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Consumer Affairs Victoria’s underquoting taskforce was in full force last weekend in the Melbourne suburb of Doncaster to crack down on underquoting and agent malpractice in the area.
On Saturday, 15 March 2025, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Nick Staikos, joined more than 20 inspectors who visited more than 50 auctions across Doncaster and the surrounding suburbs to address complaints about agent misconduct.
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) said that underquoting remains a significant concern faced by home buyers and is the top real estate sales issue that people contact the regulator about.
“Buying a house is already stressful enough, without the worry of also having your dreams dashed at the first hurdle by illegal underquoting,” Staikos said.
“That’s why our underquoting taskforce is hitting the pavement – to continue to crack down on this dodgy behaviour, making buying a home fairer and easier for all Victorians,” he said.
Taskforce officers on the ground at Doncaster auctions over the weekend spoke with agents and buyers alike to ensure compliance with auction and sales rules, and monitor for potential underquoting.
Following the state’s decision last year to make its underquoting taskforce permanent, the organisation has monitored more than 2,300 sales campaigns and attended 226 auctions.
The taskforce has also issued over 220 official warnings and over 160 fines totalling $1.8 million to agents who breached their professional obligations.
Numerous court proceedings for serious breaches have also been launched, and the taskforce is currently investigating other cases.
Among the over 3,740 complaints received by Consumer Affairs Victoria since September 2022, more than 30 per cent of reports in 2024 were made by other real estate agents, indicating that agents are unwilling to tolerate unfair and unlawful practices in their industry.
Underquoting can breach the ban on misleading and deceptive conduct and false representations outlined under Australian Consumer Law, with maximum penalties of $2.5 million for individuals and $50 million for companies applying.
The state’s Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024, which passed last week, also increased the maximum penalty for underquoting and related breaches to $47,422.
The bill also introduced increased training, licensing and registration requirements for real estate industry professionals, requiring agents and property managers to undergo ongoing professional development.
“Our new laws will further protect Victorians – with increased fines for underquoting offences and mandatory training for real estate agents and property managers,” Staikos concluded.
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