process.

We assess your application and contact you to:

  • ask for more information if we need it
  • let you know if we can't deal with your application.

If we accept your application you will receive a notice of hearing from us or notice of mediation from DSCV. 

Mediation is an opportunity to resolve your dispute quicker than waiting for your hearing. It involves talking through the issues with the other people involved, assisted by a mediator from DSCV. If you cannot resolve your dispute at mediation, you go to a VCAT hearing at a later date, where a VCAT member makes a decision about the case. You do not have to pay any fees for this service.

For applications considered urgent under the law, we contact you by text or email within 24-48 hours.

At an urgent hearing, only the urgent issues will be dealt with. Non-urgent issues, such as compensation, will be dealt with when there is more time at a later hearing.

3 You get a notice of hearing or mediation

If we can accept your application, you get either a:

  • notice of hearing that gives you the date, time and whether you need to attend by phone, video or in person
  • a notice of mediation from the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (DSCV) that may help you resolve your dispute quicker.

The notice explains what you need to do next.

If we say your hearing is 'on the papers', this means we'll conduct a hearing without you or other parties in attendance. We will look at the evidence and documentation from all parties and tell you in writing what we have decided.

More about DSCV mediations

4 Send your documents

To avoid a delay to your hearing, you must email all documents you plan to use as evidence to the other parties and VCAT.

Email within the following timeframes:

  • a copy of the application to respondent/s no later than seven days after you apply. If the case is urgent send it right away.
  • your documents and evidence to VCAT and the respondent/s at least seven days before the hearing. If it’s an urgent application, send them right away.

We send you an automated confirmation email once we receive your documents. If you don't receive confirmation, check you've sent to the correct email address (renting@courts.vic.gov.au) and the size of your email is under 35 MB. 

It’s important you read the instructions on how to organise and send your documents.

How to send your evidence
5 Prepare your case

It’s important to prepare for your hearing or mediation so you have the documents you need and you’re ready to present the best case possible.

At the hearing, the member will make a decision based on the facts and evidence you present.

If you can’t come to the hearing or mediation and have arranged for someone to come in your place, they must bring or email us a written authority from you.

In some cases you must fill in a summary of what your claim is. This is called a 'summary of proofs'. Fill in the form for your application type:

How to prepare for your hearing

6 Ask for any support services you need

We offer a range of support services, including interpreters, disability, security, family violence and Koori support.

If you haven’t asked for support services when you applied, contact us as early as possible.

VCAT cannot give legal advice about your case. If you need legal support see Legal and professional representation.

VCAT's support services
7 Check the hearing details

Your notice of hearing tells you the time and date of your hearing. It also tells you if your hearing will take place by phone, videoconference or in person. To avoid missing your hearing, it's important you check the notice we send you for instructions on how to join the phone or videoconference.

You can confirm the time of your hearing at Upcoming hearings after 4.30pm on the day before your hearing.

We schedule more than one case for the same time, so allow extra time for your hearing to finish. For example, if your hearing is scheduled for 2pm, it may not start until 3pm.

8 Hearing fees

You only need to pay a fee if your hearing runs for more than one day. Most residential tenancy cases are resolved within one day. 

We will tell you if you need to pay hearing fees which must be paid before the hearing. If you don’t, your hearing will be postponed (adjourned).

Find out about fees
9 On the day

At a final hearing, all parties can present their case, ask questions and give evidence in front of a VCAT member.

Find out what to expect on hearing day

Attending by phone or videoconference

To avoid missing your hearing, it's important you check your Notice of Hearing. It tells you if your hearing is by phone, videoconference (Zoom) or on the papers.

If you're attending by phone you must call VCAT using the teleconference number and PIN we give you in the notice.

For more help see: How to join a phone or videoconference.

If you are coming to VCAT in person

Arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow time to get through the security screening (similar to security at the airport) and find your hearing room.

When you arrive:

  • Check your room at Upcoming hearings or speak to a staff member if you need help finding your hearing room.
  • Go to the hearing room and be ready to present your case.
  • Speak to a staff member if you have arranged security, disability support, an interpreter, or need help setting up your devices.

Hearing on the papers

In a hearing conducted 'on the papers', you don't attend the hearing. We will decide the case based on the supporting documents you and all other parties in the dispute have submitted to us.

10 Get an outcome

If you come to a mediation and reach an agreement (settle), the agreement is put in writing and signed by all parties. If you cannot resolve your dispute at mediation, you go to a VCAT hearing at a later date, where a VCAT member makes a decision about the case.

At the end of a hearing, the VCAT member makes a decision and gives an order.

An order tells parties how the case has been decided and any action they must take. For example, ordering one party to pay another.

They will usually tell you what the decision is, and the reasons for it, at the end of the hearing.

All the parties will also receive a written copy of the order.

All parties must follow VCAT's orders.

Read more about VCAT decisions
11 Enforce the order

If other parties don’t follow the order and you have tried to or can’t contact them, find out how you can enforce the order.

About enforcing orders

Help and support

  • You can bring someone with you to your hearing for support. This support person could be anyone you choose, including a friend or family member. They can’t usually speak on your behalf, but they can help explain what you need (for example, ask for a break). 

    You can’t bring someone to translate for you.

    If you need an interpreter you must ask us for a VCAT interpreter. 

    Support for people affected by family violence

    If you are a protected person or responding to a case and under a family violence intervention order, you can choose to bring a support person to VCAT. The support person can be anyone you choose, including a lawyer, social worker, family member or friend.

    Find out more about support for people affected by family violence at VCAT. 

    If you want someone to speak on your behalf, you must ask for it in writing.

    Template of written authority for someone to represent you

    Use this template to give someone authority to represent you. We call this person an ‘agent’.

    I, <NAME> (or Your Company Pty Ltd, if a company), a party in the VCAT case reference number xxxxx/20xx wish to be represented at VCAT.

    I give permission for <representative's name and occupation> (add 'employed by the company' if you're a company) to represent me.

    The agent has sufficient knowledge of the issues in dispute and has my permission to bind me to any settlement.

    Date xx/xx/xx

    Signed:______________ Name:______________ Position:______________

  • A change to the date of a directions hearing, mediation, compulsory conference or hearing is called an ‘adjournment’. 
     
    If you can’t come to VCAT on the date we give you, you can ask for a change of date (adjournment). 

    First, ask the other parties in the case to agree using the Request for consent to an adjournment form. 

    Then, send us an adjournment application form no later than: 

    • two business days before a directions hearing, mediation or compulsory conference
    • two business days before a hearing for a residential tenancy case
    • five business days before a hearing for all other cases.

    You must: 

    • give us good reasons for the change, like a sudden illness, accident or bereavement in the family
    • give us evidence in writing to support your reasons (for example, a medical certificate)
    • ask for the change in writing no later than two business days before the directions hearing, mediation or compulsory conference or five days before a final hearing. 

    We may not agree to change the date, even if every person involved in the case agrees. Ask for an adjournment as soon as possible.

    A change of date isn’t always possible, and we can’t change the date simply to speed things up. The hearing will go ahead as scheduled if we don’t confirm a new date and time with you.
     
    Download the Adjournment Application Form
     

    See also: What happens if I can't come to VCAT?

  • To change your VCAT application you need to ask before the final hearing for the change to be made.

    We can’t always make every type of change to every type of case. For example, if what you're asking is something we cannot deal with or a time limit has passed.

    We usually accept changes to your contact details before your hearing. If you're asking to change a name or the details of your claim, you may have to wait until you go to a hearing to find out if we can accept it.

    1. Tell us what you want to change (for example, contact details) and your reasons in writing, by post or by email.
      Find the right email address for your type of case or send a written letter to GPO Box 5408, Melbourne VIC 3000
    2. Include the application reference number and any documents that support the change.
    3. Tell the other person or business (the other ‘party’) about the change in writing, and send them copies of any new documents.

    VCAT must review and accept your change and we’ll tell you the outcome. 

    Sometimes we’ll arrange a brief session called a ‘directions hearing’ to work out if we’ll allow the change. This often happens when the other person or business involved (the respondent) has a problem with the change.

    Planning cases

    If you are the permit applicant and want to change your application, you need to send the notice and complete the Statement of Service to confirm you’ve shared your documents. 

    To find the right contact details relevant to your dispute, see Contacts and locations.

    See also: Can I change the amount I’m claiming in my application?

  • VCAT cannot give legal advice. If you do choose to get legal advice, you will need to pay any costs. 

    If you want to talk about what you should do, you can access free or low-cost legal advice or find a private lawyer.
      
    If you want a lawyer or other professional representative to speak on your behalf at VCAT, let the other party know in writing before the hearing and ask permission when the hearing starts. You will need to explain why. 

    For some case types you have an automatic right to representation.

    If the claim is for goods and services under $15,000, we generally don’t allow a lawyer or other professional representative to speak for you at VCAT. 

    If you do choose to get legal advice, you’ll need to pay any costs. 

    Read more about legal and professional representation
     

  • You can contact the other party (or they can contact you) at any time to try to come to an agreement before the hearing. If you do reach an agreement, you and the other parties must let us know in writing, and copy in the other party, as soon as possible. 

    If you make an offer to settle and you want to keep it confidential, make it in writing to the other party and use the words ‘without prejudice’ in your offer. 

    This means that if your offer is not accepted by the other party, it cannot be discussed at a hearing. 

    You can try and resolve the dispute without VCAT right up until the day of the hearing, and for residential tenancy disputes, in the hearing.

    After you settle, if you’re the applicant you can end your case by asking us:

    • to withdraw your application
    • to strike out your case with the right to apply for reinstatement (except in a review of a planning decision) 
    • for consent orders. 

    Learn more about how you can settle a dispute outside VCAT

  • If you are the applicant, you can ask for permission to withdraw your VCAT application at any time before the hearing, for example, if you change your mind. You must let us and the other parties know in writing as soon as possible if you want to apply to withdraw. 

    For some case types if you are the applicant you may have to pay costs to the respondent if you withdraw your claim. 

    If you do withdraw your application, in most cases it can’t be reinstated. (This doesn’t apply in cases about guardians, administratrators, and powers of attorney for example.) You may be able to start a new application about the same dispute later. There will be new fees to pay and we may not accept your application.

    Read more about how to withdraw your application

    Cases about guardians, administrators, supportive guardians and supportive administrators

    If you want to withdraw your application in a case about guardians, administrators, supportive guardians and supportive administrators:

    • Write to us, explaining why orders are no longer needed.
    • We consider whether there is any serious risk to the person you made the application about. This is because the law requires us to protect a person who may have a decision-making disability.

    Even if an application has been withdrawn, the applicant or anyone else is able to make another application about the same circumstances at any later time.
     

  • If you need an interpreter, contact us to arrange a professional interpreter (at no cost to you) before the hearing.

    Make sure you ask for an interpreter as early as you can.

    We connect with a large network of interpreters in 160 languages. Tell us in English what your language is when you ask for an interpreter. It’s best to ask when you apply to VCAT or as soon as possible after we’ve sent you your hearing date.

    We don’t allow a relative or friend to interpret for you at a hearing.

See more help and support