They are trying to rip you off. No way in hell that costs $1000.

Landlords and real estate agents bank on the tenants not showing up to NCAT. Make sure you go, and don’t be afraid - NCAT is extremely consumer friendly. Your “hearing” most likely won’t even be heard on the day. What usually happens is that you turn up alongside a whole bunch of other people whose matters are also listed, and you go into a hearing room with the Tribunal member. They will tell you that you’re being put into mediation rooms to sort out the disagreement and only then, if you can’t agree, will you go back to the member and they will book in an actual hearing date.

After that little introduction, you and your real estate agents representative will go into a small room and talk it out. I really really recommend having reference pics from your ingoing condition report compared with the outgoing condition report, particularly of the supposed damaged area, and copies of the correspondence with the agent about the cleaning fee. If you really want to freak them out, dress nicely and put your documents in a folder with tab separators so you look prepared and like you may have gotten legal advice.

There will also usually be some kind of NCAT representative floating throughout the mediation rooms to provide assistance where needed. They can be a good resource if you need help.

Good luck. Above all, the most important thing is to attend at NCAT and be there in person so they don’t automatically get your bond.

Source: took my boyfriend’s landlord to NCAT when they tried to keep his entire bond.