Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) Guidance

Helping Protect the Integrity of Australia’s Property Market

Why We May Ask More Financial Questions

From 1 July 2026, new national anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) laws apply to Australia’s real estate industry.

These changes require real estate agents to collect additional information from buyers and sellers during the property transaction process.

The purpose is to help protect Australia’s property market from being used to conceal, transfer, or benefit from criminal activity. As a result, you may notice that your Elite Sydney Property agent asks for certain information earlier, or in greater detail, than you may have experienced in the past.

Why These Questions Matter

Property transactions often involve significant sums of money, which can make the real estate sector attractive to individuals seeking to disguise the source of illegal funds.

To help reduce this risk, the Australian Government has expanded AML/CTF requirements so that real estate agents play a role in verifying who they are dealing with and understanding how property transactions are being funded.

These requirements are not intended to create unnecessary inconvenience. They form part of a nationally consistent framework designed to improve transparency, trust, and integrity across Australia’s property sector.

As part of these obligations, Elite Sydney Property may also be required to report certain information to AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence agency, in accordance with applicable AML/CTF laws.

What Your Elite Sydney Property Agent May Ask You

To meet legal and regulatory requirements, your agent may need to request information such as:

• Proof of identity, including government-issued photo identification
• General information about how a property purchase is being funded, such as savings, a home loan, inheritance, or other legitimate sources
• Information about ownership structures where a property is being purchased or sold through a company, trust, SMSF, or other legal entity
• Confirmation of the individuals who ultimately own or control a transaction, where required by law

Your Elite Sydney Property agent will guide you through the process, explain what information is required, and help you understand why it is being requested.

How This Benefits You

These additional checks are designed to help create a safer and more transparent property market for everyone involved.

They can help to:

• Protect Australia’s property market from criminal misuse
• Improve transparency across property transactions
• Reduce the risk of fraud and financial crime
• Support safer and more secure transactions for buyers and sellers
• Strengthen confidence in the property industry

Our Commitment to You

At Elite Sydney Property, we are committed to handling personal and financial information with care, confidentiality, and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

While real estate agents may be required to collect certain information, they are not the regulators. Our role is to follow the required processes, assist our clients throughout the transaction, and direct them to appropriate official resources where further information is needed.

If you have questions about why certain information is being requested or how it is handled, your Elite Sydney Property agent will be happy to assist.