Since 1 July 2020, new rules have applied to manage uncollected goods that are left behind or abandoned by their owner. The new rules aim to make it easier to return goods to their owners, or to lawfully sell or dispose of them if needed.

The new rules provide a lawful process to sell or dispose of goods left behind in boarding houses, community schemes and neighbourhood schemes. Previously, there was no process to sell or dispose of these goods.

The Uncollected Goods Act 1995 also applies to:

• Holiday Parks
• Residential Land Lease Communities
• Residential Tenancies
• Retirement Villages
• Strata Schemes

How a person can dispose of uncollected goods will depend on the estimated value and the type of goods involved. There are separate requirements for important personal documents and motor vehicles.

For more information on the new rules and how they apply, visit the Fair Trading website