Compliance guide for real estate professionals
Queensland has specific penalties under the Property Occupations Act 2014. The Office of Fair Trading enforces requirements for accurate property representations.
Property Occupations Act §212 sets a maximum of 540 penalty units for false or misleading property representations. At the Queensland penalty-unit value of A$172.70 from July 1, 2026, that equals A$93,258. Applicable ACL remedies may also apply.
No Queensland regulator rule prescribing both an image watermark and listing statement was located. Using both is prudent, but the controlling requirement is that the representation must not be false or misleading under §212 and the ACL.
Under the Property Occupations Act, any representation that could mislead a buyer about the property's true condition is prohibited. This means no removing walls, adding extensions, changing flooring, or altering gardens. Limit staging to moveable items only.
Original photographs should be recent (taken within the last 3 months) and reflect the property's actual condition. If seasonal changes significantly alter the property's appearance, consider updating both staged and unstaged photos.
Queensland properties often sell on lifestyle features like pools, patios, and gardens. Virtually staging outdoor furniture is fine, but don't add landscaping, remove neighboring properties from views, or alter the pool's appearance. Outdoor spaces are high-scrutiny areas.
Section 212 uses 540 penalty units rather than a fixed dollar amount. Quote the units and current official value so the page does not become stale when Queensland indexes penalty units.
“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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