Protect Yourself, Your Business and Your Personal Property

The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is the official government register of security interests in personal property – these are debts or other obligations that are secured by personal property.

The PPSR protects you and your business by helping you make informed decisions about items you are planning to purchase, as well as registering your interest in items should your customers or clients go out of business.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell says it is essential for small business owners to secure their assets and business loans, with economists predicting a steep rise in insolvencies this year.

Ms Carnell says small businesses need to secure their assets through the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) so they are better protected in the event of an insolvency.

When someone registers a security interest on the PPSR, they are letting the world at large know that they claim to have a security interest over certain personal property. Personal property includes things like cars, company assets, boats, used goods and intellectual property; it doesn't include land or fixtures.

Many Australian businesses have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The PPSR can provide protection for your business when you are:

• Buying goods or acquiring personal property
  Searching the PPSR helps you make an informed decision because you can check whether the valuable goods or personal property you want to buy are free from debt and safe from possible repossession.

• Selling on retention of title terms or consignment, or hiring or leasing out goods
  Properly registering on the PPSR can help protect your security interest should any of your customers not be able to pay or go out of business.

These resources provide general information—they do not constitute and are not intended to be legal advice. You may wish to seek professional advice from your accountant, financial adviser or lawyer.

Learn more, view case studies, register an interest, or search for an item on the PPSR website.

Susan Beniston
Visitor Servicing & Development Officer