At Woodards, our commitment to doing the right thing goes beyond property transactions—it extends to how we protect our clients and the integrity of the real estate industry. With new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) legislation coming into effect on July 1, 2026, we are taking proactive steps to ensure our entire network is prepared, protected, and fully compliant.What are the new laws?
Starting July 1, all Australian real estate agencies involved in property sales are required to implement stricter compliance measures. This includes:
A Unified Approach to Compliance
While some in the industry are leaving the burden of these complex regulations on individual franchise offices, Woodards is taking a different, centralized approach.
We have established a dedicated compliance team at our head office to manage these obligations under a "Group Reporting Model." Rather than each office navigating this alone, our head office will act as the lead entity for the entire network. What this means for our clients and agents,
By centralizing the "heavy lifting," we are ensuring that risk is mitigated at every level—brand, agent, and customer.
As our CEO, Nigel O’Neil, explains, "We don’t believe something as significant as AML/CTF should be a burden for individual offices to navigate on their own. By moving to a Group Reporting Model, we are providing a unified shield for our entire network."
Setting the Standard Jason Sharpe, Director of Woodards Ascot Vale and Carlton North, notes the peace of mind this strategy provides: "Knowing that head office is handling the heavy lifting gives our team enormous confidence. It means our agents can focus on their clients and transactions while still knowing the business is fully compliant and protected."
At Woodards, we aren't just waiting for legislation to change; we are setting the standard for how a modern, responsible real estate group prepares for the future.
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