Victoria: auction reserves must be disclosed before sales from 16 October
- Published
- Effective
- 1 October 2026; auction and fixed-date transition from 16 October
What changed
For Victorian residential auctions and fixed-date sales run by estate agents from 16 October 2026, the reserve must be public at least seven days beforehand—even for existing listings. A 16 October sale needed disclosure by 9 October. Raising or lowering the reserve restarts the seven days.
The Property Price Statement replaces the Statement of Information: from 1 October for other residential sales, and from 16 October for auctions and fixed-date sales. Sold-price disclosure also applies to sales becoming unconditional from 1 October, including earlier contracts, subject to exceptions.
Who it affects
Buyers, sellers and estate agents in residential auctions and sales with a deadline for offers. The reserve rule does not cover ordinary private sales without a fixed date, owner-direct sales or commercial property.
Check the reserve and updated statement before bidding. A disclosed reserve is not a lender valuation or a guaranteed final price.
Scope & transition details
- The auction and fixed-date transition depends on the sale date, including existing listings. Sales on 15 October remain under the transitional rules; sales from 16 October use the new reserve and Property Price Statement rules.
- Ordinary pre-auction offers are private sales without a seven-day waiting period. Off-market sales without public advertising are exempt from reserve advertising, but still have Property Price Statement and sold-price duties.
- The sold price must be added to the Property Price Statement within seven days of the sale becoming unconditional and remain online for at least 18 months.
- The sold-price transition exception requires a written agency appointment made before 1 October containing a nondisclosure term. Violence-related exemptions and pending exemption applications can also prevent disclosure.
Source updates: Consumer Affairs Victoria guidance, 1 October 2026; industry Q&A, 4 October 2026.