Fees
Fees are amounts you pay to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). An example is the application fee for a hearing. Find the latest fees on VCAT’s website.
This information is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Fees are amounts you pay to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). An example is the application fee for a hearing. Find the latest fees on VCAT’s website.
Costs are any other amounts you have paid, or lost, relating to you going to a hearing. Examples include travel expenses or costs for preparing evidence to use at the hearing.
In most cases everyone pays their own fees and costs for a VCAT hearing. It is unlikely that you will get the other side to pay for these, even if you win.
In rare cases VCAT may order that one side pays the fees and costs of the other side, but it will only do this if one side has made the hearing unfair for the other. For example, taking someone to VCAT without a good reason or causing a hearing to be delayed (adjourned) without having a proper reason.
In cases where VCAT has ordered one side to pay the other sides’ costs, these have included the costs of:
If you think the rental provider (landlord) should pay your fees and/or costs, you must ask VCAT to make an order for this. You can include this in your VCAT application form or ask for it at the hearing.
You should include the section of the law that allows VCAT to make orders about fees and costs.
If you want the rental provider to reimburse you for any costs, include section 109 of the VCAT Act 1998.
If you want the rental provider to reimburse you for any fees, include section 115B of the VCAT Act 1998.
To support your claim, you should, where relevant:
If the rental provider asks VCAT to order you to pay their fees and costs and you do not think this is fair, you can explain, where relevant: