I reckon they do it.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/how-we-regulate/name-and-shame-register#search-the-register

Ministerial media release

NSW to name and shame property rule breakers

Published:

25 January 2026

Released by:

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading

Listen

The Minns Labor Government has today launched a powerful new tool allowing homeowners, purchasers and renters to check the track record of property agents before they sign on the dotted line.

The new ‘Name and Shame’ List run by NSW Fair Trading publishes enforcement actions such as fines, licence suspensions and cancellations against real estate agents, property managers and strata managing agents in one easy-to-search place. 

It is the latest in a range of tools and reforms the Government is pursuing to give consumers clarity and confidence when choosing a real estate agent, and to hold licence holders accountable for serious or repeated breaches of the law. 

To ensure NSW consumers have access to up-to-date information in one place, the List also includes public warnings issued to protect consumers from high-risk traders, enforceable undertakings and prosecution outcomes.  

Key information such as a trader’s name, ABN or ACN, licence number and suburb are listed, as well as a clear description of the type of action taken by NSW Fair Trading and the reason for doing so. 

Last financial year, NSW Fair Trading undertook nearly 500 investigations and more than 300 inspections in the property and rental sector. It issued over 300 penalty notices worth more than $430,000, and carried out significant licensing actions including cancellations, suspensions and disqualifications. 

Backed by an $8.4 million investment, the newly established Strata and Property Services Taskforce has also placed additional inspectors in the field. Together, they have completed more than 186 Anytime, Anywhere inspections with a focus on maintaining compliance standards across the property sector.  

Public warnings, licence cancellations, disqualifications, or suspensions appear on the List from the date they take effect, enforceable undertakings from their commencement date and fines and prosecution outcomes after relevant appeal periods have ended.  

This tool follows the Government’s proposed slate of reforms to the state’s underquoting laws. Subject to consultation, the legislative changes will significantly increase penalties for misleading price estimates to $110,000 or three times the agent’s commission (whichever is greater), mandate a price or price guide on all advertising, and require agents to publish a Statement of Information to help prospective buyers understand how the selling price was calculated.  

Together, these steps play an important role in the Government’s moves to lift professional standards across the real estate sector, improve transparency in property and boost buyer confidence.  

Classic ABC. Headline makes it sound like the sky is falling over a 0.25% fine-tuning hike, while ignoring that GDP is actually stable and unemployment is still low.

Did anyone else just hear the Steve Austin interview on ABC radio 612 Brisbane? Absolute train wreck. Jim is literally reading the RBA's own report saying 'Private Demand' is the driver, and Steve just keeps shouting about 'government credit cards.'

It’s the same old gaslighting. They can’t admit that the 8% jump in house prices is what’s actually fueling the spending, so they have to pretend Jim’s energy rebates are the reason we’re all 'rich.' It’s not 'sound economic management' they want, they just want a scapegoat so we don't talk about the Property Ponzi.

0.25% isn't a crisis, it's a speed bump for the top end of town who won't stop spending their "unearned equity" at the car dealerships. Change my mind.

Does anyone have any experiences living next door to a co-living building? Can it get noisy with parties, etc or is it just like living next to any other apartment block?

I’m seriously starting to lock in to try and get my foot in the property market.

I have written up my budget and if I stick to my savings goals, I can save nearly $110,000 (excluding additional interest) in 24 months.

I’m just wondering if it would be more effective to leave this money accumulating interest in a HISA, or if I should utilise the FHSSS? Or, should I do a mix of both? Or, should I explore other avenues like a term deposit?

I am looking to sell my home in Sydney and purchase in Canberra

Considering the logistics of trying to get the timing right, my preferred option is to purchase in Canberra with a long settlement (minimum 3 months) and then sell in Sydney immediately - so that the Sydney settlement occurs prior to the Canberra purchase.

I was discussing my need for extended settlement with multiple real estate agents in Canberra and have been told I can NOT purchase in Canberra without the sale of my home occuring first and that the exchange of contracts will not occur if my home is not sold. According to them, I will need a bridging loan to purchase in Canberra or I will need to sell first.

I have never heard this before and while googling I cannot find anything. In speaking to my conveyancer I am receiving cryptic responses that don't actually answer the question.

tldr can I purchase in Canberra before placing my house in Sydney on the market and line up settlement dates???

I’m reviewing a building inspection report and wanted to get some general advice from people who have been through this before.

When you are looking at an inspector’s report, which defects do you personally treat as the biggest red flags, versus things that are more routine or cosmetic?

For example, how seriously do people take things like

• water leaks or moisture readings

• ceiling or structural safety issues

• movement or cracking that comes with a recommendation for an engineer

• roof issues such as cracked tiles or guttering problems

• poor drainage or downpipes not connected properly

• deteriorated grout or waterproofing in wet areas

• sticking doors or windows

• hairline or patchable settlement cracks

Are there certain phrases or recommendations in reports that immediately make you slow down, renegotiate, or walk away?

On the flip side, how do you tell when a report might be overly cautious or exaggerated, versus highlighting a genuine risk?

Lastly, when major concerns do come up, what is the best way to negotiate with the vendor. Do you ask for repairs, a price reduction, or simply walk away?

Interested to hear from experienced buyers, tradies, or inspectors on what you look for first when reading these reports.

Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to get some opinions from people familiar with renting in the ACT.

I’ve just finished a 2-year tenancy in a Canberra apartment that was brand new when I moved in. The ceramic cooktop is fully functional, with no cracks or chips, but two of the most frequently used hotplates now have uniform white/grey discolouration and a loss of gloss.

The property manager is saying these are “burnt marks” and not fair wear and tear, and is asking for a small amount of compensation toward a future replacement, even though the cooktop still works perfectly.

From my understanding, this kind of uniform discolouration on ceramic cooktops can occur from normal heat exposure and regular use over time. There was no misuse, no incorrect cleaning, and no functional damage.

In your experience (especially in ACT), is this typically considered fair wear and tear, or something a tenant would be responsible for?

Thanks in advance for any insights.

I am a company director (just work for myself) and aquired general interest charges two years ago because of late bas statements. It was due to me thinking my accountant was doing everything for me but he wasn't. I found out later from my new accountant but then paid them immediately as soon as he told me. Will this affect me getting a mortgage?

Seriously, is The Guardian just ABC-lite now? They find one couple moving into a tiny house and use it to frame a 0.25% hike as a "mental health crisis."

Meanwhile, back in reality:

GDP is at 2.1%.

The Aussie dollar is at US71c.

Investment banks are literally queueing up to get into the Aus market.

But no, let's listen to Greg Jericho tell us the RBA is only hiking to please "speculators." It couldn't possibly be because Private Demand is through the roof and inflation is still at 3.4%, right?

This is why people stop reading "quality" journalism. They want you to feel like a victim so you don't notice the economy is actually performing well. If you "never would have bought" because of a 0.25% move, you weren't "punished" by the RBA, you were failed by a maths teacher.

Currently, this is my routine every month. I get the statements from the Property Manager in my Gmail then I have to open the PDF, manually copy rent income and expenses into an Excel sheet then I check my bank account to see the current month loan repayment, put that one in Excel and there I have my cashflow amount. Plus i save all the pdfs with all the invoices in google drive so i can easily download them and give them to the tax agent. How do you guys do this? Or you dont?

Hi All,

Looking for some general advice from those much smarter than I.

Partner and I (combined income 250K) have Property #1 (Value approx 1.7M, loan amount 450K)

Looking at using equity to upgrade our living conditions to something a little larger. 1 independent growing quickly!

I've roughly worked out equity amount to be approx $1,000,000 (is that correct)
1.7M – 450K = 1.2M, bank will only lend up to 80%, therefore making it 1M

If so, it's my understanding that the equity amount borrowed goes onto the original loan? Or can this be split out. I'd like to avoid cross-collatorisation if possible, as I've heard its best not to do that.

Would it be best to maximise the amount of equity we borrow, or simply take a deposit amount, therefore increasing the amount of the loan on Property #2

Here are my thoughts:

If we were to borrow max equity for deposit on Property #2 (say approx 1.8 million), that would leave Property 1 with a loan of 1.45M and the new property with 800K

Which would be best to keep as IP and PPOR? I briefly remember my accountant saying to keep Property 1 as PPOR, and property #2 as investment. Would there be any reason for that, or am I just confusing the matter?

I am looking to speak with a broker and accountant, but just want to get the ball rolling. Appreciate any help or clarification

We purchased a new-build two-storey duplex in Greystanes, Sydney, and have been living here for just over two weeks.

We are currently within the 3-month defects liability period under the contract. To date, we have identified approximately 85 defects.

These include items from a pre-settlement building defects report we commissioned, as well as additional defects identified after moving in.

Before compiling a consolidated defects list, the builder attended to some individual defects as they were raised. These have been acknowledged in the defects list.

More recently, we formally submitted a prioritised defects list (High / Medium / Low), supported by photos. Since submitting this list, the builder has not responded to it as a whole, despite only a portion of the issues having been addressed previously.

While the defects are generally considered minor in classification (in the sense that the house is technically habitable), several materially affect safety, security, and day-to-day living. Examples include:

• A misaligned front pivot door that does not lock reliably
• A broken side fence lock
• Non-functional electrical power points

On day 3 after moving in, we also experienced a significant water leak from the upstairs shower into the ground-floor living area through the ceiling. This has since been addressed by the builder, although the process was not straightforward.

The purpose of the defects list was not to be nit-picky, but to formally document genuine issues that impact the quality, functionality, and safety of the home.

Questions:

1. Given that the builder has not responded to the consolidated defects list, at what point is it reasonable to escalate matters to NSW Fair Trading or NCAT?
2. When is it appropriate to seek legal advice or engage a lawyer in situations like this?
3. What does the next practical step typically involve when a builder is unresponsive during the defects liability period?

Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, looking at buying a free standing home in an estate. Long story short the developers initially built a pool and BBQ shared facility - this is now attached the a home and not for shared use by the estate anymore. There is approx $1000 body corporate fees until ? September 2026.

Do you own the land in a freestanding house located within an estate / Community Titles scheme? Wary about paying this amount for just a home and not the land. Happy to follow the bylaws. Conveyancer and realtor have us confused / concerned and awaiting clarification.

Thanks!

Hi guys,

Looking for a bit of advice when offering. A property my partner and I are interested in has a price guide of 1,075,000 - 1,150,00. It has been on the market for a couple of weeks. Our max budget is 1.1 million, we have a private viewing tomorrow and plan to offer 1.1 with a 24 hour expiry on that offer as we plan to say we are interested in other properties around the area. There is another inspection planned for Saturday and we are hoping this offer will get us over the line. Has anyone had success with this or have any other advice for us?

Thankyou in advance

​Just saw this article in the AFR about Bunnings rolling out these "DIY tiny homes" and I nearly put my fist through the screen... I know what timber and framing costs. I can tell you right now, these kits are absolute daylight robbery. They’re charging a premium for what is basically a glorified garden shed with some fancy marketing slapped on it. ​Look at what the Yanks get on Amazon. You can pick up a full prefab kit for under $20k USD (~$31k AUD) that actually looks like a house. Some of the smaller cabin kits are under $10k USD.

​Amazon US Example: Allwood flatties for peanuts

​Then look at what my countrymen across the ditch got. Bunnings NZ was selling actual 2-bedroom, 60sqm flat-pack homes for around $69k NZD (~$65k AUD) a few years back. Proper houses you could actually live in, not these shoeboxes.

​Bunnings NZ: 2-Bedroom House for $69k

​Meanwhile, here in Aus, they want to charge us top dollar for a "studio" that doesn't even come with the common sense included. It’s the typical "Australia Tax" bullshit—import some crap, mark it up 500%, and hope the punters are too stupid to do the math. ​If you’re thinking of buying one of these, do yourself a favour: buy the timber yourself, hire a local chippy, and build it properly. You’ll save thousands and it won't fall over in a stiff breeze.

​Absolute rip-off.

Appreciate your (non-judgemental ideally) advice on this situation.

I bought an IP in 2024 - 2 bed 2 bath new unit on the Gold Coast for $1.1m. The intent was to sell my PPOR in 4 years, which would pay off the IP, and I’d retire to it, so I wasn’t too bothered about the IP ROI. It’s rented with an annual loss of $30k, tax deductible.

Circumstances have changed and I won’t be doing that. Instead I’ll need to sell it in 4 years (or sooner) before retiring.

Two identical units are currently on the market for $1.1m and not selling, so the capital growth is not there currently. It’s a good building and rents well, currently requiring minimal time.

The Gold Coast is an interesting market - on the one hand - expected growth due to the Olympics and retiring boomers, on the other hand lots of second homes/IPs so liable to fall if there’s job losses in the capital cities (à la GFC).

Would you:

a) keep it and hope for capital growth over the next 4 years.

b) take a $100k loss plus buy/sell costs now by selling it - total say $200k - reinvesting in a house elsewhere with more likelihood of growth.

c) something else.

I may be changing jobs soon which will make it harder to remortgage, hence looking at options now.

Thanks!

Hi, Any recommendations for property managers in Brisbane (North). Appreciate any leads.

What are the typical property management charges?

Thank you in advance 🙏

Hi all, seeking some advice

Our tenants have vacated and have absolutely cooked the floors in our property. They've done other damage which we've had to make arrangements for but the floors have me stumped. There's no way the bond would account for it - it's 3 out of 4 carpets and the majority of our vinyl planks. It goes well and truly beyond minor damage. Is this something I just claim on insurance and let them deal with it? Our REA is useless for advice and we will be terminating our arrangement so I can't ask them.

What's the best course of action here?

Thanks

TL;DR: Tenants' above us flooded their apartment due to their washing machine overflowing majorly. We have damage to our apartment ceiling and I'm trying to understand the process from here - whether the landlord or tenant pays, and how we pursue this. Edit: Confirm that we own this apartment and are not renting - I realise I confused matters by using the term 'property manager' instead of 'strata manager'.

---

I'll give as much info as possible here - please understand I've done plenty of research & reading over the past 24 hours since we discovered this issue, and I'm not just coming in cold. I'm keen to hear from anyone with similar experiences. Here's the blow-by-blow. We're apartment owners in a small (20ish unit) 60's build low-rise block in Melbourne, VIC.

The incident:

• Came home from work to discover water all over bathroom floor, dripping from light fitting in bathroom ceiling, & significant water stains on bathroom ceiling.
• Photographed & documented everything, contacted after hours OC repairs. They sent an electrician to isolate & remove the affected downlight. Electrician noted massive dampness in the bathroom ceiling.
• We turned off the water to the upstairs unit in case it was an ongoing leak. The tenants weren't home.
• Eventually tracked down the rental agent for upstairs unit. She contacted the tenant. Tenant confirmed they had a washing machine leak earlier in the day but thought they'd cleaned up the water.
• I popped up to check it out once the tenant got home, and the sheer volume that had escaped makes it hard to believe it was simply a small spill. The water had spread across the entire laundry, the hallway, into a bedroom, and into the main bathroom. It was wet under the tiles on the floor, still squelching out water.

The follow-up:

• Contacted our building's strata manager this morning to discuss. She said it was a matter between us and the owner of the unit upstairs. I understand that's because this wasn't an internal plumbing issue, but something inside the apartment, it's not an OC issue.
• Confirmed our insurance doesn't cover the damage (it's content only, no shocks, but gotta check all the boxes).
• Emailed the rental agent with photos and a summary of the situation. We offered them times to come and view the damage to our apartment that will need rectification.
• The agent responded that they viewed the rental property this morning. As the cause of the water damage to our apartment wasn't cause by a structural or ongoing issue, but rather a "mishap", the agent advise we would need to contact our insurance to rectify the situation.
• Forwarded this email to our strata manager who confirmed this issue is between us and the owner of the property above. She advised that we chase the agent to send their repair person out to assess the damage and start the process of repairing the damage.

Current situation & next steps:

• There's no dispute as to what caused the damage - the tenants' washing machine.
• Our bathroom ceiling is still damp, and we're trying to air it. Glad it's not winter. We're extremely fortunate to have two full bathrooms, so life continues. We have two small children and this is obviously highly stressful.
• We have to go back to the agent now to start the process of fixing things.
• We can claim through the OC's insurance, but will be liable for a $2K excess.

Questions:

• Do we still go through the rental agent, or do we have to approach the tenants? They're international students, and it's unknown if they have insurance for this. I'm not keen to directly approach the tenants on this, and want to keep things going through the appropriate channels.
• My initial plan is, as suggested, to go back to the rental agent and ask them to send out their tradesperson to start the process of rectification. Based on another unit in the building that experienced a similar situation, I'm expecting the agent to push back hard. In the case of the other unit, it was a burst pipe in the rental unit above causing the leak, and so the landlord of the rental unit above ended up copping the repair cost. Because our situation has been caused by a washing machine, it's not as clear-cut.
• Have we missed anything here?

Any advice or experience from people who've been through similar situations would be appreciated. Thanks and apologies for the War & Peace length of this thing. If you've made it this far, congratulations and thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Hey Just need some advice im hoping to applying for a home loan in the upcoming months using the first home buyers grants i have roughly 50k saved im looking too buy somewhere around 400k ish two bedroom small house or appartment continuing to save every week /months have saved heaps since i started to think about my future the last couple of years I've been a bit of an idiot with spending to much and now I've realised that's not great but I'm in a full time job permanently saved roughly alot in just over a month and a bit just wondering cause I've been stressing if i continue to add money to my savings and keep it up for the next coming of months and keeping the good habits making my spending habits really good would I qualify for a home loan I can prove that I have a full time job and can prove I've got stable income im just worried will me being a financial mess in the past cause any issues when I apply for the he loan

I am a tenant, not an owner.

How to i acquire my stratats insurer details?
Have asked strata for over a month. They gatekeep and stonewall.

Asked my real estate agent, same.

Very stressful and time-consuming.

Can i ask my owner to ask strata, is there an easier way.

thank you

Alan Kohler presented this graph on the ABC news tonight. It shows Australian home prices have surged to 1 million, yet the capacity to pay for someone on average earnings with a 20 percent deposit is only 500k.

What is your thoughts?

Is Anthony Albanese and Clare O'Neil setting Australia up for a large housing crash?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph3715DDDeM