Residential Tribunal of New South Wales facts for kids
The Residential Tribunal of New South Wales was like a special court in New South Wales, Australia. It helped solve problems between people who rent homes (tenants) and the people who own those homes (landlords). This tribunal started on March 1, 1999. It replaced an older group called the Residential Tenancies Tribunal.
The tribunal was later closed down. A new group, the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal of New South Wales, took its place on February 25, 2002.
What Was the Residential Tribunal?
This tribunal was created to handle disagreements about renting homes. If a tenant and a landlord couldn't agree on something, they could go to the tribunal for help. The tribunal would listen to both sides and make a fair decision.
Why Was It Created?
Before this tribunal, there was a similar group. But experts thought the old group wasn't flexible enough. They wanted a new system that could handle different kinds of problems better.
The new tribunal was designed to be more adaptable. It could have one person or a group of people listen to a case. This depended on how complicated the problem was. The tribunal also had flexible rules. It could change its process to fit the specific disagreement.
How Did It Work?
The tribunal was set up under a law called the Residential Tribunal Act 1998 (NSW). It helped with problems related to several laws, including:
- Community Land Management Act 1989 (NSW) (about shared land)
- Residential Parks Act 1998 (NSW) (about living in caravan parks)
- Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (NSW) (about renting homes)
- Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW) (about places for older people)
- Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) (about apartment buildings)
The tribunal tried to solve problems quickly and simply. It did not follow strict court rules about evidence. A big part of its job was to help people find a way to agree without a formal decision.
People usually spoke for themselves at the tribunal. Lawyers were not allowed unless the tribunal said it was okay. However, a landlord could have their real estate agent attend for them.
If someone disagreed with a decision, they could ask the Supreme Court of New South Wales to review it. This review would only be about legal questions.
Who Was in Charge?
The tribunal had a main leader called the Chairperson. There were also Deputy Chairpersons and other members. The Chairperson could also choose assessors to help when needed.
