AML/CTF – Information for Buyers & Sellers

New Anti-Money Laundering Requirements for Real Estate

From 1 July 2026, Australian real estate professionals became subject to new requirements under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws. These laws are designed to help protect Australia's property market and financial system from money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crime. As a real estate agency, Accommodate Real Estate is required to undertake certain checks when providing regulated real estate services.


What does this mean for you?

For most buyers and sellers, the process will be straightforward. We may need to collect and verify information about your identity and, depending on the circumstances, ask for additional information relating to the transaction. This is a legal compliance requirement and does not mean there is anything unusual or concerning about your transaction.

Information for Sellers

When you engage Accommodate Real Estate to sell your property, we may need to verify the identity of the person or people selling the property.

You may be asked to provide:

  • Your full legal name, residential address and date of birth
  • Valid identification, such as a driver's licence or passport
  • Information confirming your ownership or authority to sell the property
  • Additional information where the property is owned through a company, trust or other legal structure
  • Information identifying individuals who ultimately own or control an entity involved in the transaction

Where someone is acting on your behalf, we may also need to verify their identity and their authority to act.

Information for Buyers

If you successfully make an offer to purchase a property, you may be asked to provide information so that the required AML/CTF checks can be completed.

This may include:

  • Your full legal name, residential address and date of birth
  • Photographic identification such as a driver's licence or passport
  • How you intend to fund the purchase, for example through a bank loan, savings or proceeds from another property
  • Whether you are purchasing through a company, trust or another legal arrangement
  • Information about beneficial owners where a company, trust or other entity is involved
  • Whether you are considered a Politically Exposed Person (PEP)

In some circumstances, we may also need further information about the source of funds or source of wealth associated with the transaction.


What does “Source of Funds” mean?

Source of funds means how the money being used for a particular transaction was originally obtained.

Examples can include:

  • Salary or savings
  • A home loan or other finance
  • Business income
  • Proceeds from the sale of another property
  • Investment income
  • An inheritance or gift

Depending on the circumstances and the level of risk associated with a transaction, supporting documentation may be requested.

Companies, Trusts and Other Entities

If you are buying or selling through a company, family trust or another legal structure, additional information may be required. This can include documents such as a trust deed or company information, together with identification of relevant individuals and the people who ultimately own or control the entity. We will let you know exactly what information is required for your particular circumstances.

Why are we asking for this information?

These checks are not something Accommodate Real Estate has chosen to introduce independently. They form part of Australia's AML/CTF laws and apply to regulated real estate services. Our responsibility is to complete appropriate customer due diligence and comply with our obligations while making the process as straightforward as possible for our clients.


Your Privacy

We understand that some of the information requested may be personal or sensitive. Information collected as part of our AML/CTF obligations will be handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable Australian privacy and record-keeping requirements.


We're Here to Help

Buying or selling property already involves plenty of paperwork, so we don't want AML/CTF requirements to make the process feel more complicated than it needs to be. If we require information from you, Accommodate Real Estate will explain what is needed and why, and guide you through the process.


Accommodate Real Estate

We accommodate your real estate needs. For further information about Australia's AML/CTF requirements, visit the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) website.