If your real estate agent has recently asked for a copy of your ID or some personal details, you might be wondering why. It is not a new agency policy, and it is not optional. From 1 July 2026, every real estate agency across Australia is legally required to verify the identity of clients before providing property services. Here is what the change means, what you will need to provide, and how PRD Wagga Wagga is handling it.
What is AML/CTF and why does it apply to real estate?
AML stands for anti-money laundering. CTF stands for counter terrorism financing. Together, they refer to a framework of federal laws designed to prevent criminals from using legitimate industries — including real estate — to move or conceal illegal funds.
Real estate has long been identified internationally as a sector vulnerable to money laundering. Large transactions, complex ownership structures, and the ease of holding value in property all make it attractive to those seeking to legitimise illicit wealth. Australia has now brought real estate agencies in line with other regulated industries, including banks, law firms, and accountants, who have been subject to similar obligations for years.
The legal basis is the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006, which was updated to capture real estate agencies from 1 July 2026. Compliance is not discretionary. Every agency in Australia, regardless of size or location, must now conduct what are called Customer Due Diligence (CDD) checks — also known as Know Your Customer (KYC) checks — on buyers, sellers, and anyone entering a long-term lease.
What information will you need to provide?
The requirements are straightforward for most clients.
For individuals, you will need to provide your name, date of birth, or residential address. In practice this usually means confirming your identity with a passport or driver’s licence.
For companies, trusts, or other entities, more documentation is required. This can include confirmation of nominee directors or shareholders, a company constitution or shareholder agreement, and where a trust is involved, the trust deed. The directors, shareholders, trustees, and any non-discretionary beneficiaries of the entity may also need to provide identity information.
In some cases, depending on the specifics of the transaction, an agency may also need to request information about the source of funds or source of wealth involved in the purchase.
The scope is broader than just the person signing the contract. If ownership sits behind a company or trust — as is increasingly common for investment property in Wagga Wagga — the people behind that structure need to be identified too.
Does this apply even if we have worked together before?
Yes. The AML/CTF Act applies to all clients before designated services are provided, including clients an agency has worked with previously. If PRD has sold a property for you in the past, we may simply need to update the information we hold on file. This is not a reflection of any suspicion — it is a blanket legal requirement that applies equally to everyone.
How does PRD Wagga Wagga handle the verification process?
PRD Wagga Wagga uses AMLHUB, a compliance platform built specifically for Australian real estate agencies, to manage identity verification. The process is designed to be as simple and low friction as possible for clients.
If you meet with one of our agents in person, verification can be completed in seconds using the AMLHUB mobile app, which scans passports and driver’s licences from over 120 countries and syncs directly to our compliance platform.
If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, you will receive a secure verification link via email or SMS. You can complete the process remotely using your phone, uploading your photo ID and completing a biometric check at a time that suits you.
Where PRD outsources the process to the AMLHUB team directly, a member of their team will contact you within two business hours to gather the required information on our behalf. Once verification is complete, we can proceed with the listing or transaction.
Your information is used solely for the purpose of complying with our AML/CTF obligations. It is stored securely on the AMLHUB platform, which holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, and is retained for seven years as required by law.
What happens if you do not provide the information?
Unfortunately, if a client declines to provide the required information, the agency cannot proceed with providing services. This is not a discretionary position — agencies are legally required to conduct these checks, and proceeding without them would put the agency in breach of federal law. All real estate agencies across Australia are in the same position.
What this means for buyers and sellers in Wagga Wagga
For the vast majority of clients, the practical impact of these changes is minimal. You will be asked to confirm your identity before a transaction proceeds, and the process takes a matter of minutes whether you do it in person or via your phone.
For investors buying through companies or trusts — which is common in the Wagga Wagga real estate market — it is worth knowing the requirements in advance. Gathering the relevant company or trust documents early means there are no delays when you are ready to move.
The broader picture is that these changes make the Australian property market more transparent and more secure. For sellers, knowing that buyers have been properly identified adds a layer of confidence to the transaction. For the community, it reduces the likelihood that property transactions in our region are being used for illegitimate purposes.
PRD Wagga Wagga is committed to making this process as smooth as possible for every client. If you have questions about what you will need to provide before buying, selling, or leasing a property, our team is happy to walk you through it before your first appointment.
Talk to the team at PRD Wagga Wagga — Wagga’s trusted real estate agency. Visit prdwagga.com.au or call us today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my real estate agent asking for my ID? From 1 July 2026, all Australian real estate agencies are legally required to verify the identity of buyers, sellers, and anyone entering a long-term lease under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006.
What ID do I need to provide when buying or selling property in Wagga Wagga? For individuals, a passport or driver’s licence is typically sufficient to confirm your name, date of birth, or residential address. For companies and trusts, additional documentation such as a trust deed or shareholder agreement is required.
Is this a PRD Wagga policy or a legal requirement? It is a federal legal requirement that applies to every real estate agency in Australia. It is not an internal PRD policy, and agencies have no discretion to waive the checks.
How will my personal information be stored? Your information is stored securely on the AMLHUB platform, which is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and purpose-built for managing real estate AML/CTF compliance. It will be retained for seven years as required by law.
What if I am buying through a company or trust? If your purchase involves a company or trust, the directors, shareholders, trustees, or non-discretionary beneficiaries may also need to provide identity information, along with supporting documents such as the trust deed or shareholder agreement. It is worth preparing these in advance to avoid delays.
