Do real estate agents need to publish a Privacy Policy that meets APP 1?
A computed answer from the Rules Mate applicability engine, with the exact condition, the outcome for every structure and size, and the primary source.
Short answer: Yes
Yes. This obligation applies to real estate agents whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: AML/CTF reporting entity — covered by the Privacy Act for AML/CTF activities (s 6E(1A)).
The obligation in brief
Publish a Privacy Policy that meets APP 1. 3 requires every APP entity to have a clearly-expressed and up-to-date Privacy Policy. 4 prescribes minimum content: kinds of personal information collected, how it is collected and held, purposes, disclosure (including overseas), complaint handling, and access/correction processes.
Trigger: Being an APP entity that handles personal information.
Why real estate agents get a different answer
Rules Mate runs its applicability engine across 9 business structures and 6 size bands for each of the 35 industries it maps. For 24 of those industries the answer for "Publish a Privacy Policy that meets APP 1" is it depends on structure or size. Real estate agents is one of the 11 where the answer is different: yes.
The deciding fact for real estate agents: AML/CTF reporting entity — covered by the Privacy Act for AML/CTF activities (s 6E(1A))
About the industry: Selling agents, buyer's agents, and property developers involved in real estate transactions. From 1 July 2026 captured by AML/CTF Tranche 2 reforms.
Compare a professional services (general) business with 6–19 employees structured as a Pty Ltd company: the obligation does not apply (Requires APP-entity status (turnover > $3M or a s 6D(4) carve-out)).
Answer by business structure and size
Each cell is the engine's outcome for a business in real estate agents with that structure and size, assuming it sells to consumers and small businesses and holds customer contact details. "Check" means the obligation turns on a fact the industry does not settle.
| Structure | No employees | 1–5 employees | 6–19 employees | 20–99 employees | 100–499 employees | 500+ employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partnership | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trust | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pty Ltd company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Not-for-profit (unregistered) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered charity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Super fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What the obligation requires
- When due
- Before collecting personal information. Reviewed regularly.
- Evidence to keep
- Published Privacy Policy with version history.
- Maximum penalty
- Civil penalties up to $50M for serious or repeated interferences with privacy
- Regulator
- OAIC
- Jurisdiction
- Commonwealth (national)
Other obligations where real estate agents differ from the norm
- Notifiable Data Breach (NDB) scheme: Yes
- APP 12 & APP 13 access and correction requests: Yes
- APP 7 direct marketing: consent, opt-out & when you can't message (2026): Yes
- Prepare for the proposed removal of the small business exemption: No
- Privacy Act Reform — information controllers regime (proposed Tranche 2): Yes
- Provide an APP 5 collection notice at or before collection: Yes
- All 26 answers for real estate agents
Other industries with a non-default answer
Questions
- Do real estate agents need to publish a Privacy Policy that meets APP 1?
- Yes. This obligation applies to real estate agents whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: AML/CTF reporting entity — covered by the Privacy Act for AML/CTF activities (s 6E(1A)).
- Is the answer the same for every industry?
- No. For 24 of the 35 industries Rules Mate maps, the answer is it depends on structure or size. Real estate agents is one of 11 industries with a different answer.
Related
Sources
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.