NCAT is Now in Full Effect

In case you missed it, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) commenced on January 1 2014 in place of the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT).

NCAT integrated the existing 23 separate NSW tribunals in an effort to provide a single (less confusing) gateway in a bid to improve the accessibility, efficiency and accountability of the tribunal system.

To maintain consistency and transparency across the board, NCAT now consists of five different divisions – consumer and commercial, administrative and equal opportunity, occupational and regulatory, guardianship and victim support, in hopes of increasing confidence in the public with using these services.

Matters that had been lodged or in progress with CTTT before January 1^st do not have to be relodged.

For more information visit: http://www.ncat.nsw.gov.au/

CTTT to Become Known as NCAT

As of January 1 2014, the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) will become NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

CTTT is currently composed of 23 separate NSW tribunals and this system can be quite confusing. NCAT seeks to integrate these existing tribunals to provide a single gateway in an effort to improve the accessibility, efficiency and accountability of the tribunal system and increase the public’s confidence in these services.

To ensure NCAT can meet the needs of Tribunal users, it will consist of five divisions – consumer and commercial, administrative and equal opportunity, occupational and regulatory, guardianship and victim support. This is a response to the challenge which has been maintaining consistency and transparency across over 30 tribunals whilst still providing quality service.

CTTT have announced that any matters which have been lodged with them and not heard before January 1^st do not have to be relodged with NCAT, and any the resolution of any matters currently in progress will not be affected.

For further information visit: http://www.tribunals.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/

Free Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service for NSW

NSW tenants, landlords and property managers can now utilise a free tenancy dispute resolution service which aims to resolve residential tenancy disputes rather than having them heard by the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) which will be known as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) as of 1^st January 2014.

Areas where Fair Trading is able to assist in resolving disputes includes:

• repairs and maintenance
• non-urgent health and safety issues
• alterations and additions
• access to the premises including inspections
• non-compliance with the tenancy agreement
• water saving devices and smoke alarms
• provisions of correct notices
• ending a tenancy
• breaking a lease, and
• condition reports

Rather than have parties go through the standard initial conciliation process at tribunal, this new resolution service seeks to resolve disputes through a teleconference or onsite meeting. This method relies on the co-operation of both parties and their willingness to reach an agreement out of court – Fair Trading recommends that parties involved in a dispute are open to various suggestions of how to settle the dispute.

In any instance where Fair Trading cannot help the parties reach a mutual agreement in regards to the resolution of their dispute, either party can lodge a claim with NCAT. Additionally, NCAT will continue to deal with all other areas of residential tenancy that Fair Trading does not handle.

Visit the Fair Trading – Residential Tenancy Disputes page, or call 13 32 20 for more information about the free dispute resolution service.