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QCAT cases: the most common types of dispute, with real decisions

Last updated · Reviewed by the Claim Done team · Not legal advice

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The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal publishes its decisions. These are the types of dispute it decides most often among the cases we have summarised for Queensland, each with recent examples in plain English and a link to the full decision.

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1. Builders, renovations and building defects (2 decisions)

Unfinished jobs, defective work, builders who walked off and owners who would not pay. These are the home-building decisions from the tribunals in every state, summarised in plain English. All builders and building defects cases.

QCAT · 30 Sep 2026Builder 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…QCAT · 2 Oct 2026 · $8,880Plumber 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.…

2. House rentals, bonds and tenancy (2 decisions)

Bond claims, unpaid rent, repairs that were never done, compensation for a landlord's breach, and terminations. These are the residential tenancy decisions from the tribunals in every state, summarised in plain English so renters and landlords can see how the rules are applied. All house rentals and bonds cases.

QCAT · 30 Sep 2026Tenants 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…QCAT · 6 Oct 2026Tenant’s appeal dismissed after tribunal finds her evidence was online before the hearing (QCAT, 2026)A tenant appealed a tenancy decision that let the landlord keep the $3,300 bond and ordered her to pay a further $3,318.80. She argued that the hearing had been unfair, but the…
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3. Motor vehicle dealers and car disputes (1 decision)

Used cars that break down weeks after purchase, dealers who refuse a refund or repair, caravans and boats that were not as described, and mechanics whose repairs did not fix the fault. These are the tribunal decisions on motor vehicle disputes across Australia, summarised in plain English. All motor vehicle dealers cases.

QCAT · 30 Sep 2026Claim 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…
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4. Neighbour, fence and tree disputes (1 decision)

Dividing fences, overhanging trees, retaining walls and the arguments that follow. These are the neighbour-dispute decisions from the tribunals that hear them, summarised in plain English. All neighbour disputes cases.

QCAT · 1 Oct 2026Neighbour’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…

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