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To complain about housing - a landlord or a tenant

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VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	WA	TAS	ACT	NT

VICTORIA



(1) Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)


Phone (03) 9627 6222
Freecall™ 1800 136 716
Website

CAV staff should be able to help you with your complaint.

The CAV site has a section on renting.

It also has forms that can be used as notices.

(2) Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)


If you can't resolve the problem, either yourself or through CAV, you can apply to the Residential Tenancies List at VCAT for a hearing and determination. CAV (see above) can give you advice about how to do this.


VCAT's Residential Tenancies List took over from the former Residential Tenancies Tribunal in 1998. The List receives, hears and determines applications made under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. Matters such as disputes between landlords and tenants; between tenants and tenants; rooming house owners and residents; caravan park owners or caravan owners and residents. The award limit is $10,000 - more if
the parties agree.

Address: 55 King St Melbourne 3000
Phone - (03) 9628 9800 (Melb metro)
Freecall™ 1800 133 055 (within Victoria)
Fax - (03) 9628 9822

(3) Consumers can also contact the Tenants Union of Victoria for advice
about their rights.
PO Box 234, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
Advice line: (03) 9416 2577
Fax: (03) 9416 0513
TUV website

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NEW SOUTH WALES

(1) Department of Fair Trading

For info on renting, go to the Tenants and home owners section of the Fair Trading site.

1 Fitzwilliam Street Parramatta 2150
PO Box 972 Parramatta 2124
Phone - (02) 9895 0111
Fax - (02) 9895 0222
General consumer enquiries 133 220
How to complain
You can ring for advice, but your complaint must be in writing. You can use the Fair Trading complaints form.


(2) Residential Tribunal

The Tribunal is an independent decision making body. It can adjudicate most disputes relating to strata and community schemes, residential parks, retirement villages, community housing, and other residential tenancy agreements. Issues include rent arrears, repairs, bond claims, illegal use of rented homes.

Level 12 175 Castlereagh St Sydney 2000
GPO Box 4005 Sydney 2001
Phone - Freecall™ 1800 451 292
(02) 9641 6400
Fax - (02) 9641 6477
How to complain
You need to lodge an application (you can get this from the tribunal or Fair Trading). There is a small application fee.

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QUEENSLAND

(1) Residential Tenancies Authority

The RTA is a statutory authority that aims to solve a residential tenancy and rental bond dispute quickly and cheaply. It covers general tenancies and moveable dwelling tenancies. It also covers all those involved in the rental industry - real estate agents, property managers, property owners and tenants. RTA's dispute resolution service.

33 Herschel St Brisbane 4000
GPO Box 390 Brisbane 4001
Phone - 1300 366 311 (from anywhere in Australia)
Fax - (07) 3361 3666
Go to the RTA's home page.

How to request dispute resolution
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1994, you must attempt to resolve a dispute over bond refunds and other tenancy matters by lodging a Dispute Resolution Request form with the RTA. The RTA has a very useful fact sheet on dispute resolution that will help you understand your rights and responsibilities. (Click here, then on Publications at left)

(2) In an urgent tenancy situation (as specified in the Act), you can apply to the Small Claims Tribunal without first lodging a notice with the RTA.
Address - 170 North Quay Brisbane 4000
Phone - (07) 3247 4578
More info on the Small Claims Tribunal

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

(1) Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA)

Chesser House 91-97 Grenfell Street Adelaide 5000
PO Box 965 Adelaide 5001
Residential tenancies
Phone - (08) 8204 9544 (advice)
Fax - (08) 8204 9570
Phone - (08) 8204 9555 (bonds)
Tenancies info on the OCBA site
Tenancies legislation

(2) Residential Tenancies Tribunal

The Tribunal is an independent body that provides low cost resolution of disputes between private landlords and tenants. The Tribunal does not deal with complaints from tenants in public housing (see contacts below). Level 4 100 Pirie St Adelaide 5000
GPO Box 2361 Adelaide 5001
Phone - (08) 8226 8989
Fax - (08) 8226 8985

Public housing - Public Housing Appeals Unit
Level 1 45 Wakefield St Adelaide 5000
Phone - (08) 8207 0080
Fax - (08) 8207 0082 (Adelaide metro)
Freecall 1800 676 350 (SA country)

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

(1) Consumer Protection Division (was Fair Trading) of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection

Consumer Protection's website has information about renting, including a publication called Renting a home in WA.

219 St Georges Terrace Perth 6000
Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square WA 6850
Phone (advice & complaints) - 1300 30 40 54 (cost of a local call)
TTY - (08) 9282 0800 (deaf and hearing impaired) Administration - (08) 9282 0777
Fax - (08) 9282 0850
Consumer Protection's consumer page

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TASMANIA


(1) Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (CAFT)


The Office's Renting in Tasmania page provides useful information, including a link to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and changes to rental bonds from 2009.

Hobart

Phone - 1300 654 499 (cost of local call)

Phone - (03) 6233 4567

Fax - (03) 6233 4882

Devonport

Phone - 1300 654 499 (cost of local call)

Phone - (03) 6421 7858

Fax - (03) 6421 7860


The Residential Tenancies Commissioner deals with disputes about bonds/security deposits.

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ACT

(1) ACT Office of Fair Trading

Level 2 GIO House City Walk Canberra City 2600
GPO Box 158 Canberra 2601
Phone - (02) 6207 0400
Fax - (02) 6207 0424

The ACT Renting Book a guide to your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, property owner or real estate agent - issued under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997

Rental Bonds

(2) Residential Tenancies Tribunal (RTT)

This is an independent body that hears and determines all matters arising from both private and public residential tenancy agreements. It resolves disputes between landlords and tenants in private or public rental situations.
ACT Magistrates Court, Knowles Place Canberra City 2601
Phone - (02) 6217 4276
Fax - (02) 6217 4505
You will need to pay a filing fee.
Go to the RTT website


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NT

(1) Consumer and Business Affairs (Tenancy Unit)


The Tenancy Unit within Consumer and Business Affairs is responsbile
for the day to day administration of tenancy legislation in the NT.


66 The Esplanade Darwin 0801
GPO Box 1722 Darwin 0801

Phone - (08) 89991999(Darwin)

Freecall™ 1800 019 319 (within NT only)

Fax - (02) 8999 6260

There are a number of publications on the Consumer and Business Affairs site that will help you understand your rights e.g. Fact sheets including:

• 'Solving common tenancy disputes'
• 'What tenants should know about renting'
• 'Bonds and security deposits'
  


(2) Commissioner for Tenancies

The Commissioner arbitrates disputes between tenants and landlords/real estate agents. The Commissioner makes a tenancy determination - a statutory decision that legally binds the parties but is subject to appeal through the Local Court.

The Commissioner's office is within Consumer and Business Affairs (above).

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