2026 compliance guide for real estate professionals • Reviewed September 10, 2026
Section 56 of Tasmania's Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016 prohibits false or misleading representations about a property's sale or letting. The Property Agents Board of Tasmania regulates property agents; the ACL also applies.
State licensing and ACL remedies depend on the contravention. Qualifying ACL penalty provisions can carry the current national maximums, but no automatic virtual-staging penalty applies.
Under the Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016, agents must avoid conduct likely to mislead. A clear staging label can help explain an image, but does not prove that the overall representation complies.
Tasmania's property market includes many interstate buyers who may purchase remotely. For these buyers, accurate virtual staging with clear disclosure is especially important—they're relying heavily on online materials to make decisions.
Don't just provide unstaged photos on request—consider including them proactively in your online listings. A 'See Original Photos' option helps buyers compare the current condition with the staged version.
Tasmania has significant rural and lifestyle property stock. When staging these properties, be careful not to misrepresent outdoor areas, land condition, or outbuilding interiors. Rural buyers often make significant financial decisions based on land and structural condition.
Describe the edits accurately and replace every bracketed placeholder. Check the required wording, image placement, MLS fields, and original-photo access described above. Use custom image labels only where permitted. A template does not authorise an otherwise prohibited or misleading alteration.
“The identified images have been digitally altered with virtual furniture and décor. These items are not physically present. View the corresponding original, unaltered photographs at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“Digitally altered / virtually staged image. The furniture and décor shown were digitally added and are not physically present. View the original, unaltered image: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“This photograph has been digitally altered with virtual furniture and décor. These items are not physically present. Compare the clearly identified original, unaltered image shown alongside it or at: [PUBLIC ORIGINAL-IMAGE LINK].”
“DIGITALLY ALTERED / VIRTUALLY STAGED – Original image: [PUBLIC URL OR QR CODE]”
Guide reviewed September 10, 2026. Links below include legislation, regulator guidance, and board or MLS materials. Their scope differs: a board rule is not statewide law, and a regulator homepage is not proof that no other rules exist. This guide does not verify every local MLS policy. Confirm the current requirements before publishing.
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