Tribunal update
QCAT fees changed on 1 July 2026: check the live amount before filing
Queensland tribunal fees increased from 1 July 2026. Residential-tenancy applicants should use QCAT's current table and check whether a hardship waiver applies.
Why an old fee figure can mislead
QCAT states that its fees and charges increased by 3.4% on 1 July 2026 under the Queensland Government's indexation policy. Residential-tenancy fees depend on the application and amount claimed, so there is no single number that safely covers every case. A screenshot, older article or saved form may therefore show the wrong amount.
Use the live QCAT fee page immediately before lodging and match the fee to the matter type and value of the application. If QCAT gives a different amount during the filing process, pause and confirm that the right application type was selected rather than changing the claim merely to fit an expected fee.
Financial-hardship waivers
QCAT publishes a hardship-waiver process for eligible applicants. The current criteria include certain people receiving a maximum-rate pension or benefit, people under 18, protected persons under a current domestic violence order and people with a grant of legal aid. Supporting material is required, and not every Centrelink payment qualifies.
Check the current Form 49 instructions and provide copies rather than original supporting documents. Where there is more than one applicant, the published criteria address every applicant, so confirm the position before relying on a waiver. Privacy matters: use the official QCAT channel and do not email sensitive documents to QLD Renters.
The fee is only one filing check
Before paying, confirm whether the dispute is legally urgent or must first go through RTA conciliation, whether a Notice of unresolved dispute is required, which orders QCAT can make and what filing time limit applies. A correct fee cannot cure the wrong pathway or a missed deadline.
Prepare the application and indexed evidence before the last day. If the deadline is close and you are uncertain, contact QCAT for procedural information and QSTARS or a lawyer for advice about your circumstances. QLD Renters will not freeze a dollar figure into its general QCAT guide because fees can change each financial year.
Official source checked
QCAT — Fees and allowances