2026 compliance guide for real estate professionals • Reviewed September 10, 2026
South Australia is regulated by Consumer and Business Services (CBS) under the Land Agents Act 1994. Virtual staging must not mislead buyers about property condition.
ACL penalties apply. CBS can take action for misleading conduct including fines and license sanctions.
Identify digital staging in the images and listing copy. Do not rely on the Form 1 vendor statement to correct a misleading advertisement; no prescribed virtual-staging entry in Form 1 was identified.
As a transparency practice, keep accurate staging disclosures with images on portals, your agency website, social media, print materials and window displays. Assess each advertisement as consumers will see it.
Adelaide has significant heritage housing stock. When staging character homes, be especially careful not to alter period features, remove heritage elements, or misrepresent the style of original fixtures. Buyers of character homes are often highly attuned to authenticity.
When buyers request original photographs, provide them quickly. Publishing the current-condition image alongside the staged version makes that comparison easier from the outset.
Describe the edits accurately and replace every bracketed placeholder. Check the required wording, image placement, MLS fields, and original-photo access described above. Use custom image labels only where permitted. A template does not authorise an otherwise prohibited or misleading alteration.
“The identified images have been digitally altered with virtual furniture and décor. These items are not physically present. View the corresponding original, unaltered photographs at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“Digitally altered / virtually staged image. The furniture and décor shown were digitally added and are not physically present. View the original, unaltered image: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“This photograph has been digitally altered with virtual furniture and décor. These items are not physically present. Compare the clearly identified original, unaltered image shown alongside it or at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“DIGITALLY ALTERED / VIRTUALLY STAGED – Original image: [PUBLIC URL OR QR CODE]”
Guide reviewed September 10, 2026. Links below include legislation, regulator guidance, and board or MLS materials. Their scope differs: a board rule is not statewide law, and a regulator homepage is not proof that no other rules exist. This guide does not verify every local MLS policy. Confirm the current requirements before publishing.
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