The laws governing second hand dealers are the responsibility of each state and territory; however, there are general rules that do apply to all of those people who wish to deal in second hand furniture, second had books and so on.

People who buy or sell second-hand goods which are included in the regulations for that state are required to be licensed. The second-hand goods that are included in the regulations are those which are considered to be at high risk of theft. There are some exceptions to holding a licence, these include if the second hand dealer is a charity organisation such as the Salvation Army for example, or if the second hand dealer is part of a local council recycling program.

Second hand dealers, before taking goods for sale, must obtain documentary evidence of the seller’s identity and a declaration proving ownership of the goods. Items considered high risk of theft include jewellery (including watches), gemstones and precious metals, sporting and recreational goods, musical instruments (but not pianos) and photographic equipment.

If you want to know more about second hand dealers, visit your government website and find the section that deals with fair trading or consumer affairs. In Victoria, for example, you can visit the website of the Business Licensing Authority, which has the rules governing the selling of second hand goods.