Prepare for Your NCAT Dispute Hearing
If you’ve chosen not to hire a legal representative, the first thing you need to do after receiving the application copy is gather evidence. For disputes involving property owners and tenants, the owner may want to provide documented evidence that the tenant has missed the rent payment due dates.
Ideally, you should still have photos of the property before the tenant moved in. If time-stamped or verified as having been taken before occupancy, these photos can prove that the tenant moved into a relatively undamaged property.
Other documents to prepare in advance are the rental agreement, printouts of emails sent to the tenant, inspection reports, service invoices, and proof that you’ve paid for those repair services if the tenant didn’t cover the costs.
If you’ve collected all the possible evidence in your favour, organise the documents and make multiple copies to give to the Tribunal Members before or during the hearing. You should be as cooperative as possible with the NCAT and comply with their instructions.