The Kempsey listings for the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal Consumer and Commercial Division cover everyday civil disputes connected to the Macleay Valley and the wider Mid North Coast. This page helps residents, tenants, landlords, owners corporations, small businesses and tradespeople find and understand hearings listed at the Kempsey venue, and explains how the Consumer and Commercial Division (commonly shortened to NCAT CCD) resolves matters quickly and at low cost. Kempsey sits about 430 kilometres north of Sydney on the Macleay River, roughly 50 kilometres from Port Macquarie, and serves as the council seat of Kempsey Shire, so its NCAT list reflects the housing, consumer and building activity of the surrounding region.
What the Consumer and Commercial Division handles
The Consumer and Commercial Division is the busiest part of NCAT and resolves a broad range of common disputes without the formality or expense of a court. In practical terms, a matter listed at Kempsey NCAT CCD is likely to involve one of the following case types.
- Tenancy and social housing: unpaid rent, rental bond disputes, repairs, termination and possession, and access or privacy issues under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
- Consumer claims: disputes about goods or services supplied in New South Wales, including refunds, faulty products and unsatisfactory work.
- Home building: defective residential building work, delays and payment disagreements between homeowners and contractors.
- Strata and community schemes: by-law breaches, levies, repairs, meetings and the conduct of managing agents.
- Motor vehicle, retail lease and general list matters: vehicle purchase and repair disputes, retail tenancy claims, dividing fences, boarding houses, holiday parks and uncollected goods.
How the division fits within NCAT
NCAT operates several divisions, but the Consumer and Commercial Division carries by far the heaviest workload. In the 2023-24 financial year NCAT received 71,223 applications across the state, and the Consumer and Commercial Division alone accounted for 52,028 filings, which is close to 73 per cent of every matter brought to the tribunal. Tenancy disputes have historically driven much of that volume. Even in earlier reporting years, residential tenancy applications made up more than three quarters of all division filings, which is why so many regional lists, including Kempsey, are dominated by landlord and tenant matters.
Kempsey NCAT CCD hearing venue and the Macleay Valley
Consumer and Commercial Division hearings are usually held at the venue closest to the place of the contract or the dispute. Tenancy matters are listed near the rental premises, and home building matters are listed near the building in question, so Macleay Valley disputes are grouped at the Kempsey venue rather than being sent to Sydney. NCAT conducts hearings and listing events across dozens of locations each year, holding 104,837 hearings and other listing events in 48 locations in 2023-24 and continuing to sit in 45 locations in 2024-25. Many regional matters are now heard by telephone or video, which means a party in Kempsey, Crescent Head, South West Rocks or Frederickton can often take part without travelling. If you need to confirm a specific date, time or room, always check the official NSW Online Registry court and tribunal lists, as listings are published up to three weeks in advance.
NCAT and the Consumer and Commercial Division by the numbers
The figures below come from recent NCAT annual reports and show why the tribunal is treated as an accessible, high-volume alternative to the courts.
- 71,223 applications lodged across NCAT in 2023-24, following a period of strong demand that saw 76,437 applications in 2022-23.
- 52,028 Consumer and Commercial Division filings in 2023-24, representing roughly 73 per cent of the tribunal's total caseload.
- 83.3 per cent of Consumer and Commercial Division applications were lodged online in 2024-25, up from 82.5 per cent the year before, reflecting a steady shift to digital lodgement.
- 70,666 matters finalised in 2023-24, with an overall clearance ratio of 99.2 per cent, so the tribunal resolved almost as many matters as it received.
- 95.9 per cent clearance ratio and a 3.5 per cent rise in applications in 2024-25, alongside 655 internal appeals lodged.
These numbers matter for anyone with a matter at Kempsey because they signal short waiting times and a system built for self-represented parties. The introduction of the JusticeLink case management system in the Consumer and Commercial Division in November 2023 has also modernised how applications are tracked and listed.
Monetary limits and jurisdiction
The Consumer and Commercial Division can only decide matters that fall within its statutory limits. Knowing these thresholds before you apply helps you file in the right forum and avoid delay.
- Consumer claims: up to $100,000 for the supply of goods or services, following the increase from the earlier $40,000 ceiling.
- Home building disputes: up to $500,000, with larger or more complex claims heard in the District Court or Supreme Court.
- Retail lease claims: up to $750,000 under the retail leases jurisdiction.
NCAT is generally a no-costs jurisdiction, meaning each side usually pays its own way and legal representation is the exception rather than the rule. The tribunal can still award costs where a party has acted unreasonably or caused unnecessary delay.
Fees for Kempsey NCAT CCD applications
Filing fees are set under the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Regulation 2022 and rise each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. The standard rates below apply from 1 July 2026, with a concession rate set at 25 per cent of the full fee for eligible pensioners, legal aid recipients and community legal centre clients.
- Residential (tenancy) proceedings: $64 for individuals, $128 for corporations, and $16 at the concession rate.
- General consumer or commercial claims: $64 for claims up to $10,000, $133 for claims over $10,000 to $30,000, and $344 for claims above $30,000.
- Strata and community schemes: $133 for a general application.
- Retail leases: $132.
Parties facing serious financial hardship can apply for a fee waiver, and a successful applicant can ask the tribunal to order the other party to refund the application fee.
How a Consumer and Commercial Division matter progresses
Most tenancy and consumer files at Kempsey follow a similar path. After an application is lodged, NCAT serves the respondent and sets a listing. Tenancy and social housing cases are often first listed for conciliation and hearing together, giving both sides a chance to settle before a member decides the matter. If conciliation does not resolve the dispute, the file proceeds to a contested hearing where each party presents evidence and answers questions. The member then makes a binding decision in line with the relevant legislation, such as ordering payment, repairs, termination or the release of a rental bond.
Preparing for a hearing at Kempsey
Preparation is the single biggest factor in a good outcome. Bring your application, any agreement or contract, receipts, photographs, quotes, text messages and a short written summary of the events in date order. Lodge and exchange your evidence by the deadline NCAT sets, and send copies to the other party as directed. If you cannot attend in person, apply early for a telephone or video hearing so the Kempsey listing can proceed without you making the trip.
Nearby NCAT and court options on the Mid North Coast
Depending on where your dispute arises, a neighbouring venue may be more convenient. The nearest tribunal list to the south is the Port Macquarie NCAT Consumer and Commercial Division, while matters further north are often grouped at the Coffs Harbour NCAT CCD. If your matter is criminal or a general civil claim rather than a tribunal dispute, you may instead be looking for the Kempsey Local Court, which sits in the same town and handles a separate list.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Kempsey NCAT Consumer and Commercial Division matters heard?
They are listed at the Kempsey venue closest to the property or contract in dispute, in keeping with NCAT's practice of hearing tenancy and building matters near the premises. Many hearings are also conducted by telephone or video, so check your notice of hearing and the NSW Online Registry lists for the exact arrangement.
How much does it cost to apply?
A residential tenancy application costs $64 for an individual from 1 July 2026, with a $16 concession rate for eligible pensioners and legal aid clients. Consumer and commercial claims range from $64 to $344 depending on the amount claimed, and fee waivers are available for financial hardship.
Do I need a lawyer at NCAT?
No. NCAT is designed for self-represented parties and operates as a no-costs jurisdiction in most matters, so the majority of applicants and respondents speak for themselves. You can bring a support person, and representation is only permitted in limited circumstances.
How long does a matter take?
Timeframes vary by case type, but the tribunal's strong clearance ratios, 99.2 per cent in 2023-24 and 95.9 per cent in 2024-25, show that most matters are finalised in roughly the same period they are lodged. Straightforward tenancy files are often listed within several weeks of application.
What can NCAT order in a tenancy case?
The division can order termination of a tenancy, payment of money, release of a rental bond, completion of repairs, and orders about access, privacy and keeping animals, all under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.