My landlord has locked me out. What can I do?

Call us the same day. Whether the lockout is lawful depends on the lease and the notices served, and you may be able to apply for relief.

Do retail lease disputes go to court?

Usually to mediation through the Victorian Small Business Commission first, then to VCAT if they do not resolve.

Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.

Lease disputes,
resolved before they close the doors.

For landlords and tenants of shops, offices and industrial premises. We resolve disputes over rent, outgoings, repairs, make-good and termination, by negotiation first, and through mediation, VCAT or the courts if needed.

Book a free 15-minute call Call 03 8386 9502

Client reviews

Commercial law clients,
in their own words.

All 84 Google reviews

4.5★★★★★
Google rating from 84 client reviews
Every quote on this page is a public Google review, reproduced in the client’s own words. Read them all →
We engaged Joshi Lawyers for a business purchase and found them to be very professional, dedicated and helpful. Dinesh has a significant degree of knowledge in business and commercial law matters. We were advised about everything in detail and kept informed about our matter’s progress at each stage.
Anqi HuangBusiness purchase · Google review, 2017
Our first experience in Australia using any lawyer. All advice given was very fair and to the point. It was them who suggested the statutory demand process, which we used for a speedy recovery, and it worked.
GNS Group AustraliaDebt recovery · Google review, 2023
Dinesh solved my dispute in 4 months where the other lawyer I had prior took 12 months giving me no foresight on my case. Dinesh has a clear foresight in his cases and closes all objections with ease and makes you aware of your standing.
Dheeraj WadhwaniBusiness dispute · Google review, 2018
From business settlements to my recent land settlement, they have never failed to impress me. Thank you Dinesh and your team for taking the stress from us and dealing with all sorts of issues and disputes very professionally.
Aarti AroraBusiness owner and investor · Google review, 2017

Is this you?

When people come to us about lease disputes.

Each of these is a good reason to call, and none of them is too early.

Your landlord has issued a breach notice or changed the locks.
Your tenant is behind on rent and you are deciding what to do.
You disagree with the outgoings or the market rent review.
The lease has ended and there is a fight over make-good and the bond.

How we help

In a lease dispute, the next notice matters more than the last argument.

Many retail lease disputes in Victoria must go to mediation through the Victorian Small Business Commission before they can be taken to VCAT. Disputes under other commercial leases are resolved under the terms of the lease and, where needed, in the courts.

We advise on the lease and the notices, act in mediation, and run VCAT and court proceedings where a dispute does not resolve.

What we do

Rent arrears, breach notices and lockouts
Outgoings and market rent review disputes
Repairs, maintenance and make-good
Termination and re-entry
Small Business Commission mediation
VCAT and court proceedings

Book a free 15-minute call

What happens first

Your first week with us.

A matter should feel different from the first call. This is what you can expect before anything is signed or sent.

What it costs

The first call: what the real question is
Most commercial matters turn on one or two points. We find them first, so the work goes where it counts.
Within the week: a strategy and a written estimate
What a good outcome looks like, how we propose to reach it, and what it will cost, before any letter is sent.
Deadlines first
Statutory demands, court documents and notices carry short time limits. We deal with those before anything else.
From then on: one senior lawyer
You deal with the same lawyer throughout, and you are told early if anything changes.

Your team

Who you will deal with.

Matters are run by the people below, not handed down.

Meet our people

Questions

Frequently asked questions

If your question is not here, it is a good reason for the free call.

My landlord has locked me out. What can I do?
Call us the same day. Whether the lockout is lawful depends on the lease and the notices served, and you may be able to apply for relief.
Do retail lease disputes go to court?
Usually to mediation through the Victorian Small Business Commission first, then to VCAT if they do not resolve.
What does it cost?
Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.