Our experienced lawyers will run your matter to the full extent of the law to ensure success.
Award-Winning Law Firm
We have won several client service excellence and leading law firm awards every year up to and including 2024.
Proven Track Record
50+ Years of Combined Experience litigating civil matters means a successful outcome is on the table.
5 Star Reviews Everywhere
We’re in it to win it and we fight hard for our clients. That’s why anywhere you look you will find only 5 star reviews.
Book a Consultation Today
If your case is important to you it’s important to us. Call Jameson Law and join the winning side today.
If you have ever ended a tenancy and your landlord has made a compensation claim against your rental bond, you know that defending any compensation claim can be stressful. Compensation claims are often also accompanied by threats of complex legal processes, legal fees and legal costs, short time limits for reply and the possibility of an even higher amount of compensation if a claim is not met on time. Often, it can be difficult to know who to speak to make sure you are not being treated unfairly.
Claims for compensation can take many forms, whether a claim for a breach of a lease, an employee making a worker’s compensation claim following a workplace injury, a motor vehicle claim, or a personal injury or negligence claim against your small business. In any case, and given the often unreasonable timeframes that accompany compensation claims, it is critical to obtain the best legal advice available, to ensure the claims process and any dispute resolution process that is used, is resolved quickly and in your favour.
Our law firm provides no win, no fee legal services so that if a compensation claim has been made against you, you can receive high quality legal advice from our expert team of personal injury lawyers. Below, we explore some of the major compensation claims and how best to defend those claims.
Speak to a lawyer today
If you have a civil dispute and seek high-quality legal advice to assist in defending a compensation claim made against you, it is essential that you have help from experienced lawyers who can manage your matter in a sensitive, professional, and emotion-free manner. Take the stress out of navigating complicated legal processes by contacting our expert personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today. We can assist with compiling and drafting any relevant documentation, explaining legal issues in real terms and providing professional legal services to ensure you get the outcome you deserve.
Can tenants defend a compensation claim by their landlord?
A very common compensation claim occurs at the conclusion or termination of a lease. In Australia, leases and tenancy disputes are generally governed by the relevant Residential Tenancies Act applicable in your State. Under these laws, tenants are required to provide a “bond” at the commencement of the lease, against which a landlord may claim compensation if a tenant terminates the lease, damages the leased premise, or is otherwise in breach of the lease contract.
Some common compensation claims made by landlords against tenants include:
- Where a tenant vacates a tenancy early, and a landlord is entitled to a “break lease” fee
- Where a tenant vacates a tenancy early and fails to provide the proper notice
- Where a tenant damages the leased property, or any other goods/fixtures owned by the landlord which was supplied as part of the lease
- Where a tenant fails to properly clean and/or repair the leased premises prior to vacating at the end of the lease
- Where a tenant fails to pay rent.
The claims process in these circumstances will generally depend on whether the compensation claim exceeds the amount of the bond provided at the commencement of the lease, and whether the lease remains current. In NSW, bonds are required to be held with the Rental Bond Board, and any claims against the bond money (including the tenant’s claim for return of the bond) are to be made through the RBB. Where a claimant landlord claims an amount less than the total bond money held, a tenant will need to contact NSW Fair Trading, and likely apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to challenge the claim against the bond.
Where the compensation claim exceeds the total bond money, then the landlord will be responsible for applying to NCAT for the amount of compensation they seek that exceeds the total amount held in bond. This procedure will also differ depending on whether the tenant is still residing in the lease premises, or has vacated.
If you wish to challenge a compensation claim, it is important to provide as much evidence and reasoning as to why the landlord is not entitled to the compensation. Such evidence might include photographs, condition reports or bank statements showing rental payments. Ultimately, your success in defending the compensation claim will likely depend on the strength of your reasoning and evidence in support of your defence, including having a firm legal basis.
Generally, where an application is made to NCAT (or the equivalent Tribunal in your State jurisdiction), is is highly recommended that you seek legal advice on your rights and any options available in defending the compensation claim made against you. This is not only because compensation claims are often complex and confusing, but also because of the short timeframes available to those defending claims and the very specific procedures involved in formal claims processes such as tribunal hearings.
Speak to a lawyer today
Landlords can make compensation claims against tenants for a range of circumstances arising out of residential tenancies, and defending a claim in formal claims processes such as in NCAT can often involve a number of statutory instruments, short timeframes and assumed knowledge of NCAT procedure. For advice on the options available to you in defending a compensation claim, and any entitlements arising from your residential tenancy, contact our legal practice today for a free, honest and confidential consultation.
Disclaimer
The above is general legal information and should not be considered legal advice. You should speak with one of our migration lawyers for legal advice tailored to your specific legal matter. The courts and tribunals deal with matters on a case by case basis. It should also be noted that there may be delays due to COVID-19.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Yes our civil lawyers have litigated for both landlords and tenants. Whether you are a plaintiff of defendant, Jameson Law’s civil law team has the experience to pursue a good outcome.
Leasing out your property grants the tenant a lot of legal rights. In NSW residential tenancies are standardised with some special conditions that can be modified. Generally a property lawyer or even a real estate agent can help you with the preparation of a residential property lease.
In NSW, lodging a complaint with NSW Fair Trading and having you matter heard against a residential landlord is fairly straightforward. However, preparation of evidence and putting together a strong case (no matter how good it sounds) – is never easy as there what might sound fair and reasonable might not actually correspond as a right legally. It is always in your best interest to seek advice or guidance from a legal representative. To lodge a complaint, visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/lodge-a-tenancy-complaint-with-nsw-fair-trading
WE'RE IN IT TO WIN IT
Book your consultation
Contact Us
Jameson Law Offices
- PO Box 73
Parramatta NSW 2124 - info@jamesonlaw.com.au
- 02 8806 0866
- 02 9052 0840
Contact Us
- PO Box 73
Parramatta NSW 2124 - info@jamesonlaw.com.au
- 02 8806 0866
- 02 8046 6477
Jameson Law Offices