Personal documents (e.g. birth certificates, family photographs) and money must be given to their owner. If the owner cannot be contacted, the personal documents and money must be given to the Office of the Public Trustee within 7 days of the end of the tenancy.

The Public Trustee does not take passports, Medicare cards, drivers’ licences or bank cards – these remain the property of the issuer (e.g. a Medicare card should be returned to Services Australia).

If the total value of goods left behind is less than $2,500, the goods can be sold or disposed of straight away if they would:

• be unhealthy or unsafe to store
• substantially reduce in value if stored
• cost more to remove, store or sell than they are valued at.

If the above does not apply or the total value of goods left behind is $2,500 or more, the goods must be stored for one month, after which they can be sold by auction. Reasonable efforts must be made to contact the owner of the goods to notify them of the auction.

If the goods left behind are a caravan, its contents, or goods used in occupying a caravan, they must be stored for 2 months before selling by auction.

The property manager/owner must make reasonable efforts to contact the owner of the goods and notify them of the auction. Reasonable efforts include:

• attempting to contact the owner by phone, text message, email or private message on a social media platform
• attempting to contact an emergency contact
• publishing a notice in an online newspaper for the city or state in which owner lives or was living.

If the owner of the goods contacts the property owner/manager in writing before the goods are disposed of or sold, the property owner/manager must allow them to claim possession of the goods after paying reasonable removal and storage costs.

The cost of storage, removal and sale of the goods can be deducted from the money raised at the auction. Any remaining money must be paid to the Public Trustee. You must apply to QCAT if you want to make a claim against the money held by the Public Trustee for an amount owed under the agreement.

Personal documents and money must be given to their owner. If the owner cannot be contacted, the personal documents and money must be given to the Public Trustee within 7 days of the end of the tenancy.

The Public Trustee does not take passports, Medicare cards, drivers’ licences or bank cards – these remain the property of the issuer (e.g. a Medicare card should be returned to Services Australia).

If the total value of goods left behind is less than $2,500, the goods can be sold or disposed of straight away if they would:

• be unhealthy or unsafe to store
• substantially reduce in value if stored
• cost more to remove, store or sell than they are valued at.

If the above does not apply or the total value of goods left behind is $2,500 or more, the goods must be stored for one month, after which they can be sold by auction.

Caravans, their contents, and other goods used for occupation must be stored for 2 months before they can be sold by auction. The property manager/owner must make reasonable efforts to contact the owner of the goods to notify them of the auction.

If the tenant is renting the site only, the threshold value is $5,000. In these cases, any goods left behind with a total value of $5,000 or more must be stored for 2 months before they can be sold by auction.

The property manager/owner must make reasonable efforts to contact the owner of the goods and notify them of the auction. Reasonable efforts include:

• attempting to contact the owner by phone, text message, email or private message on a social media platform
• attempting to contact an emergency contact
• publishing a notice in an online newspaper for the city or state in which owner lives or was living.

If the owner of the goods contacts the property owner/manager in writing before the goods are disposed of or sold, the property owner/manager must allow them to claim possession of the goods after paying reasonable removal and storage costs.

The cost of storage, removal and sale of the goods can be deducted from the money raised at the auction. Any remaining money must be paid to the Public Trustee. You must apply to QCAT if you want to make a claim against the money held by the Public Trustee for an amount owed under the agreement.

The property manager/provider must make reasonable efforts to contact the resident about personal documents left behind at the property. If the resident cannot be contacted, the personal documents must be stored safely for at least 28 days. If the property is not reclaimed after 28 days, the property manager/provider must give the documents to the Public Trustee.

The Public Trustee does not take passports, Medicare cards, drivers’ licences or bank cards – these remain the property of the issuer (e.g. a Medicare card should be returned to Services Australia).

The property manager/provider must make reasonable efforts to contact the resident about money left behind at the property. If the resident cannot be contacted, the money must be stored safely for at least 28 days. 

If the money is not reclaimed after 28 days and there is an amount owed under the agreement, the property manager/provider may keep the amount owed before giving the remaining money to the Public Trustee.

The property manager/provider must make reasonable efforts to contact the resident about goods left at the premises. Reasonable efforts include:

• attempting to contact the former resident by phone, text message, email or private message on a social media platform
• attempting to contact an emergency contact
• publishing a notice in an online newspaper for the city or state in which the former resident lives or was living.

If the resident contacts the property manager/provider before the goods are disposed of or sold, the property manager/provider must allow them to claim possession of the goods after paying reasonable removal and storage costs.

All goods left behind must be kept for 28 days unless they are:

• perishable
• worth less than $250 (total value of the goods)
• unhealthy or unsafe to store.

You can dispose of goods that meet one of the above criteria.

After 28 days you may sell or dispose of the property. If the total value of the goods is less than $900 you may donate them to charity. If you do not sell, dispose of or donate the goods, you must continue to store them.

If the goods are sold, the cost of storage, removal and sale can be deducted from the money raised by the sale. The provider can then apply the proceeds to any outstanding amount owed by the former resident under the agreement. Any remaining money must be paid to the person who owned the goods (if you have been able to locate them) or the Public Trustee.