REA Group Resolves ACCC Investigation

REA Group will remove certain restrictions from real estate agents' contracts after reaching an agreement with Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The ACCC opened an investigation into REA Group in 2025 concerning restrictive provisions in REA’s contracts with real estate agencies, which may breach section 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act, which prohibits anticompetitive agreements.

The investigation revealed that between 2013 and 2025, REA Group issued contracts to real estate agencies which contained potentially anti-competitive restrictions, namely a requirement for all properties to be listed on realestate.com.au, limiting the ability of REA’s rivals to compete.

Furthermore, since at least 2019, REA also entered into and gave effect to Sponsorship Agreements with real estate agencies requiring all properties for sale and rent to be listed on realestate.com.au at a higher listing tier. However, REA did not demand exclusivity, and agents continued to be able to list their properties on other marketplaces.

Despite not sharing the ACCC's concerns, REA will no longer enter into any new agreements with real estate agencies that contain a provision that requires a real estate agency list all or the majority of their properties on realestate.com.au.

Additionally, agents will no longer enter into any new agreements that require an agent to commit to list or upgrade the listing of all or the majority of its listed properties in respect of any future period at or to a particular listing tier, or restrict a choice for the real estate agency to downgrade at least 25% of the agency’s eligible sale listings to a lower listing tier.

REA has also agreed to re-engage with the ACCC, after 24 months, to jointly consider the progress of amendments made to its business practices in accordance with the undertaking, and
will establish and implement a competition law compliance program.

Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Chair at the ACCC, said:

"This is a win for competition in the real estate listing market and is expected to enable real estate agents to offer their vendor or landlord clients the listing service that best meets their property advertising needs.

"REA’s undertaking resolves this issue in a timely manner and addresses our concerns. We expect that ultimately the benefits will flow from the real estate agents to their clients, Australian property owners.

"Because of the ACCC’s intervention, REA will give greater flexibility to agents in how their vendor and landlord clients list their properties for sale and rent. We encourage vendors and landlords to discuss available listing options with their agents following REA’s undertaking, so they can consider the different listing options and fees on different portals to determine what best suits them.

"The ACCC will continue to prioritise investigating companies entering agreements with restrictive provisions which hinder competition, and will always take a strong stance on these issues."

In a filing submitted to the ASX, where REA Group is listed, the Group commented that, "The ACCC has not issued legal proceedings against REA, and there has been no finding of legal wrongdoing. REA's strategic direction remains to provide choice, value and flexibility to its customers and consumers."