Sharing economy platform and private traders – business rights and responsibilities in NSW

Information for traders

The sharing economy, also known as the peer-to-peer or collaborative economy, is an online marketplace run by platform operators that connects consumers with people who have goods or services to:

• hire
• rent, or
• lease.

Airbnb and Uber are 2 examples of the sharing economy.

The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) still covers consumers, and certain guarantees still apply despite the good or service being hired. For example, if a consumer hires a car through a share app, they are still entitled to ensure that the car matches its description and is safe.

Guides for the sharing economy

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has put together 2 guides to help everyone follow the rules when using sharing platforms.

• The Platform Operators in the Sharing Economy guide has been developed to help platform operators comply with their legal obligations. The guide provides a broad overview of these obligations and includes guiding principles to help operators ensure they are transparent, accurate and honest, have robust procedures in place and are fair in their dealings with consumers and traders.
• The Sharing Economy: A guide for private traders has been developed to help traders understand:
  • when the ACL applies
  • the relationships involved in the supply of services in the sharing economy
  • the obligations you have to consumers
  • the obligations that platform operators have to you.