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Uncollected goods

Information about getting back your goods that you left with someone and how to dispose of uncollected goods.

  • Alert

    If you need to collect property from someone, or you have property belonging to someone and an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order has been applied for, you may need a Property Recovery Order.

    For information about how to apply for a Property Recovery Order to get your property back from the defendant, see Property Recovery Orders - Protected person.

    For information about how to apply for a Property Recovery Order to get your property back from the protected person. see Property Recovery Orders - Defendant.

Types of goods

Different laws apply to different situations and types of goods. For more information, see Types of goods.

If you left your goods with someone

If someone has your goods and won't return them, you can make a claim asking them to return the goods to you or pay you the monetary value of the goods. 

For more information, see If you left your goods with someone.

If someone left their goods with you

If someone is trying to get goods back from you, they might phone you, email you, send you an SMS or send you a letter of demand.

You should not dispose of the goods without giving notice to the other party. The notice period depends on the value of the goods.

For more information, see If someone left their goods with you.

Going to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal 

If you can't resolve your dispute through negotiation or mediation, you may be able to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for an order for uncollected goods.

For more information, see Step by step guide - Applying to NCAT for uncollected goods.

Going to the Local Court

If you can’t apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal because your matter doesn't fall under the Uncollected Goods Act 1995, you may be able to make a claim for recovery of goods in the Local Court.

For more information, see Step by step guide - Applying to the Local Court for recovery of goods.

After the hearing

If you didn’t go to the hearing at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), you may be able to apply to reinstate your case or to set aside or vary the decision.

If you are unhappy with a decision of NCAT, you may be able to appeal to the NCAT Appeal Panel.

If you are unhappy with the decision of the Appeal Panel, you may be able ask for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court on a question of law.

If you  are unhappy with a decision in the Local Court, you may be apply for a review or appeal the decision.

For more information, see After the hearing.

Contact us

If you have a legal problem in NSW, Legal Aid NSW is here to help you.

Forms - Uncollected goods

The instructions, sample forms and other documents in the Uncollected goods topic.