Underquoting and rental compliance on Consumer Affairs Victoria's 2026-27 hit list

Consumer Affairs Victoria has named underquoting, rental compliance and the conduct of owners corporation managers among its regulatory priorities for 2026-27, setting out where Victorian estate agents and property managers can expect the regulator to concentrate its compliance and enforcement work over the next 12 months.

The regulator released the priorities on 12 October. They group its focus into four areas: relieving cost of living pressures, fairness and safety in the rental market, standards for key sectors, industries and professions, and supporting Victorians during emergencies.

Three of those areas reach directly into agency work. Underquoting sits under the standards heading alongside product safety and new retirement village requirements, which places sales practice in the same category as the regulator's other licensed professions. The rental market priority covers core rental obligations and serious or repeated non-compliance that puts vulnerable renters and residents at risk, the day-to-day territory of property management departments. Owners corporation managers are named separately, with the regulator saying it will use existing tools to lift their conduct.

The cost of living priority is aimed elsewhere, at fuel pricing, motor car sales, building and trades and urgent on-demand services, while the emergencies priority covers rental problems, unregistered fundraising and fake tradies in affected communities.

Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the document sets the direction for the regulator's year. "Our regulatory priorities set out how we will protect consumers and renters," Ms Rich said.

The regulator said the priorities are intended to direct enforcement towards the issues that present the greatest risk to consumers, and to reinforce the obligations businesses and individuals carry throughout the year.

For principals, the practical value of the list is in what it signals. A published priority is not a new rule, but it tells agencies where inspection, investigation and enforcement effort is most likely to land, and underquoting and rental compliance are both on it. The full priorities are available on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website under its regulatory and compliance approach and priorities.