You came home to find the landlord (or the agent, or a tradesperson) had been inside without notice. Or you got a text 30 minutes before an “inspection”. In every Australian state and territory, residential tenancy law specifies how much notice must be given for entry, and what type of entry is permitted — and unannounced visits are nearly always a breach.
The notice rules in your state
NSW: Residential Tenancies Act 2010 — 7 days’ notice for general inspections (max 4 per year), 2 days for repairs, 14 days for the first inspection during a sale. NCAT enforces. VIC: Residential Tenancies Act 1997 — 7 days for inspections (max 6-monthly after the first 3 months), 24 hours for repairs. VCAT. QLD: Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 — 7 days’ notice for inspections (max 3-monthly), 24 hours for repairs. QCAT. WA: Residential Tenancies Act 1987 — 7–14 days depending on purpose. Magistrates Court. SA: Residential Tenancies Act 1995 — 7–14 days. SACAT. ACT: Residential Tenancies Act 1997 — 7 days. ACAT. TAS: Residential Tenancy Act 1997 — 24 hours to 7 days. RMPAT. NT: Residential Tenancies Act 1999 — 24 hours to 7 days. NTCAT.
Common landlord excuses and why they fail
“It was urgent.” Genuine emergencies (burst pipe, fire) permit immediate entry; routine inspections do not. “I texted you.” Statutory notice generally requires written notice with the prescribed period — a 30-minute text is not lawful notice. “You weren’t answering.” Failure to reach you does not waive the notice requirement. “I was just dropping something off.” Entry without consent or proper notice is a breach regardless of duration or purpose.
What the document does
A Notice to Remedy Breach (or state equivalent) puts the landlord on formal written notice that they have breached the tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancies Act, identifies the specific entry events, demands compliance with proper notice rules going forward, and creates the paper trail needed for tribunal compensation or termination if breaches continue.
What Claim Done delivers
For a flat $79, Claim Done drafts your Notice to Remedy Breach with the correct Act and section citations for your state, the dates and nature of entries, and the remedy demanded. Around ten minutes in the wizard, no solicitor needed.
What happens after
Most landlords and agents stop the conduct immediately once a formal notice arrives because the next step is a tribunal application for compensation (typically $200–$1,000 per breach in NSW and similar in other states) and potentially termination of the tenancy in your favour.