Australia's leading AML compliance solution for Tranche 2 entities.
From 1 July 2026, real estate agents, property managers, and developers will be subject to Australia's AML/CTF regime.
As gatekeepers to high-value property transactions, the real estate industry plays a critical role in preventing money laundering.
AML Shield provides tailored solutions to help real estate professionals meet their new compliance obligations without disrupting their core business activities.
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Real estate is globally recognised as high-risk for money laundering. Australia's property market is particularly attractive for illicit funds due to:
Property can integrate large sums quickly
Values can be manipulated to layer funds
Trusts and companies can obscure ownership
Cross-border transactions layer funds
According to AUSTRAC, real estate is one of the highest-risk sectors for money laundering in Australia.
The industry will face significant new obligations from July 2026.
Develop and maintain an AML/CTF program tailored to your real estate business.
Verify the identity of buyers, sellers, and beneficial owners before transactions.
Identify who really owns or controls entities involved in property transactions.
Monitor transactions and customer relationships for suspicious activity.
Report suspicious matters to AUSTRAC when identified.
Maintain records for 7 years as required by legislation.
Training your team to recognise potential money laundering indicators is essential. Look out for:
Customise AUSTRAC's starter kits and build a practical program for your real estate business.
Learn moreReal estate agencies may need AML software when Tranche 2 obligations apply to their property services and they need a reliable way to manage CDD, beneficial ownership, red flags, staff training, and records. AML Shield provides a platform for these workflows without suggesting that software alone guarantees compliance.
Real estate agencies that broker the sale, purchase, or transfer of real estate can expect obligations covering enrolment, an AML/CTF program, initial customer due diligence before providing designated services, beneficial-owner checks for non-individual customers, ongoing monitoring, suspicious matter escalation, training, and record keeping. For a practical preparation list, see the AML compliance checklist for real estate agents.
Real estate agents still need ongoing customer due diligence, but the starter-kit model is based on risk-based monitoring, periodic reviews, trigger-event reviews, and unusual-activity escalation rather than assuming every small agency needs bank-style real-time surveillance. Read more on why Tranche 2 businesses do not need to monitor transactions like a bank.
Real estate agencies should verify buyers, sellers, and relevant beneficial owners, understand the purpose and nature of the transaction, assess risk factors such as complex structures or unusual funding, and keep records for the required period. AML Shield training helps teams recognise when a matter should be escalated; see AML training for Tranche 2 teams.
AML Shield helps real estate agencies implement starter-kit aligned workflows by turning CDD, risk ratings, red flags, escalation, training records, and audit trails into guided steps. The AUSTRAC real estate starter kit is designed for small real estate and buyer agencies that meet its suitability criteria, so agencies with extra designated services or developer activity should map those differences before relying on a starter-kit workflow. You can compare plan options on pricing or contact AML Shield to discuss an agency rollout.
Contact us to get started on your real estate compliance program.
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A 12-page PDF from Nathan Lynch.