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Anti Money Laundering Compliance.

Effective 1 July 2026.

New Anti-Money Laundering & Counter Terrorism laws take effect 1 July 2026 - here's what it means for you.

What's changing?

From 1 July 2026, new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws will extend to the real estate industry. These laws introduce new legal obligations for real estate agencies that will affect both buyers and sellers.

In practice, this means that before we can list your property or assist you in making an offer, we will be legally required to verify your identity, understand your ownership structure and, if applicable, enquire about the source of your funds

What does the process actually look like?

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, your agent must now complete three checks before providing services:

  1. Identity Verification: Your agent is required to confirm your identity using an approved government-issued photo identification document, such as a driver’s license or passport.
  2. Ownership Confirmation: If the transaction involves a company, trust or self-managed super fund (SMSF), we will need to identify the ultimate beneficial owners – any individual who owns or controls 25% or more of the entity.
  3. Details of Engagement: Some transactions will require additional information about how the transaction is being financed and establishing origins of wealth. We may also ask if you or a close family member hold a prominent public position, are a politically exposed person or have links to such people.

If you are selling:

Before your property is advertised, you will need to provide:

  • Photo ID (eg drivers license or passport)
  • Proof of current residential address
  • Proof of ownership (eg: rates notice or title document)
  • If selling via a trust or company – additional entity documents are required (see below).

If you are buying:

When you’re ready to make an offer (or earlier for higher value properties), you will need to provide:

  • Photo ID (eg: drivers license or passport)
  • Confirmation of your current address
  • Reason for purchasing (owner-occupier, investment, other)
  • How you are financing the purchase
  • For complex transactions, source of wealth information may also be requested.

If you are buying or selling through a trust or company:

If your transaction involves a family trust, SMSF, company, or any other entity structure, you will need to provide:

  • Photo ID for all directors, trustees, or beneficial owners
  • Registration documents – ABN/ACN, trust deed, or company extract
  • Confirmation of who ultimately owns or controls the entity
  • Source of funds documentation.

If this applies to you, it’s worth contacting us before you’re prepared to list or make an offer. Getting the correct documentation together early prevents delays and keeps the process smooth for all parties involved.

A final note from the aussieproperty.com team

Will this delay my settlement?

In most cases, no. The verification process is intended to be quick and straightforward, provided the necessary documentation is readily available. Delays are far more likely to occur when documents need to be located at the last minute or where more complex ownership structures that require additional documentation are involved. Preparing your documents before you list your property or begin making offers is the simplest way to keep your transaction moving efficiently.

These changes mark a shift in how property transactions work across Australia – and we think that’s a good thing. A more transparent market protects everyone in it, including you.

These reforms represent an important change for the Australian real estate industry. While there are a few extra steps involved, the overall aim is to create a safer and more transparent property market for buyers and sellers. Our team is prepared for these changes, so we can guide our clients through the process with confidence.

Your information is safe.

Everything we collect is strictly used for processing transactions and AML compliance – nothing else. Your information is stored securely, handled under the Australian Privacy Principals, and kept for a minimum of seven years as required by law. You can view our privacy policy here: https://www.aussieproperty.com/privacy-policy/