Compliance guide for real estate professionals
Victoria follows Australian Consumer Law with oversight from Consumer Affairs Victoria. The Estate Agents Act 1980 requires honest and accurate property representations.
State and ACL remedies depend on the contravention. For qualifying ACL penalty provisions, current maximums can reach A$100 million for corporations and A$2.5 million for individuals; these are not automatic virtual-staging fines.
As a recommended documentation practice, consider noting virtual staging in the Statement of Information or associated marketing records where appropriate. This is not a prescribed virtual-staging field or substitute for ensuring the photographs themselves are not misleading.
One common compliance pitfall is using oversized or undersized furniture that misrepresents room dimensions. Ensure staged furniture is true-to-scale—a king bed in a room that can only fit a double creates a false impression that could constitute misleading conduct.
Maintain high-quality original photographs and include them in your marketing materials or make them easily accessible. Consumer Affairs Victoria has emphasized transparency, and providing unstaged photos demonstrates good faith compliance.
Virtual staging must not hide issues like water stains, cracks, damaged flooring, or other defects that would affect a buyer's decision. The Estate Agents Act requires honest representation of property condition—staging over problems is a breach.
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria periodically updates its practice guidelines. Subscribe to REIV communications and attend professional development sessions on compliant marketing practices.
“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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