Australia Demand Letter for Property Damage

Template

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]

[Responsible Party / Insurer Name]
[Address]

Re: Damage to [your property] caused on [Date of Incident]

Dear [Name],

On [Date of Incident], [describe how the damage occurred and who was responsible]. The repair estimate is [Amount] (enclosed). Photos are attached as evidence.

I demand payment of [Amount] within [Number] days. If unpaid, I will pursue recovery through [small claims court / my insurer’s subrogation]. Please forward this to your insurer if applicable.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

What to fill in

Date and clear description of the incident
A written repair estimate
Photo evidence references
The responsible party’s correct name

Jurisdiction note (AU)

Australia — called a "Letter of Demand." State the exact amount, the basis of the debt, and a deadline (commonly 14–28 days). It is often a prerequisite to filing in a state civil tribunal (e.g., NCAT, VCAT).

Legal note

Send it before any statute-of-limitations deadline (varies by jurisdiction, often 2–6 years for property damage). Keep the originals of estimates and photos.

Templates reviewed by the DemandKit editorial team; not a law firm — see disclaimer.