So I have been requesting my landlord repair my non functional heating system since I moved in (listed it on the condition report, multiple emails over the last 12 months, spoken directly with the REA, etc). Definitely not the only issue but it's the one I'm most invested in. The ducting under the house is actually disintegrating and held together with duct tape and apparently there isn't even a filter attached, so I'm heading into my second winter with outside air directly blasting through the floor vents if I don't literally tape them closed, and last winter hit negative temps pretty quickly.
I managed to get them to look at the air con by proving the temperature inside during summer was exactly the same as outside, the guy quickly looked at the heating and said it was too big a job for just him and needed to be referred on. No word for a few more months, eventually had a guy come measure the house for new ducts after I kept pushing, then nothing for a few more months. I finally get them somewhat into gear by threatening NCAT and ended up giving them just over two weeks because it wasn't my preferred path to take, the owner thought he could just duct tape it again and it's be fine but he was definitely wrong, and when they said they were still waiting on an updated quote (so wait, you already had a quote and didn't bother to act on it?) I filed with NCAT a couple of days later after there was still no activity. Of course within a couple of hours I get an email saying they'd like to book in the repair in 2 weeks time, whether or not that's because I filed is yet to be determined because they didn't mention it.
My question is, is it still legit to continue down the NCAT pathway for a potential retrospective rent reduction when repairs are booked/may be complete by the time that actually happens? I feel like it's prudent to keep it active until I actually see some repairs happening at the very least given their history of not following through, but is the claim still valid to continue after that point? I also gave them the option of not going to NCAT for this problem if the owners room responsibility for replacing the 2 trees/a hedge that died during the shocking NSW heatwave, which they were intending on having me pay for (despite the fact the other 10 or so trees and other plants survived just fine), but they conveniently ignored that suggestion, so here we are. Do I even tell them I've filed or just wait?