VCAT: fees, deadlines and your next step
Have a rental dispute, a hearing notice or an order you want to challenge? Start with the route comparison below. VCAT’s forms, fees, time limits and powers depend on the case; preparing the right documents helps you choose the next step.
Key points
- Check the exact case type and parties before filing. VCAT cannot decide every debt, interstate dispute or government complaint.
- Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) handles bond, compensation, repairs and excessive-rent disputes. An RDRV application is already a VCAT application; do not lodge it again simply because a hearing is needed.
- Fees changed on 1 July 2026. The consumer application examples below are not universal VCAT or rental fees; hearing and dispute-resolution fees can also apply.
- An ordinary missed-hearing reopening application under section 120 has a 14-day period from awareness of the order. A question-of-law appeal is a different route, with leave and court-specific rules.
- For Trial Division appeal leave, the usual 28-day period can run from written reasons where oral reasons were followed by a section 117 request. Do not assume an appeal or request stops enforcement.
- Use the document checklist and your hearing notice. VCAT’s registry is 1300 018 228; Legal Hotline’s 1800 951 176 is a separate AI general-information line.
For a VCAT decision, record the order date, when you learned of it, when oral reasons were given, and whether and when written reasons were requested and received. Reopening after nonattendance and an appeal on a question of law have different eligibility and time rules. Get the correct route checked promptly, including whether a stay is needed.
Checked on 23 October 2026: The current VCAT Act, Tribunal Rules and 2026 fee regulations; VCAT and Supreme Court filing, hearing and appeal guidance; RDRV and Victoria Legal Aid information linked below. Sources and limits of this check.
Which VCAT route fits your situation?
VCAT decides specified civil and administrative matters under the VCAT Act and the law giving it power over each case. Members include judicial members who are also judges. Its three operational divisions, introduced in February 2026, cover consumer matters, land and environment, and people’s rights and responsibilities.
Scroll the tables sideways to compare all columns.
| Your situation | Where to start | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bond, compensation, repairs or excessive rent | RDRV’s application and early-resolution process. | The rental dispute type, tenancy documents, notices and urgency. A VCAT application does not need to be lodged again after RDRV. |
| Other residential tenancy issue | VCAT’s residential-tenancies application instructions. | The statutory section, correct form and case-specific deadline; some applications use separate PDF forms. |
| Consumer goods or services dispute | VCAT’s goods-and-services route. | Correct business or company identity, transaction, remedy, jurisdiction and time limit. A claim for a debt alone is not enough to establish jurisdiction. |
| Domestic building work dispute | Check the BPC dispute-resolution prerequisite. | The required conciliation certificate and whether an exception applies; an injunction application is treated differently. |
| An existing hearing notice | Read the listing and every direction. | Attendance method, evidence and service dates, fees, witnesses and any representation permission. |
| An order you want changed or enforced | Identify reopening, appeal, correction or enforcement as appropriate. | The decision-maker, grounds, dates and any existing enforcement or possession deadline. |
Use the official case-type directory, RDRV service, rental application instructions and consumer application instructions. Planning, owners corporation, guardianship and administrative-review matters have their own powers and requirements; this overview is not a universal filing guide.
Before applying: jurisdiction, rental resolution and building certificates
Check the parties’ legal names, residence at filing, the law relied on and the order sought. VCAT generally cannot exercise federal judicial power, including in civil disputes between individuals resident in different Australian States. Companies, Territory residents and overseas parties are not all treated the same for that residence rule. Other federal issues can still matter. Read VCAT’s jurisdiction guidance before paying.
Part 3A of the VCAT Act provides a possible Magistrates’ Court route for qualifying matters affected by federal jurisdiction. Its conditions must be met; a VCAT application is not automatically transferred to court. Ask about the proper court process and time limits rather than starting duplicate proceedings.
RDRV can assist with consensual early resolution of some interstate rental disputes even where VCAT cannot conduct a hearing. That assistance does not create hearing jurisdiction. Early resolution is free, but later VCAT fees may apply. If agreement is reached, check whether it is recorded in an enforceable order; do not assume every informal agreement is itself a Tribunal order.
For a domestic building work dispute within section 56 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act, the required conciliation certificate generally must show that the dispute was unsuitable for conciliation or was not resolved, and accompany the VCAT application. The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) now performs the former DBDRV role. Proceedings for an injunction are excepted; this is not a prerequisite for every commercial building dispute. Use VCAT’s building instructions.
Do not assume negotiations, a complaint, a booking or a request for information stops a statutory time limit. Bring the relevant dates and any earlier dispute-resolution records to advice.
VCAT fees from 1 July 2026: compare like with like
These selected Australian-dollar application fees are for consumer proceedings under section 184 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act, item 22 of the 2026 fee regulations. They are not the fee schedule for all VCAT cases, rental disputes or Supreme Court appeals.
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| Consumer application | Standard | Corporate | Eligible concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not for a monetary sum, or a sum up to $15,000 | $67.40 | $202.10 | No fee |
| Monetary sum unspecified, or more than $15,000 | $222.80 | $673.50 | No fee |
Check the full fee selector for your exact application and fee category. Standard rates include individuals and qualifying businesses, including companies with turnover below $300,000 in the last financial year; evidence may be required. Eligible concession cards include specified Health Care, Pensioner Concession and DVA Gold Cards. Fee relief can include automatic exemptions for qualifying people or a supported financial-hardship request for waiver, reduction or later payment. Hearing, mediation and compulsory-conference fees may be additional: these steps are not always free. Fee relief does not necessarily protect you from an order to pay another party’s costs or fees.
Prepare for the hearing listed in your notice
The notice and orders tell you which listing you have, how to attend and when to provide documents. Follow the hearing preparation instructions and case-specific evidence directions; do not assume every case has a preliminary hearing or a fixed completion time.
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| Listing | Purpose | Bring or prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Directions hearing | Manage issues, evidence and the next steps; final orders can sometimes be made. | The issues needing directions, witnesses, expert needs, proposed timetable and any representation request. |
| Mediation or compulsory conference | Explore settlement; unresolved issues may go to a hearing. | Key documents, a realistic proposal, authority to settle and any position paper ordered. Attend as directed. |
| Final hearing | Present evidence and arguments so VCAT can decide. | Application or response, ordered documents, proof of service, relevant witnesses, calculations and the precise orders sought. |
Read the official directions-hearing and compulsory-conference guidance. Settlement discussions have confidentiality protections subject to the applicable law; do not assume every document is confidential. For an in-person listing, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Check hearing details after 4:30pm the day before and follow your notice for the venue or remote link. Request an adjournment promptly if necessary; the original date stands until VCAT confirms a change.
Reopening and appeals: dates to record
Read the order and record who made it. Under section 148, an appeal must concern a question of law and needs the relevant court’s leave. An order made by the President or a Vice President goes to the Court of Appeal; other members’ orders go to the Supreme Court’s Trial Division. An appeal is not a fresh merits hearing merely because you disagree with the result.
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| Route | Ordinary time rule | Essential qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Reopening after nonattendance under section 120 | Apply within 14 days after becoming aware of the order, under rule 4.24. | You did not appear and were not represented. Explain the absence and your reasonable case; prejudice to others matters. Other specialist rehearing routes can differ. |
| Written reasons following oral reasons under section 117 | Request within 14 days after oral reasons. | Keep proof of the request and receipt. Section 117 does not apply to RDRV proceedings. |
| Leave to appeal to the Supreme Court Trial Division | Usually within 28 days after the order, subject to Supreme Court rules. | If oral reasons were followed by a section 117 request, section 148(4) treats the date written reasons are given as the order date for this clock. |
| Appeal from an order made by the President or Vice President | Check the Court of Appeal’s applicable rules immediately. | Court of Appeal leave is required. Do not assume the Trial Division procedure or the table’s 28-day calculation applies unchanged. |
For reopening, see VCAT’s instructions, section 120 and rules 4.24–4.25. An extension can be sought but is discretionary and subject to conditions; a repeat application ordinarily needs leave. For an appeal, use the Supreme Court guide and sections 117, 148 and 149. Trial Division leave requires a real prospect of success. Do not wait for written reasons without checking that the request and proposed route satisfy the law. A separate stay may be necessary: filing an appeal does not automatically suspend the order.
Lawyers, legal costs and enforcement
You can get advice or preparation help without assuming a lawyer may speak at the hearing. Section 62 and the applicable case law or legislation determine representation rights. Some parties and cases have automatic rights; otherwise permission may be needed. Tell the other party and seek permission as directed by VCAT’s representation guide. A support person is not automatically your advocate.
The usual starting position under section 109 is that each party pays its own costs. VCAT can order otherwise where its statutory tests are met, including relevant conduct and the merits or complexity of the case. Winning does not guarantee recovery of your lawyer’s bill; losing does not automatically mean paying every opposing cost. Supreme Court appeals have separate fees and costs risks.
VCAT does not collect an unpaid award for you. Under sections 121–122, monetary orders can be enforced through the Magistrates’ Court within its monetary jurisdiction, or the County or Supreme Court as appropriate; non-monetary orders go to the Supreme Court. Follow VCAT’s current enforcement process. Court fees, the terms of the order and whether the debtor can pay affect the practical next step.
A correction, reopening for an enforcement problem, nonattendance review and appeal are different applications. Get the order and reasons assessed before choosing a route or assuming that an application prevents enforcement.
Your VCAT document and deadline checklist
- Keep the application, hearing notice, every order and reasons together. Record the order date, awareness date, oral-reasons date, and written-reasons request and receipt dates separately.
- Confirm the legal names and addresses of all parties, relevant company or business extracts, residence at filing and the exact transaction or decision involved.
- Build a short chronology with the contract or lease, notices, invoices, payment records, dated photographs and correspondence. Explain the amount claimed and the precise orders sought.
- Add any BPC/DBDRV certificate, RDRV or other dispute-resolution record, evidence of filing and service, and reports or witnesses needed under the directions.
- Check the case-specific deadline, filing method, fee category or relief evidence, hearing attendance, representation permission and interpreter or accessibility needs. For a challenge, identify the legal error or reopening grounds and any urgent enforcement risk.
VCAT’s registry is 1300 018 228, Monday–Friday 9am–4:30pm, for procedural information. The Melbourne venue is 308 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000; the postal address is GPO Box 5408, Melbourne VIC 3001. Follow your notice for the actual hearing venue or remote arrangements. Use the current contact directory for your case type.
Get advice on your VCAT route, evidence or decision
An Australian lawyer can assess the relevant jurisdiction, deadline, documents and available next step. Confirm the appointment timing and which material can be reviewed during the initial consultation. Hearing representation and any required permission are separate matters.
Legal Hotline’s optional $295 including GST fee covers matching and arranging an initial consultation with an independent Australian lawyer, with no additional lawyer charge for that consultation. Suitability, conflicts, lawyer acceptance and appointment availability apply. Further work and fees are agreed separately.
Legal Hotline is not VCAT, RDRV or a law firm. Its free 1800 951 176 line uses an AI assistant for general legal information, available 24/7; it is not personal advice from a lawyer. The arrangement fee is not a Tribunal filing fee and does not include filing, representation or ongoing work. Calling or booking does not stop a deadline or enforcement.
Official help and free legal information
Official procedural assistance, general information and individual legal advice are different services. Check eligibility, issue coverage and availability before relying on a service.
Victoria Legal Aid — Legal Help
1300 792 387, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm excluding public holidays. General legal information and referrals; individual advice and further assistance depend on eligibility and the issue.
VCAT legal-help directory
Find free or low-cost advice and organisations suited to your dispute. Registry staff can explain procedure but cannot give legal advice or tell you how to win.
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria
1300 01 7378, Monday–Friday 9am–4:30pm excluding public holidays. Bond, compensation, repairs and excessive-rent dispute assistance; this is not your independent lawyer.
Common VCAT questions
How much does it cost to apply to VCAT in 2026?
There is no single VCAT application fee. From 1 July 2026, selected consumer claims under section 184 cost $67.40 standard or $202.10 corporate where no monetary sum is sought or the sum is up to $15,000. An unspecified monetary sum or more than $15,000 costs $222.80 or $673.50 respectively; eligible concession applicants pay no fee for these items. Other case types have different fees, and hearing or dispute-resolution charges may be additional. Check the official selector and fee-relief rules.
Do I apply again to VCAT after RDRV?
No, not simply because your RDRV matter needs a hearing. Applying to RDRV is already applying to VCAT for the covered bond, compensation, repairs or excessive-rent dispute. Follow the resolution coordinator’s directions. RDRV’s ability to assist consensual early resolution does not mean VCAT has hearing jurisdiction in every interstate case.
How long do I have to reopen a VCAT order after missing a hearing?
For the ordinary section 120 route, rule 4.24 requires an application within 14 days after becoming aware of the order. You must have neither appeared nor been represented. A reasonable excuse, a reasonable case and prejudice to other parties matter. Extensions are possible subject to conditions, but are not automatic. Specialist rehearing routes, including some guardianship matters, have different rules.
Is the deadline to appeal every VCAT decision 28 days?
Do not apply that rule to every situation. For leave to appeal to the Supreme Court Trial Division, section 148 ordinarily allows 28 days after the order, subject to court rules. Where oral reasons were followed by a section 117 written-reasons request, the date written reasons are given counts as the order date for that limit. Orders made by the President or a Vice President use the Court of Appeal route and its rules. Appeals need leave and a question of law; they do not automatically stop enforcement.
Can a lawyer represent me at VCAT?
Some parties and case types have automatic representation rights; otherwise permission may be needed. Check section 62 and the applicable case rules, notify the other party and ask as directed. You can obtain legal advice and help preparing documents separately from representation at the hearing. Paying a lawyer or bringing a support person does not itself confer permission to speak for you.
Does winning at VCAT mean the other side pays my legal bill?
Usually each party pays its own legal costs, unless VCAT makes an order under its applicable powers. Winning does not guarantee reimbursement, and adverse costs can arise in appropriate circumstances. Fee relief does not necessarily protect you from another party’s costs or fees. A Supreme Court appeal has separate fees and costs risks.
Sources and update record
Checked on 23 October 2026. The VCAT Act compilation is current from 28 July 2026, Tribunal Rules version 019 from 1 February 2026, and the selected fee amounts apply from 1 July 2026. Different enabling laws, case types and court rules may change the route or deadline. This general guide is not a calculation of an individual deadline or an audit of every VCAT jurisdiction.
- VCAT Act 1998 — current version 145
- VCAT Rules 2018 — version 019
- VCAT Fees Regulations 2026 — current version
- Domestic Building Contracts Act — version 094
- VCAT case types
- VCAT structure
- Jurisdiction limits
- RDRV process and frequently asked questions
- RDRV contact
- Residential tenancy applications
- Goods-and-services applications
- Building-and-construction applications
- Current VCAT fees
- Concessions and fee relief
- Hearing preparation
- Directions hearings
- Compulsory conferences
- Representation and costs
- Reopening after nonattendance
- VCAT appeal overview
- Supreme Court Trial Division appeal guide
- Enforcing VCAT orders
- VCAT contacts
- Melbourne venue
- Legal-help directory
- Victoria Legal Aid — speak to us
- Legal Hotline Australian booking
- Legal Hotline matching and arrangement terms
General information only, not legal advice. Updated . Checked against the sources above on 23 October 2026.