Leaking sewage and no water: Victorian renters’ compensation claims stall in tribunal backlog

One family is among 13,000 waiting for their application to be processed after nightmare tree change left them with uninhabitable housing

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When David*, his partner and young daughter moved to a regional Victorian property close to two-and-a-half years ago, they just wanted a tree-change. What they got was a nightmare rental experience, a hole in their bank account worth more than $20,000 and a prolonged dispute that is still without resolution.

David, who asked that his surname not be used, is just one of nearly 13,000 people waiting for his bond and compensation application to come before the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat), where backlogs still persist and the median wait time is more than nine months.

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Law (Australia) | The Guardian