Compliance guide for real estate professionals
The ACT is governed by the Agents Act 2003 which requires honest and fair conduct. Access Canberra oversees real estate agent compliance.
ACT licensing and ACL remedies depend on the contravention. Qualifying ACL penalty provisions can carry the current national maximums, but no automatic virtual-staging penalty applies.
The ACT's Agents Act 2003 imposes duties of honesty and fair dealing. Virtual staging falls under these provisions—any enhancement that could mislead a buyer about property condition or features breaches these duties. Clear, prominent disclosure is your safeguard.
Canberra has one of Australia's most educated populations, with many buyers working in government, policy, and legal fields. These buyers may be more attuned to disclosure requirements and more likely to scrutinize marketing materials. Thorough, professional disclosure enhances credibility.
Access Canberra handles complaints about real estate agent conduct. Keeping detailed records of original photos, staged versions, and all disclosure placements allows you to quickly demonstrate compliance if questions arise.
Canberra's property market includes significant apartment and townhouse stock. When staging these properties, ensure furniture scale accurately represents room sizes—compact living spaces are particularly sensitive to scale misrepresentation.
“Images have been virtually staged to illustrate the property's potential. Furniture and décor shown are digitally rendered and are not included with the property. Please refer to the original photographs for an accurate representation of the property's current condition.”
“This property features virtual staging to help you visualise its potential. The furniture shown is digitally added and not physically present. Book a viewing to see the actual space. #VirtualStaging #PropertyMarketing”
“This listing includes virtually staged photographs. Digital furniture and décor have been added to help you visualise the space. These items are not present in the physical property. Unstaged photographs are available upon request.”
“VIRTUALLY STAGED – Furniture shown is digitally rendered”
Official statutes, regulator guidance, and board or MLS materials were reviewed July 23, 2026. Board rules are not statewide law, and recommended practices are identified separately above. Verify current local requirements before publishing.
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