AML/CTF Compliance Software for Real Estate Agents Australia

Are you in scope?

Which real estate services trigger AML/CTF obligations?

Real estate agents are among the highest-risk professions targeted by Tranche 2. AUSTRAC has specifically identified property transactions as a major money laundering vulnerability in Australia.

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Deadline: 29 July 2026. Real estate agents providing designated services must enrol with AUSTRAC by 29 July 2026. Failing to enrol on time is itself a breach of the AML/CTF Act — not just a procedural issue. Penalties can reach $33 million.

✓ Selling residential property

Acting as agent in the sale of residential real property on behalf of a vendor is a designated service.

✓ Selling commercial property

Commercial property sales and leases where you act on behalf of a client are in scope.

✓ Property management (some)

Managing rental properties where you receive, hold, or transmit money on behalf of clients may be captured.

✓ Land and development sales

Off-the-plan sales and development marketing where you act on behalf of a developer or vendor.

~ Buyer's agents — check carefully

Buyer's agents acting on behalf of purchasers may be in scope. Seek specific advice on your circumstances.

~ Rural and agricultural property

Rural agency may or may not be captured depending on the nature of the transaction. Check with AUSTRAC or seek advice.

How it works

Verify every buyer and seller — automatically

CompliDesk fits into your property transaction workflow without slowing down settlements. Verify clients before listing, monitor throughout the transaction, and store records for 7 years — automatically.

New client intake

Send clients a digital KYC link when they engage your agency. They verify identity from their phone in minutes.

Risk assessment

CompliDesk automatically scores each client's ML/TF risk based on transaction type, property value, and jurisdiction.

PEP & sanctions check

Every client is screened against Politically Exposed Person and sanctions lists — automatically, every time.

Monitor the transaction

Ongoing monitoring flags unusual payment patterns, third-party payers, and high-risk behaviours throughout the transaction.

Records stored

All KYC documents, risk assessments, and transaction records stored for 7 years. AUSTRAC-ready at any moment.

Features

AML compliance built for busy real estate agents

CompliDesk is fast, mobile-friendly, and designed to fit into a property transaction — not disrupt it.

Digital client verification

Send buyers and sellers a verification link via SMS or email. They complete identity verification on their phone before the first inspection. No appointment needed.

PEP and sanctions screening

Every new client automatically screened against global Politically Exposed Person lists and sanctions registers. Results stored in the audit trail.

High-value transaction alerts

Automatic flags for high-value transactions, unusual payment sources, and third-party payers — the key red flags AUSTRAC expects you to monitor.

Property transaction records

Each property transaction linked to client verification records. One-click export of the complete compliance file for any transaction — for AUSTRAC or principal review.

Multi-agent agency management

If you manage multiple agents, CompliDesk lets you oversee compliance across the whole team from one principal dashboard. Monitor who has verified whom.

Staff training tracker

AML obligations apply to everyone who deals with clients — not just the principal. Track which staff have completed training and when it expires.

Suspicious matter reports

Guided SMR workflow for lodging reports with AUSTRAC when something doesn't look right. Built-in tipping-off controls protect your legal obligations.

7-year audit trail

AUSTRAC requires 7 years of records. CompliDesk stores everything automatically — identity documents, risk assessments, monitoring alerts, and SMRs.

New: Privacy Act

The Privacy Act now applies to your AML data

From 1 July 2026, reporting entities are covered by the Privacy Act for personal information handled in connection with their AML/CTF obligations — even under $3 million turnover. See what changed and get early access to the CompliDesk Privacy module, launching August 2026.

See what changed

Questions real estate agents ask us most

You need to complete customer due diligence on the client you act for — typically the vendor if you're the listing/selling agent. If your agency also represents buyers or manages the transaction more broadly, you may need to verify additional parties. CompliDesk lets you track every party linked to a listing from one property file.

Brokering the sale, purchase, or transfer of real estate — whether residential, commercial, or rural — on behalf of a client. This applies to selling agents, buyer's agents, and auctioneers acting in that capacity. Property management alone (leasing, rent collection) generally isn't a designated service under the Act.

CompliDesk's multi-client dashboard is built for exactly this — bulk CSV import of your vendor/purchaser list, at-a-glance risk and KYC status across every active listing, and automated alerts when a check needs attention. Agencies running high listing volumes typically fit the SME plan at $89/month rather than needing anything more complex.

AUSTRAC has flagged several patterns common in property: rapid on-selling shortly after purchase, purchases made significantly below or above market value with no clear rationale, cash deposits inconsistent with a buyer's declared income, and reluctance to provide standard identification. CompliDesk's risk assessment flags these automatically based on the details you record for each transaction.

AML/CTF compliance for real estate professionals — simple, fast, AUSTRAC-ready