Giving notice before disposing the goods
If someone left their goods with you, you must give them a certain amount of notice, depending on the value of the goods, before you are allowed to dispose of them.
If you left your goods with someone, and your goods were disposed of without notice, you may be able to make a claim in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for the goods to be returned or for the value.
Working out the value
The amount paid for the goods may not be what they are worth now. The value of the goods may have reduced over time. The value of the goods is usually the cost of replacing them with goods that are the same age and in a similar condition, but it will depend on the circumstances.
You can work out the value of second hand goods by finding more than one advertisement of goods of a similar type and quality, and calculating the average price.
Other evidence about the value of goods can include:
the price of second hand goods that are of the same or similar type, quality and condition
expert reports from a valuer about the value of the goods, for example jewellery
a valuation certificate or insurance documents
documents that show what was paid for the goods: for example receipts, credit card statements, or evidence of electronic payment.
Notice periods
The amount of notice that has to be given depends on the type of goods and their value.
After the notice period has passed you may be able to dispose of the goods, depending on what they are.
Rubbish and perishables (for example, food items)
| Notice is not required
| Can be disposed of immediately
|
Personal documents (for example, a birth certificate)
| At least 28 days written notice to the owner of the goods
| Must either be returned to the authority who issued the document, or securely destroyed
|
Goods worth less than $1,000
| At least 14 days verbal or written notice to the owner of the goods
| Can be disposed in any way
|
Goods worth between $1,000 and $20,000
| At least 28 days written notice to the owner of the goods
| Can be sold at a public auction. Keep a record of the sale and send proceeds to Revenue NSW.
|
It is important to keep a record of the written notice in case there is a dispute.
If the goods are worth more than $20,000 an application must be made to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) before the goods can be disposed.
If the goods are disposed without notice, the owner of the goods can make a claim in NCAT.
For more information, see Going to NCAT.
If you are trying to recover your goods or their value and NCAT tells you that your matter does not fall under the Uncollected Goods Act 1995, you may be able to start claim in the Local Court. For more information, see Going to the Local Court.