Tenancy Tribunral - have you done it? (NSW)

[Mum2Romone]

Im a PRO lol

We went once for our bond back and several other times for other things like compensation etc.

We found the best way of dealing with some situations is unfortunately to have to do all this

The Consumer Trade and Tenancy Tribnunal in NSW deals with this
Go to their website - to the residential tenancies section
Or call them - You need the forms to apply for a date at the Tribunal. They are located locally pretty much everywhere

The clause you want is for the tenant to apply for a refund/return of rental bond money.
on the form state in point form the reasons you are being withheldthe money and the proof you have to support your claim.

Then it cost $30 for lodging the form , or $5 if you are eligible for the pension

it takes about two- three weeks to get a date to attend the tribunal.
in that time you should get together all your proof
*Letters/emails to the real estate requesting things be fixed, that led to the damage (draws)
*All correspondence in relation to with holding the bond/why
*Photographs to show what it looks like now/ before if you have them
*Your lease (highlight the parts pertaining to general wear and tear and the part where it says the landlord will repair things within a cetain amount of time (24hours for leaking water emergencies etc)
* Any further corresponce with the real estate from here including writing down times and points of conversation for any phone calls you may receive.

Real Estate agents can be a pain Best of Luck and PM me if you need any help

[Lisa]

We're actually about to take our real estate & landlord to the tribunal.

Call up your local Tenancy advocacy service and have a chat to them... we have found them so helpful.

[BrightSparkles]

Thanks girls.
We have photos of some things but not things like the insides of drawers before we moved in
I have copies of most emails. In terms of inspection reports, i have requested them both by phone and email. They won't reply to me by email, but told me over the phone I wasn't entitled to them?? This makes me think they are trying to get away with doing stuff they shouldn't be?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

That does sound suss, they should certainly be responding in writing. I'd bring copies of all the emails you've sent to them that've gone unresponded - maybe even turn on 'read receipts' and 'delivery receipts' on your email, and see what they're doing with your emails...

[Inertia]

In terms of inspection reports, i have requested them both by phone and email. They won't reply to me by email, but told me over the phone I wasn't entitled to them??

Not entitled??? Its in triplicate! And one copy is meant to be YOURS! Call up the advocacy, get onto the tribunal and apply for your bond back. Chances are it will go unchallenged due to you going to the tribunal.

When all that is over go to the tica website and follow the free access system to make sure they haven't listed you on there to be jerks. Sadly TICA and the like have let them start thinking they can act like prats and keep everyones bonds, threatening to list them on TICA. There is a lot more regulation over TICA now so you can not be listed (or remain listed) without verification of the real estate agents claims if you contest it.

[~Kaz~]

Just wanted to add (some great advice above btw) that from my limited experience, the tribunal tends to be a little biased towards the tennants and against landlords.