NCAT deadlines, forms & process

• Rental bond dispute

  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)

• Repairs / maintenance

  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)

• Termination / eviction

  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)

• Excessive rent increase

  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)

• Home building defects

  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)

• Builder payment dispute

  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)

• Motor vehicle (lemon)

  Australian Consumer Law

• Consumer goods / services

  Australian Consumer Law

• Strata dispute

  Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW)

• Other / not sure

The most common way a self-rep loses time is starting at the wrong place. In New South Wales, some disputes must clear an upstream step before NCAT will hear them.

• Fair Trading complaint before NCAT (home building)

  Required first

  Refer the dispute to Fair Trading before applying unless an NCAT-published exemption applies (including some debt, cross-claim, unlicensed-contractor and near-expiry matters).

  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Pt 3A

• Fair Trading mediation before NCAT (strata)

  Required first

  Most strata disputes must go through NSW Fair Trading mediation before NCAT will hear the matter.

  Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) — Fair Trading mediation

These are the clocks NCAT runs. Miss one and you can lose the right, the money, or the chance to be heard.

• Lodge NCAT bond dispute within 14 days of Notice of Claim
  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) / Rental Bond Board
• Challenge excessive rent increase within 30 days of notice
  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) s44
• Request warrant of possession within 30 days of possession date
  NCAT enforcement — Warrants for possession
• Major defect claim within 6 years of completion
  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s18E(1)
• Non-major defect claim within 2 years of completion
  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s18E(1)
• Home building claim within 3 years of the relevant supply date
  Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s48K
• Lodge appeal within 28 days of decision notification or later reasons
  NCAT Guideline 1 — Internal Appeals
• Apply to reinstate dismissed proceedings within 7 days
  NCAT — Reinstatements
• Renew work-order proceedings by the order's deadline or default 12-month limit
  Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Sch 4 cl 8
• Apply within 3 months of becoming aware of the breach
  Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) — general breach time limit

• Residential tenancy (bond, rent, repairs, termination)

  Residential proceedings; corporation $128.

  $64$16 concession

• Consumer / general claim up to $10,000

  $64$16 concession

• Consumer / general claim $10,001–$30,000

  $133$33 concession

• Consumer / general claim over $30,000

  Corporation fee $688.

  $344$86 concession

• Strata / community scheme

  Corporation fee $266.

  $133$33 concession

• Guardianship

  $0

• Internal appeal (Appeal Panel)

  Corporation fee $1,080.

  $540$135 concession

NSW tenancy and bond disputes ARE heard at NCAT. Fees are value-banded by claim amount and CPI-indexed every 1 July.

Figures as at 1 July 2026. Source: official NCAT fees. Fees re-index — confirm the current amount before you lodge.

Every link below goes to an official New South Wales source — NCAT (or the court or commissioner that actually hears your matter), the bond authority, free legal help, and the governing law.

• NCAT homepageOfficial home of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Fees at NCATOfficial fees and charges schedule (as at 1 July 2026).
• NCAT formsApplication & registry forms, organised by division.
• Residential rental bonds (NSW Fair Trading)Tenancy is heard at NCAT; the bond is held by NSW Fair Trading via Rental Bonds Online.
• Legal Aid NSW — tenancy for rentersTenancy/renting legal help, incl. the NCAT housing appeals hotline.
• Tenants' Union of NSWPeak tenants' body; factsheets + the statewide Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services.
• Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW)NCAT's enabling Act, current in-force version.
• Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)Principal Act governing residential tenancies.
• Reduced fees & fee waiversConcession (25%) and hardship fee waivers.
• Apply online to NCATHow to lodge via NCAT Online Services (Consumer & Commercial).
• Residential tenancy complaints (pre-NCAT)Free voluntary NSW Fair Trading complaint/conciliation before NCAT.

Official links sourced and checked June 2026. Government sites move from time to time — if a link has changed, search the tribunal’s name plus the page title.

• Which tribunal handles my dispute?The right front door in every state and territory — including the disputes that go to a court or commissioner instead of the tribunal.
• Enforcing a tribunal order in AustraliaNo Australian tribunal enforces its own money orders. What actually happens after you win, and how NCAT orders get collected.