Understanding AML & CTF
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From 1 July 2026, new Australian Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) laws apply to the real estate industry. These laws are designed to protect Australia's property market by helping prevent money laundering, financial crime and terrorism financing.
As part of these requirements, real estate agencies are legally required to verify the identity of buyers, sellers and other parties involved in property transactions. While this means you may be asked to provide additional information or identification, these checks are a standard legal requirement that applies to all Australian real estate agencies.
At LJ Hooker Wollongong | Corrimal | Shellharbour, we're committed to making the process as simple, secure and transparent as possible. This page explains what the new legislation means, why we may request certain information, and what you can expect throughout the verification process.
Helping make every property transaction secure, transparent and compliant.
✔ Applies to all Australian real estate agencies
✔ Required by Australian law
✔ Your information is handled securely
✔ Helps protect buyers and sellers
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What Information May We Ask For?
The information we request will depend on the nature of your property transaction and your individual circumstances. As part of our Customer Due Diligence (CDD) obligations, we may ask for personal details such as your full name, date of birth, residential address and occupation, along with government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's licence or passport, to verify your identity. If you are buying or selling through a company, trust or other legal entity, we may also request additional documentation, including trust deeds, company director information and details of beneficial owners or individuals who control the entity. In some cases, where required under the legislation, we may also ask for information relating to the source of your funds or source of wealth. Not every client will be asked to provide the same information, and any requests will be based on the requirements of the transaction and the applicable AML/CTF legislation.
How Your Information Is Protected
We understand that the information you provide is personal and sensitive, and we take our responsibility to protect it seriously. Any information collected as part of our AML/CTF obligations is handled securely, used only for the purposes of complying with Australian Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing legislation, and managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Australian privacy laws. Your information is retained only for the period required by law and is protected using secure systems and processes designed to safeguard your personal information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why do I have to do this?
From 1 July 2026, Australian law requires all real estate agencies to verify the identity of clients before providing certain property services. These checks help protect against financial crime and keep property transactions secure.
I've sold with LJ Hooker before. Do I still need to complete this?
Yes. The legislation applies to all clients, including existing and returning customers. In some cases, we may simply need to update the information we already have on file.
Is this an LJ Hooker policy?
No. These requirements are set by Australian AML/CTF legislation and apply to all real estate agencies across the country.
How long do you keep my information?
Your information is retained for the period required under Australian AML/CTF legislation and is stored securely in accordance with legal and privacy requirements.
Who sees my information?
Your information is only accessed by authorised personnel and trusted service providers involved in fulfilling our AML/CTF obligations. It is handled securely and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Can I refuse to provide the information?
You can choose not to provide the requested information; however, we may be unable to proceed with your property transaction until our legal verification requirements have been met.
What happens if I'm buying or selling through a company?
We may need additional information about the company, including details of directors, shareholders and individuals who ultimately own or control the entity, to meet our legal obligations.
Do trusts need extra documents?
Yes. If a trust is involved in the transaction, we may request documents such as the trust deed and information about the trustees and beneficiaries to verify ownership and control.
What if I live overseas?
Overseas clients are still required to complete identity verification. We can provide secure remote verification options and guide you through the process, no matter where you are located.
Related Resources
Learn more about the property process. Browse our collection of resources covering everything from buying and selling to compliance requirements and helpful property advice.
