RentingOnRecord

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Abandoned goods

68 established claims - 14 refused by the grounding gate

Documented position48

What the body that runs or defines the thing says in its own documentation.

VCAT lists an application to require a rental provider to store goods for more than 14 days as a residential tenancies dispute type.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Require rental provider to store goods for more than 14 days

VCAT lists compensation for loss of goods or documents as a residential tenancies dispute type.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Compensation for loss of goods or documents

VCAT lists return of goods or documents wrongfully retained as a residential tenancies dispute type.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Return of goods or documents wrongfully retained
  • Tenants Victoria states that the daily occupation fee for storing goods left behind must not be more than the daily rent.
  • Tenants Victoria's statement about the daily occupation fee for storing goods left behind references section 388.
other
1 quote from 1 source
The daily occupation fee must not be more than the daily rent. For example, if your goods were stored for 14 days you could be asked to pay an occupation fee equivalent to 14 days rent [section 388]

Tenants Victoria states that a rental provider, owner or agent must store any goods or belongings a renter left behind for at least 14 days.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider, owner or agent must store any goods or belongings you left behind for at least 14 days.

Tenants Victoria states that the 14 days for storage of goods left behind start on the date the rental provider, owner or agent tells the renter they are storing the goods, not on the date the renter moved out.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The 14 days for storage start on the date the rental provider, owner or agent tells you they are storing your things, not on the date you moved out [section 386].

Tenants Victoria states that…

  • it is an offence to refuse to return a former renter's personal documents after the renter has paid the costs.
  • the rental provider, owner or agent can be fined.
other
1 quote from 1 source
It is an offence to refuse to return your personal documents after you paid the costs. The rental provider, owner or agent can be fined [section 382].
  • A renter must ask for the proceeds of the sale of their goods within 6 months of the sale.
  • If a renter does not ask for the proceeds of the sale of their goods within 6 months of the sale, any money left over will be paid to the Residential Tenancies Fund.
other
1 quote from 1 source
You need to ask within 6 months of the sale. If you do not, any money left over will be paid to the Residential Tenancies Fund.

Tenants Victoria states that a renter can apply to VCAT for an order that the rental provider store the renter's belongings for more than 14 days if the rental provider refuses.

other
1 quote from 1 source
You can ask the rental provider, owner or agent to store your belongings for more than 14 days. If they refuse, you can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to order them to store your belongings for more than 14 days [section 395].
  • Tenants Victoria advises former renters to collect goods left behind as soon as possible.
  • Tenants Victoria advises that the longer former renters wait, the more chance former renters may have to pay for storage.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Collect your things as soon as possible – the longer you wait, the more there is a chance they could get lost, or you may have to pay for storage.

Tenants Victoria states that a renter can apply to VCAT for compensation if the rental provider, owner or agent damages or loses the renter's belongings or personal documents, whether on purpose or by accident.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the rental provider, owner or agent damages or loses your belongings or personal documents, either on purpose or by accident, you can apply to VCAT for compensation [section 398].

Tenants Victoria states that the 90 days for personal documents starts from the date the rental provider, owner or agent tells the renter.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The 90 days starts from the date the rental provider, owner or agent tells you, not the date you moved out [section 381].

Tenants Victoria states that anyone who finds a passport is required to hand it to the nearest Australian passport office, Australian diplomatic mission, consulate or local police station.

other
1 quote from 1 source
For example, anyone who finds a passport is required to hand it to the nearest Australian passport office, Australian diplomatic mission, consulate or local police station.

Tenants Victoria advises renters to leave…

  • a forwarding address with the rental provider, owner or agent to make it easier to be contacted about anything left behind.
  • an email address with the rental provider, owner or agent to make it easier to be contacted about anything left behind.
  • a phone number with the rental provider, owner or agent to make it easier to be contacted about anything left behind.
medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
It is also a good idea to leave a forwarding address, email address and phone number with the rental provider, owner or agent, or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

The Law Handbook states that the RT Act at section 3 defines personal documents as official documents, photographs, correspondence or any other document which it would be reasonable to expect that a person would want to keep.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The RT Act (s 3) defines personal documents as ‘official documents, photographs, correspondence or any other document which it would be reasonable to expect that a person would want to keep’.

The Law Handbook states that a rental provider must store protected goods for at least 14 days even if they are of no monetary value, dangerous or perishable.

other
1 quote from 1 source
However, the rental provider must store goods – even if they are of no monetary value, dangerous or perishable – for at least 14 days if they are ‘protected goods’.

The Law Handbook advises renters to…

  • photograph their personal goods, possessions and documents.
  • remove as much property as possible rather than leave it in the rented premises.
other
1 quote from 1 source
It is paramount that renters take photos of their personal goods, possessions and documents. It is preferable to remove as much property as possible rather than leave it in the rented premises.

The Law Handbook states that a rental provider may only remove and destroy or dispose of abandoned goods if they are of no monetary value, perishable foodstuffs, or dangerous.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Once a renter has vacated a rental property, a rental provider may only remove and destroy or dispose of goods if they are of no monetary value, are perishable foodstuffs, or are dangerous

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a renter is generally considered to have abandoned a Victorian property if they move out without having…

  • been given a notice to vacate.
  • given a notice of intention to vacate.
other
1 quote from 1 source
A renter is generally considered to have abandoned a property if they move out but they either have not been given a notice to vacate, or they have not given the rental provider (landlord) a notice of intention to vacate.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that late or unpaid rent does not necessarily mean a renter has abandoned the property.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Late or unpaid rent does not necessarily mean a renter has abandoned the property.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a rental provider or agent who wants to inspect inside a property they think has been abandoned must still follow the rules for entering a property.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the rental provider or agent wants to inspect inside a property they think has been abandoned, they must still follow the rules for entering a property.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that if a renter leaves behind pets when they abandon a property, the rental provider or agent should immediately contact RSPCA Victoria.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
If a renter leaves behind pets when they abandon a property, the rental provider or agent should immediately contact
RSPCA Victoria
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria names Section 91ZG among the sections that apply when a renter abandons a property.
  • Section 91ZG is an Order of Tribunal that premises are abandoned.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Section 91ZG – Order of Tribunal that premises are abandoned

Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria handles…

  • rental disputes.
  • bond cases.
  • compensation cases.
medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV), launched in June 2025, is a new government initiative designed to streamline the handling of rental disputes across the state.
RDRV offers a new and free service that provides early intervention and structured resolution processes for common issues, including rent increases, repairs, and bond and/or compensation cases

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that personal documents left behind by a renter must be stored in a safe place by the rental provider for at least 90 days.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Personal documents that are left behind by a renter must be stored in a safe place by the rental provider for at least 90 days.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that rental providers must store goods that are able to be sold in a safe place for at least 14 days.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
Rental providers must store the following goods in a safe place for at least 14 days:
goods that are able to be sold

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the 14-day storage period starts from the date the rental provider first tells the renter about the abandoned goods.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The 14 days starts from the date that the rental provider first tells the renter about the goods.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that if abandoned goods are not reclaimed within 14 days the rental provider can sell or get rid of them.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the renter, or another person who owns the goods, does not reclaim them within 14 days (or within an agreed timeframe, or a different timeframe set by VCAT), the rental provider can sell or get rid of the goods.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a former renter has 6 months to claim money from the sale of abandoned goods, minus the occupation fee and selling costs.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the rental provider does sell the goods, the former renter has 6 months to claim any money made from the sale, minus the occupation fee and any costs that the rental provider had to pay to sell the goods.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that rental providers can immediately dispose of perishable foods and dangerous goods left behind by a renter.

medium confidenceother
3 quotes from 1 source
Rental providers can immediately dispose of:
perishable foods (foods that will ‘go off’)
dangerous goods

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a rental provider must take reasonable steps to tell the renter that they left goods behind.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider must take reasonable steps to tell the renter that they left these goods behind.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the occupation fee for goods left behind cannot be more than 14 days' rent in total.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
The occupation fee must not be more than:
14 days’ rent in total.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that if a former renter does not claim sale proceeds within 6 months, the rental provider must pay the sale proceeds into the Residential Tenancies Fund within 30 days.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
If the renter does not make a claim within 6 months, the rental provider must pay the money made from the sale, minus the occupation fee and any costs for selling the goods, into the Residential Tenancies Fund.
This must be done within 30 days of the end of the 6 period.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria points readers who want to know what the law says about goods left behind to Part 9.
  • Part 9 is headed "Goods left behind by renters, residents and site tenants."
medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
If you want to know what the law says about goods left behind, you can read these sections of the
Part 9 – Goods left behind by renters, residents and site tenants.

Justice Connect Homeless Law states that the owner of the premises has an obligation to take reasonable care of any personal documents left behind for at least 90 days.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The owner of the premises has an obligation to take reasonable care of any personal documents for at least 90 days:

Justice Connect Homeless Law states that the storage period of at least 14 days runs from the day on which notice was given.

other
1 quote from 1 source
store the goods for at least 14 days from the day on which notice was given.

Practical effect1

What is observed to happen in practice, as distinct from what is documented.

Tenants Victoria advises that the longer former renters wait, the more chance the goods left behind could get lost.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Collect your things as soon as possible – the longer you wait, the more there is a chance they could get lost, or you may have to pay for storage.

Changed on5

A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.

Tenants Victoria's guidance on goods left behind states that Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria now handles some rental disputes instead of VCAT.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) now handles some rental disputes instead of VCAT.

Consumer Affairs Victoria's guidance page on a renter abandoning a property records that it was last updated on 8 December 2025.

medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Last updated: 8 December 2025

Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria was launched in June 2025.

medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 1 source
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV), launched in June 2025, is a new government initiative designed to streamline the handling of rental disputes across the state.
RDRV offers a new and free service that provides early intervention and structured resolution processes for common issues, including rent increases, repairs, and bond and/or compensation cases

Consumer Affairs Victoria's guidance page on goods left behind by renters records that the guidance page was last updated on 8 February 2023.

medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Last updated: 8 February 2023

Justice Connect Homeless Law's guidance on goods left behind records that it was last updated on 29 March 2021.

medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Last updated: 29 Mar 2021

Disputed between sources5

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

Dirt2Tidy states Victorian landlords must store personal documents for up to 90 days, while Consumer Affairs Victoria states personal documents must be stored in a safe place for at least 90 days.

other
2 quotes from 2 sources
For example, Victorian landlords must store personal documents for up to 90 days, while in Queensland, the period is just seven days.
Personal documents that are left behind by a renter must be stored in a safe place by the rental provider for at least 90 days.

Dirt2Tidy states that in Victoria goods valued at higher than $1,000 attract longer notice requirements.

medium confidenceother
3 quotes from 2 sources
For example, in Victoria, non-document goods under $1,000 may be disposed of after 14 days’ notice, while higher-value goods have longer notice requirements.
Rental providers must store the following goods in a safe place for at least 14 days:
goods that are able to be sold
  • Regarding abandoned goods, Dirt2Tidy places the Residential Tenancies Fund in Queensland.
  • Regarding abandoned goods, Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian rental provider must pay unclaimed sale proceeds into the Residential Tenancies Fund.
other
2 quotes from 2 sources
If they don’t claim within six months, landlords are responsible for transferring any remaining sale proceeds (after costs) to a government trust account or tenancy fund—such as the Residential Tenancies Fund in Queensland—within 30 days.
If the renter does not make a claim within 6 months, the rental provider must pay the money made from the sale, minus the occupation fee and any costs for selling the goods, into the Residential Tenancies Fund.

Tenants Victoria states a rental provider, owner or agent must store goods or belongings left behind for at least 14 days

other
2 quotes from 2 sources
landlords must store them securely for a set period—anything from 7 to 90 days, depending on the type of item and local laws
The rental provider, owner or agent must store any goods or belongings you left behind for at least 14 days.

Repeated, with no primary source in reach9

Widely repeated in the field. Within the documents this sweep read, it traces only to other repetitions - which is a fact about our reading as well as about the idea, until each one has been searched for on its own.

  • In Victoria, non-document abandoned goods under $1,000 may be disposed of after 14 days' notice.
  • In Victoria, higher-value abandoned goods have longer notice requirements.
other
1 quote from 1 source
For example, in Victoria, non-document goods under $1,000 may be disposed of after 14 days’ notice, while higher-value goods have longer notice requirements.

Dirt2Tidy states that Victorian landlords must store personal documents for up to 90 days.

other
1 quote from 1 source
For example, Victorian landlords must store personal documents for up to 90 days, while in Queensland, the period is just seven days.

Dirt2Tidy states that under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 a property is considered abandoned when the tenant has permanently vacated and no longer treats it as their primary residence.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, a property is considered abandoned when the tenant has permanently vacated and no longer treats it as their primary residence.

Dirt2Tidy states that landlords cannot dispose of or handle abandoned goods until the lease is officially over and the tenant has fully vacated.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Landlords cannot dispose of or handle any leftover property until the lease is officially over and the tenant has fully vacated.
  • Dirt2Tidy states that if proceeds from the sale of abandoned goods are unclaimed for six months, landlords must transfer the remaining money to a government trust account or tenancy fund within 30 days.
  • Dirt2Tidy states that the Residential Tenancies Fund in Queensland is an example of a tenancy fund in the context of abandoned goods.
other
1 quote from 1 source
If they don’t claim within six months, landlords are responsible for transferring any remaining sale proceeds (after costs) to a government trust account or tenancy fund—such as the Residential Tenancies Fund in Queensland—within 30 days.

Haven Agents states that rental providers must…

  • give renters notice of goods left behind.
  • store goods left behind in a safe place for at least 14 days after giving the notice.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers must give renters notice of goods left behind and store these in a safe place for at least 14 days after giving the notice.

Refused14

Claims the research produced that the grounding gate would not accept, with its reason. They are here because a site that only shows what passed gives you no way to judge whether the gate does anything.

Show what was refused

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that rental providers must store goods that are able to be sold for at least 14 days without reference to a value threshold.

Refused: The CAV quote does not state a value-threshold-free rule, and the Victoria quote explicitly ties requirements to a $1,000 value threshold.

Unsupported: without reference to a value threshold

What it rested on
For example, in Victoria, non-document goods under $1,000 may be disposed of after 14 days’ notice, while higher-value goods have longer notice requirements.
Rental providers must store the following goods in a safe place for at least 14 days:
goods that are able to be sold

Dirt2Tidy states goods of any value must be stored for anything from 7 to 90 days

Refused: The Dirt2Tidy quote says goods must be stored for 7 to 90 days but does not state this applies to goods of any value.

Unsupported: goods of any value

What it rested on
landlords must store them securely for a set period—anything from 7 to 90 days, depending on the type of item and local laws
The rental provider, owner or agent must store any goods or belongings you left behind for at least 14 days.

Tenants Victoria states that a rental provider, owner or agent must store medals or trophies, specialised medical devices and equipment, prescription medication and labelled containers or urns containing human remains safely for at least 14 days even if they have no monetary value.

Refused: The quotes say protected goods 'must be stored safely' but do not name who must store them, so attributing the duty to a rental provider, owner or agent overreaches.

Unsupported: a rental provider, owner or agent must store

What it rested on
Some ‘protected goods’ must also be stored safely for at least 14 days, even if they do not have any monetary value. These are:
Medals or trophies
Specialised medical devices and equipment, including prostheses
Prescription medication
Labelled containers or urns containing human remains [section 384, section 386, regulation 93]

Tenants Victoria states that the 90 days for personal documents does not start from the date the renter moved out.

Refused: The cited quote states the 90 days starts from notice, not move-out, but it does not mention personal documents.

Unsupported: for personal documents

What it rested on
The 90 days starts from the date the rental provider, owner or agent tells you, not the date you moved out [section 381].

The Law Handbook states that rental providers can use Consumer Affairs Victoria's Notice of Goods Left Behind form to notify a renter that their belongings have been stored.

Refused: The quote says only that rental providers can use CAV's Notice of Goods Left Behind form; it does not state the purpose or that belongings have been stored.

Unsupported: to notify a renter that their belongings have been stored

What it rested on
To do this, rental providers can use CAV’s Notice of Goods Left Behind form

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that VCAT will hear an application to declare a Victorian rental property abandoned within 5 business days.

Refused: The quote only says VCAT will hear the case within 5 business days; it does not specify that the case is an application to declare a Victorian rental property abandoned.

Unsupported: an application to declare a Victorian rental property abandoned

What it rested on
VCAT will hear the case within 5 business days.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a rental provider or agent who believes a renter has abandoned the property can apply to VCAT to declare the property abandoned.

Refused: The quotes say the rental provider or agent can take action to declare the property abandoned, but they do not mention applying to VCAT.

Unsupported: apply to VCAT

What it rested on
If a rental provider or agent believes a renter has abandoned the property, they can
to declare the property abandoned, which would end the rental agreement (lease).

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a VCAT declaration that the property is abandoned would end the rental agreement.

Refused: The quotes say a declaration would end the rental agreement but do not mention VCAT.

Unsupported: VCAT declaration

What it rested on
If a rental provider or agent believes a renter has abandoned the property, they can
to declare the property abandoned, which would end the rental agreement (lease).

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that an occupation fee may only be charged if so many goods were left that the rental provider could not re-let the property.

Refused: The quote allows the fee when goods were either so many or so big, so the claim overreaches by making quantity the sole condition.

Unsupported: may only be charged if so many goods were left

What it rested on
An occupation fee may only be charged if there were so many goods left, or they were so big, that the rental provider couldn’t re-let the property.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that an occupation fee may only be charged if the goods were so big that the rental provider could not re-let the property.

Refused: The quote allows the fee when goods were either so many or so big, so it does not support 'so big' as the sole condition.

Unsupported: if the goods were so big

What it rested on
An occupation fee may only be charged if there were so many goods left, or they were so big, that the rental provider couldn’t re-let the property.

Dirt2Tidy states that landlords must store abandoned goods that appear to have any value securely for a set period.

Refused: The quote says landlords must store items securely for a set period but does not state the condition that the goods appear to have any value.

Unsupported: that appear to have any value

What it rested on
landlords must store them securely for a set period—anything from 7 to 90 days, depending on the type of item and local laws

Dirt2Tidy states that the period for which landlords must store abandoned goods that appear to have any value is anything from 7 to 90 days, depending on the type of item and local laws.

Refused: The quote supports the 7-to-90-day storage range and local-law dependence but does not state the value-based condition for abandoned goods.

Unsupported: abandoned goods that appear to have any value

What it rested on
landlords must store them securely for a set period—anything from 7 to 90 days, depending on the type of item and local laws

The Law Handbook states that there is no case law indicating what amount of goods would prevent a premises from being rented for the purposes of the occupation fee.

Refused: The cited quote states no case law on what amount prevents renting but does not mention the occupation fee, so that purpose is an unsupported addition.

Unsupported: for the purposes of the occupation fee

What it rested on
At the time of writing, there is no case law to indicate what amount of goods would prevent a premises from being rented.

The Law Handbook advises that a renter excluded from the premises who wants to regain access to collect their goods or documents should make an urgent application to VCAT under section 397.

Refused: The quote supports an urgent VCAT application under section 397 but does not state it applies to that specific renter scenario.

Unsupported: a renter excluded from the premises who wants to regain access to collect their goods or documents

What it rested on
they should make an urgent application to VCAT, pursuant to section 397 of the RT Act.