Public Records, Private Lessons for the Property Industry

The New South Wales Government has unveiled a new public register designed to increase transparency around regulatory action taken against real estate agents, property managers and strata managing agents.

The NSW Fair Trading Name and Shame Register publishes details about licensees who have faced enforcement action, including fines, disciplinary measures, licence suspensions and cancellations.

The aim is to give consumers more clarity before engaging a property professional, helping them make better-informed decisions and encouraging higher standards across the sector.

What’s on the register

Information on the register includes:

• The name, ABN or ACN and licence number of the agent or agency.

• Their suburb or location.

• A clear record of the enforcement action taken and why, from public warnings to prosecutions.

• Fines and penalties, where applicable.

  
  

NSW Fair Trading has developed publication guidelines to ensure that only actions that pose a significant risk of consumer harm or indicate serious non-compliance are listed.

This includes repeated breaches, conduct that could harm vulnerable consumers, and deliberate disregard for legal obligations.

Why it matters

According to Fair Trading, the register aims to bolster confidence in the property sector by shining a spotlight on poor practice while also protecting consumers.

The tool is particularly timely given ongoing concerns over issues such as misleading pricing and underquoting, practices that have drawn criticism for wasting buyers’ time and money in recent years.

The initiative also forms part of a broader regulatory push, with Fair Trading recently undertaking numerous inspections and issuing hundreds of penalty notices in the property and rental sector.

In the past financial year alone, the regulator conducted close to 500 investigations and more than 300 site inspections, issuing penalties worth over $430,000.

What this means for consumers and industry

For consumers, whether selling, buying or renting, the register offers a quick reference to check an agent’s compliance history before signing on. It sits alongside other Fair Trading tools that allow licence verification and access to complaint histories.

For agents and agencies, the register reinforces the consequences of serious or repeated non-compliance. Industry commentators have welcomed the increased scrutiny, arguing transparency can drive better outcomes for buyers and sellers alike.

How to access it

Consumers can search the Name and Shame Register online through the NSW Fair Trading website, selecting “Property” as the industry category to view relevant listings.