What the New AML & CTF Requirements Mean for Commercial Property Clients

Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws are changing, and from 1 July 2026, real estate professionals will have new compliance obligations when facilitating property transactions. 

At Commercial Collective, we're committed to keeping our clients informed of legislative changes that may impact the way we work with them. While these reforms will introduce additional compliance requirements for our business, they are designed to strengthen the integrity of Australia's property market and help prevent financial crime. 

What is changing? 

Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, the Australian Government has expanded the AML/CTF law to include real estate professionals who provide designated services relating to the purchase, sale and transfer of property. 

As a result, Commercial Collective, along with all other real estate agencies across Australia, will be required to comply with new obligations administered by AUSTRAC. 

These requirements will become part of our everyday business processes and may mean we need to collect additional information from clients before we can provide our property transaction services.  

What does this mean for our clients? 

For most clients, the biggest change will be the information we are required to collect and verify. 

Before we can proceed with completing your property transaction, we will need to verify certain details about you, including your purchasing entity and, in some cases, the source of funds being used for the transaction. 

This applies to all clients, including long-standing Commercial Collective clients. Under the new requirements, we are required to complete this process even if we have acted for you before. 

We hope to minimise any inconvenience this may cause, and we want to reassure you that we will make the process as simple, secure and efficient as possible. 

Your Commercial Collective agent will guide you through exactly what is required, based on your specific purchasing structure. We will only ask for what is necessary to meet the new legal requirements. 

What documentation we may ask for 

The information we request will depend on the type of client and the nature of the transaction. This may include: 

Individuals 

• A government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver's licence. 

Companies 

• Director identification. 

• Details of beneficial ownership. 

Trusts and Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) 

• A copy of the trust deed. 

• Identification for trustees. 

• Relevant ATO, ASIC or other supporting documentation. 

Source of Funds 

• In some circumstances, information about the origin of the funds being used to purchase the property. 

Your privacy is protected 

Commercial Collective will be using REI Vault, a specialist compliance platform, to collect and verify the required information securely. 

Your documents and identity information will be submitted directly through REI Vault's secure platform, rather than being emailed to Commercial Collective or stored on our internal servers. 

Your information will be handled confidentially and will not be used for any unrelated purpose. 

Looking ahead 

These reforms represent an important step in protecting Australia's property market from money laundering and other financial crimes. 

At Commercial Collective, we're committed to making the transition as smooth as possible while continuing to provide the trusted advice, service and expertise our clients expect. 

If you have any questions about how the new AML/CTF requirements may affect your property transaction, please contact us or reach or to your Commercial Collective agent directly.