Form 16: Dispute resolution request

Who sends or completes it?

A party to the tenancy dispute lodges it with the RTA.

When is it used?

When direct attempts to resolve a non-urgent dispute have not worked.

Read the entire form, including its notes and timeframes. The correct next step can depend on your agreement type, the stated reason, how the document was delivered and what has already happened.

Check whether conciliation is the right first step

Form 16 asks the RTA’s dispute-resolution service to assist with a tenancy dispute. It is generally used after a clear attempt at self-resolution for a non-urgent issue. Some matters can go directly to QCAT or need an urgent response, so identify the deadline and risk before spending time on a form that cannot provide the remedy you need.

The RTA conciliator is impartial and helps the parties negotiate; the service does not decide who is right or impose a result. Write the outcome you want in practical terms, such as a repair by a date, a corrected ledger entry, or an agreed bond amount.

Build a short chronology

Start with the agreement or event that created the issue, then list the key dates in order: request, response, notice, payment, inspection, repair visit and any deadline. Use one sentence per event and attach the document that proves it. A chronology that says ‘12 September—Form 11 received; 13 September—payment receipt sent’ is easier to assess than a long emotional narrative.

Identify what is agreed and what is disputed. If both sides agree that a payment was made but disagree about whether it was rent or bond, say that explicitly. This helps the conciliator focus on the allocation question rather than re-litigating every conversation.

State an outcome that another person can perform

A useful request has an action, amount and date. ‘Fix the leak’ is a starting point; ‘arrange an inspection of the ceiling leak, confirm the contractor and prevent further water entry by 20 September’ is more measurable. For money, state the figure, the transaction and the ledger entry you want corrected.

Avoid asking the RTA to punish the other party or declare every past conversation dishonest. Conciliation works best when the requested agreement can be written down and checked later. You can still describe conduct that affected the dispute, but connect it to the remedy you need.

Attach the strongest evidence first

Include the tenancy agreement, relevant form, dated photographs, receipts, ledger, emails, messages, invoices and a record of contact attempts. Name files clearly and refer to them in the chronology. Redact unrelated bank transactions, identity documents and private information belonging to another person before sending anything.

Keep the original files and a copy of the exact Form 16 submission. If the RTA asks for more material, send only what answers the request. A folder with hundreds of screenshots and no explanation can hide the evidence that matters most.

Prepare for contact and know the next decision point

The RTA may contact the requesting party and the other side during conciliation. Check voicemail and email, respond to questions, and record any agreement reached. Put agreed dates, amounts, access arrangements and responsibility for follow-up in writing before treating the dispute as finished.

If no agreement is reached, ask what the current next step is. Some non-urgent matters may require the RTA process before QCAT, while urgent matters have different routes. Do not miss a tribunal or notice deadline while waiting for a conciliator to call; get individual advice when housing or safety is at risk.