Accuracy Is Not Optional
Across both Australia and New Zealand, real estate agents and agencies are legally and ethically required to ensure all property listings are accurate. This responsibility covers every detail—including which agent was involved in a sale or listing.
Agents must not:
Claim credit for a sale or listing they were not directly involved in.
Attribute a property to an agent who did not represent it.
Misrepresent a property’s sale history or their role in a transaction.
Legal Responsibilities
Australia: Misleading or deceptive conduct breaches the Australian Consumer Law and can result in significant penalties for both agents and agencies.
New Zealand: Under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, misrepresentation may lead to fines, disciplinary action, or even suspension/cancellation of a licence by the Real Estate Authority (REA).
Ethical Standards
Both countries’ industry codes make it clear:
Australia: The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) Code of Conduct demands honesty, integrity, and transparency. Agents must not claim to have sold a property if they were not involved in the sale.
New Zealand: The REA Code of Professional Conduct and Client Care requires agents to avoid misleading or false claims. For example, Rule 6.4 states: “A licensee must not mislead a customer or client, nor provide false or misleading information, whether directly or by omission.”
What To Do If You Spot False Information
If you believe a listing on our website is incorrect or misleading:
Contact the agency directly to raise your concern.
If unresolved:
In Australia, report it to your local Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs office.
In New Zealand, lodge a complaint with the Real Estate Authority (REA) via rea.govt.nz.
When reporting, provide:
The property address
The misleading information in question
Any supporting evidence (e.g., screenshots, correspondence)
Our Position
RateMyAgent, nor Renowned are regulatory bodies, therefore do not have the authority to independently monitor or verify listing information. Altering listing data without the listing holder’s consent would also be data tampering if we were to make any changes.
The responsibility for accuracy lies with licensed agents, failing this, appropriate real estate bodies and consumer protection agencies have the responsibility and the power to investigate and enforce standards and regulations.
If the listing data belongs to your own agency, you can amend your listings using a direct data feed with your CRM.
Please contact your CRM provider directly if you need help sending your listing data to RateMyAgent.