1. Before you apply to QCAT
There may be legislative requirements you need to comply with before you make an application to QCAT about your non-urgent tenancy dispute. When a dispute arises during or at the end of a tenancy, the RTA provides a free dispute resolution service, helping tenants/residents and property owners/managers to resolve disputes quickly.
The RTA conciliation process is mandatory for all non-urgent tenancy disputes and if the dispute is not suitable for conciliation or cannot be resolved, you will be issued with a Notice of Unresolved Dispute (NURD). An application cannot be initiated at QCAT unless you have been provided with a NURD.
For more information about what steps you may need to consider before filing a non-urgent tenancy application with QCAT, please refer to the RTA website here.
2. Complete and lodge online (Brisbane only)
If you live in Brisbane, QCAT now offers an online portal for you to securely file applications, referrals or documents electronically, view, manage and respond to your residential tenancy case. This fully-digital case management system makes filing and managing your case easier and more accessible by allowing you to:
- view case information and documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; access via desktop, laptop, mobile phone, and tablet
- receive case updates and notifications in real time
- lodge documents any time on any day of the week.
3. Complete and lodge this form manually
If you live outside of Brisbane, or you cannot access the online portal, you can complete and lodge the application for residential tenancy dispute form listed below. Carefully read the form instructions, answer each question and tick an appropriate box when prompted.
When you apply, you should ensure:
- the correct section number of the order you are seeking under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 is clearly identified in the form
- a copy of the Notice of Unresolved Dispute (NURD) is attached
- a copy of the tenancy/rooming accommodation agreement is attached
- copies of all relevant documents, including but not limited to contracts, invoices, receipts, and colour copies of photographs are included
When filing an application for a non-urgent tenancy dispute, you are required to file the application and supporting material along with three copies, and an additional copy for each of any other parties named, in one of the following ways:
| In person or via mail to the Magistrates Court nearest to the rental property | Click here to find a list of Queensland Magistrates Courts. |
|---|---|
| In person at the Brisbane registry | Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal |
| Mail to the Brisbane registry | Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal |
* Please note that if the application is posted to the Brisbane registry, it will be heard and determined in Brisbane.
You must pay the appropriate fee at the time of lodgement – (Credit card authorisation form for mail payments)
You may make an application for a fee waiver if you are eligible.
Form 2 – Application for minor civil dispute – residential tenancy dispute
The purpose of this form is to ask QCAT to resolve an urgent or a non-urgent tenancy dispute.
4. Giving your application to the other parties
In tenancy cases, you are not required to serve your sealed initiating application and supporting material on the other parties as QCAT is required to do this under the current law.
QCAT will provide a copy of your application and any attachments to the other parties to the dispute after it has been processed. QCAT will also provide a notice of hearing to each party to the dispute at the same time. You can learn more about this further in the process.
After you have filed your application, any additional material filed after the initiating application in relation to the claim will need to be filed with QCAT and a copy given to all other parties. This can be done via email, post or in person. QCAT only serves the initiating application on all parties to the dispute.
5. What happens next?
Once QCAT has accepted your application, you will be provided with a case number to keep track of your case.
Find out what happens after you apply.