Tribunal cases explained: real decisions from NCAT, VCAT, QCAT and every state tribunal
Last updated · Reviewed by the Claim Done team · Not legal advice
Plain-English summaries of published decisions from the civil and administrative tribunals in every Australian state and territory. Each case study sets out what happened, what the tribunal decided and why, and what the decision shows about how the rules are applied, with a link to the full decision.
By case area
Motor vehicle dealers1 decisionHouse rentals and bonds5 decisionsFaulty goods and refunds1 decisionBuilders and building defects7 decisionsNeighbour disputes2 decisionsStrata and body corporate3 decisionsOther civil disputes1 decision
By tribunal
NCAT NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal · 5 decisionsQCAT Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal · 6 decisionsSAT State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia · 4 decisionsACAT ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal · 5 decisions
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Latest decisions
Public housing tenancy ended after tribunal finds the home was used for drug dealing (ACAT, 2026)The Commissioner for Social Housing asked the tribunal to end a long-running public housing tenancy after the tenant was jailed for drug trafficking that the Commissioner said took place from the home.…Unit owners keep balcony screens and shelves as tribunal strikes down strata balcony rule (ACAT, 2026)An owners corporation in a 17-storey Canberra tower asked the tribunal to order two unit owners to remove freestanding shelves and screens from their enclosed balcony. The tribunal refused, found the items…Neighbour who cut a hedge past the fence line ordered to pay $1,054 to townhouse owners corporation (ACAT, 2026)A tenant used a chainsaw to cut back a hedge that overhung his back fence, and he cut well past the fence line into a townhouse complex's common property. The tribunal found…Tribunal cannot decide who keeps the dog after a de facto break-up, so the appeal is dismissed (ACAT, 2026)After a de facto relationship ended, one former partner asked the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal to order the return of a pet dog he said he alone owned. The tribunal's appeal…Room occupancy agreements declared void and misleading, but no refund or compensation ordered (ACAT, 2026)An occupant who rented a room from a share-accommodation company had already won a ruling that his occupancy agreements were void, meaning they never had legal effect. At this follow-up hearing, the…Builder ordered to fix mortar, mould and render, but owner’s delay damages claim dismissed (SAT, 2026)A home owner who refused to accept that his new house was finished took a list of defects and a claim for delay damages against WA Country Builders Pty Ltd. The tribunal…Homeowners’ building delay claim dismissed after they brought in their own electrician (SAT, 2026)Homeowners whose new house ran well over time settled with their builder at a tribunal mediation, then hired their own electrician without telling the builder, and the builder ended the deal. The…Tenants refused leave to appeal a $500 bond deduction and their privacy claims against an agent (QCAT, 2026)Long-term tenants tried to appeal a tribunal decision that gave $500 of their $2400 bond to the managing agent and dismissed their $50,000 counter-claim over privacy breaches and alleged retaliation. The appeal…Claim of $1,080.32 against a mechanic dismissed for lack of evidence of poor work (QCAT, 2026)A vehicle owner sought $1,080.32 from a mobile diesel mechanic for towing, parts and a labour charge connected with two repair episodes on a Mazda BT-50 in 2022 and 2024. The tribunal…Builder owed no duty to cover owners’ pure economic loss from defects claimed 13.5 years on (QCAT, 2026)Homeowners sued their builder in negligence for about $278,000 to $285,000 in repair costs, 13.5 years after their house was finished. On a preliminary question, the tribunal declared the builder did not…Neighbour’s bid to cut back overhanging gum tree dismissed for lack of evidence (QCAT, 2026)A homeowner asked the tribunal to order the owners of a neighbouring property to deal with a large gum tree she said threatened her house, dropped debris and shaded her windows and…Plumber without builder’s licence ordered to repay $8,000 for steel beam job that never went ahead (QCAT, 2026)Home owners paid $8,000 to a tradesperson who agreed to supply and install a structural steel beam, but the job was put on hold and then cancelled before any work was done.…
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