Real estate, business and conveyancing agents

Introduction

You need a licence to run a real estate business or work as a conveyancing agent in the Northern Territory.

This section has information for individuals and organisations that want to apply or renew an agent licence.

You can also read about licence fees.

Training for real estate and business agents

If you want to become a real estate agent or business agent in the Northern Territory (NT), you need to do a training course.

Training can only be delivered by a registered training organisation (RTO).

Training

To be a qualified real estate agent or business agent, you must complete the following:

CPP51122 Diploma of Property (Agency Management)
CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice or
- have an NT unrestricted registration as an agent's representative.

Read below for more information.

Complete the units of the diploma

You will need to complete the following units of the Diploma of Property (Agency Management):

manage compliance in the property industry (CPPREP5001)
establish and monitor property industry trust account management practices (CPPREP5002)
manage ethical practice in the property industry (CPPREP5003)
manage a safe workplace in the property industry (CPPREP5004)
manage teams in the property industry (CPPREP5005)
manage operational finances in the property industry (CPPREP5006)
develop a strategic business plan in the property industry (CPPREP5007)
develop a marketing and service strategy in real estate (CPPREP5009)
manage customer service activities in the property Industry (CPPREP5010)
manage business operational plans (BSBLDR602)
provide leadership across the organisation (BSBOPS502)
contribute to the development of employee and industrial relation strategies (BSBHRM612).

If you don't have an NT unrestricted registration, you will need to complete the following units of the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice:

prepare for professional practice in real estate (CPPREP4001)
access and interpret ethical practice in real estate (CPPREP4002)
access and interpret legislation in real estate (CPPREP4003)
establish marketing and communication profiles in real estate (CPPREP4004)
prepare to work with real estate trust accounts (CPPREP4005)
appraise residential property for sale or lease (CPPREP4101)
market property (CPPREP4102)
establish vendor relationships (CPPREP4103)
establish buyer relationships (CPPREP4104)
sell property (CPPREP4105)
establish landlord relationships (CPPREP4121)
manage tenant relationships (CPPREP4122)
manage tenancy (CPPREP4123)
end tenancy (CPPREP4124)
transact in trust accounts (CPPREP4125)
complete commercial property sale (CPPREP4203)
establish commercial property lease (CPPREP4204)
present at hearings in real estate (CPPREP4503).

If you already have a diploma

If you have statements of attainment for the old CPP51119 Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management), you can get this recognised.

You must have completed all of the following units:

Manage compliance in the property industry (CPPREP5001)
Establish and monitor property industry trust account management practices (CPPREP5002)
Manage ethical practice in the property industry (CPPREP5003)
Manage a safe workplace in the property industry (CPPREP5004)
Manage teams in the property industry (CPPREP5005)
Manage operational finances in the property industry (CPPREP5006)
Develop a strategic business plan in the property industry (CPPREP5007)
Develop a marketing and service strategy in real estate (CPPREP5009)
Manage customer service activities in the property industry (CPPREP5010)
Manage employee relations (BSBHRM604)
Manage operational plan (BSBMGT517)
Provide leadership across the organisation (BSBMGT605)

Restricted licence in sales or property management

You can have a real estate agent or business agent licence restricted to the sales or property management functions.

To get a restricted licence, you must have completed the following:

the same units of competency that make up the CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management)
the units of competency relevant to the function within the CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice or
- have an NT restricted registration as an agent’s representative in sales or property management.

Read below for more information.

Units of the diploma

You must have completed the same units of competency that make up the CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management):

manage compliance in the property industry (CPPREP5001)
establish and monitor property industry trust account management practices (CPPREP5002)
manage ethical practice in the property industry (CPPREP5003)
manage a safe workplace in the property industry (CPPREP5004)
manage teams in the property industry (CPPREP5005)
manage operational finances in the property industry (CPPREP5006)
develop a strategic business plan in the property industry (CPPREP5007)
any five electives.

Read below for more information.

Units of the certificate: sales functions

If you want to restrict your licence for sales functions, you must have completed the following units:

prepare for professional practice in real estate (CPPREP4001)
access and interpret ethical practice in real estate (CPPREP4002)
access and interpret legislation in real estate (CPPREP4003)
establish marketing and communication profiles in real estate (CPPREP4004)
prepare to work with real estate trust accounts (CPPREP4005)
appraise residential property for sale or lease (CPPREP4101)
market property (CPPREP4102)
establish vendor relationships (CPPREP4103)
establish buyer relationships (CPPREP4104)
sell property (CPPREP4105)
complete commercial property sale (CPPREP4203)

Units of the certificate: property management functions

If you want to restrict your licences for property management function, you must have completed the following units:

prepare for professional practice in real estate (CPPREP4001)
access and interpret ethical practice in real estate (CPPREP4002)
access and interpret legislation in real estate (CPPREP4003)
establish marketing and communication profiles in real estate (CPPREP4004)
prepare to work with real estate trust accounts (CPPREP4005)
appraise residential property for sale or lease (CPPREP4101)
market property (CPPREP4102)
establish landlord relationships (CPPREP4121)
manage tenant relationships (CPPREP4122)
manage tenancy (CPPREP4123)
end tenancy (CPPREP4124)
transact in trust accounts (CPPREP4125)
establish commercial property lease (CPPREP4204)
present at hearings in real estate (CPPREP4503).

You can use a unit of equivalent value to replace any of the above.

To find out more, go to the Australian Government's training website.

Renewals and re-applications for previous licence holders

You can reapply for the same category of licence with no evidence of training.

To be eligible, you must have had one of the following NT licences in the last three years:

real estate agent
business agent
both real estate and business agent
restricted real estate agent (sales)
restricted business agent (sales)
restricted both real estate and business agent (sales)
restricted real estate agent (property management)
restricted business agent (property management)
restricted both real estate and business agent (property management).

Real estate and business training providers

You can complete your real estate and business training through one of the following RTOs.

The Australian Real Estate Training College
trainnt@realestatetraining.com.au
Phone: 02 9987 2322
www.realestatetraining.com.au

Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory (REINT)
training@reint.com.au
Phone: 08 8981 8905
www.reint.com.au

Connect Skills Institute
admin@connectskillsinstitute.edu.au
Phone: 1300 206 632
https://connectskillsinstitute.edu.au/

RTOs can request to have their details added or updated.

Contact

For more information, contact Occupational and Industry Licensing by emailing propertyagents.licensing@nt.gov.au or call 1800 193 111.

Eligibility for conveyancing agents

To be eligible for a conveyancing agent licence, you must:

have completed the BSB60220 Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing, or
be eligible under mutual recognition, or
be assessed as having relevant experience.

Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing

The Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing (BSB60220I) is the course approved by the Agents Licensing Board as the required competency-based training under the Agents Licensing Act 1979.

It replaces the previously approved BSB61115 Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing, which is no longer current.

To be eligible, you must have completed the training with a registered training organisation (RTO).

See a list of the RTOs for this course on the Australian Government Training website.

Additional training for special endorsements

There are additional training requirements if you are seeking to have special endorsements applied to your licence.

Read about these special endorsements.

Relevant experience

If you do not hold the BSB60220 qualification, you may still apply to have your experience assessed by the Agents Licensing Board.

The Board may grant a licence if they are satisfied that you are otherwise competent by reason of your qualifications and experience.

Read the Board policy of the assessment of competency to grant a conveyancing agent's licence PDF (53.4 KB).

Reapplying after recent licence

If you previously held a conveyancing agent licence in the Northern Territory, you can reapply for up to three years after the expiry of the previous licence, without needing to demonstrate qualifications or experience in line with the above.

Contact

For more information, contact Occupational and Industry Licensing:

email propertyagents.licensing@nt.gov.au
call 1800 193 111.

Special endorsements for conveyancing agents

If you are a licensed conveyancing agent in the Northern Territory, you can apply to have one or more special endorsements added to your licence.

These endorsements allow you to provide additional services beyond standard conveyancing transactions.

Activities under special endorsements

Special endorsements authorise a conveyancing agent to also draw, prepare and arrange the execution of:

leases
mortgages
encumbrances
restrictive covenants
contracts for the sale of businesses.

You will need a separate endorsement for each activity.

How to get special endorsements

There are two ways to get special endorsements, either through:

completing the Board-approved training, or
approved relevant experience.

Approved training course

You must have completed specific elective units from the the BSB60220 Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing. Each endorsement has its own training requirements.

These elective units must have been completed through a registered training organisation (RTO).

See a list of the RTOs for this course on the Australian Government Training website.

If you are applying for multiple endorsements, you must have completed all relevant electives associated with each endorsement.

Units required for each endorsement

You can find more information about units under BSB60220 on the Australian Government’s training website.

Special endorsement	Elective units required to be eligible for endorsement
(a) Leases - drawing, preparing and arranging the execution of leases;	BSBLEG421 Apply understanding of the Australian legal system BSBLEG528 Apply legal principles in property law matters FNSACC413 Make decisions in a legal context
(b) Mortgages - drawing, preparing and arranging the execution of mortgages;	BSBLEG523 Apply legal principles in tort law matters BSBLEG528 Apply legal principles in property law matters BSBLEG529 Apply legal principles in corporation law matters FNSINC401 Apply principles of professional practice to work in the financial services industry
(c) Encumbrances - drawing, preparing and arranging the execution of encumbrances;	BSBLEG421 Apply understanding of the Australian legal system BSBLEG528 Apply legal principles in property law matters
(d) Covenants - drawing, preparing and arranging the execution of restrictive covenants;	BSBLEG421 Apply understanding of the Australian legal system BSBLEG528 Apply legal principles in property law matters FNSACC413 Make decisions in a legal context
(e) Contracts - drawing, preparing and arranging the execution of contracts for the sale of businesses.	BSBLEG528 Apply legal principles in property law matters BSBLEG529 Apply legal principles in corporation law matters FNSACC413 Make decisions in a legal context BSBLEG523 Apply legal principles in tort law matters

Experience-based assessment

If you have not completed the required training, you can still apply to have your experience assessed. The Board may approve a special endorsement if you can show that:

you have provided the relevant service or services under the supervision of a licensed conveyancer or legal practitioner for at least 12 months
the experience occurred within the last 3 years
the supervising conveyancer or legal practitioner confirms the following in a statutory declaration:
- the duration and nature of the supervised work
- that the applicant has demonstrated the ability to competently undertake the service; and
- that the applicant has, in the opinion of the supervising agent, the skills and experience necessary to perform the relevant service independently.

The Board will assess your application based on the information you provide.

You may be contacted if further information is required.

How to get special endorsements applied to your licence

To apply, email the following to propertyagents.licensing@nt.gov.au:

a completed application form DOCX (69.9 KB)
either a :
- copy of your statement of attainment, or
- statutory declaration from your supervising conveyancer or legal practitioner, if applying via experience.

Apply or renew real estate, business, conveyancing licence

You need a licence to carry on business as a real estate, business or conveyancing agent in the Northern Territory (NT).

This is required under the Agents Licensing Act 1979.

You can apply for a licence period of one, 3 or 5 years.

A licence will expire on the anniversary of the date it was granted.

Before you apply

Before you apply, you must:

get a police history check
be 18 years old or above
have completed a course of competency-based training for:
- real estate and business agents
- conveyancing agents
have prescribed qualifications and experience.

How to apply

You can apply or renew online or by mail, email, fax, or in person.

You will need to pay a fee.

Apply

Online

To apply and pay for your licence online, go to Licensing Online.

By mail, email, fax, or in person

To apply by mail, email, fax, or in person, follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application that applies to you:

You can also get these applications at a Territory Business Centre.

Step 2. Pay the fee and submit the application at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

Renew

Online

To renew and pay your renewal online, go to Licensing Online.

By mail, email, fax, or in person

To renew by mail, email, fax, or in person, follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application that applies to you:

You can also get these applications at a Territory Business Centre.

Step 2. Pay the fee and submit the application at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

Interstate or New Zealand licence holders

If you have a licence in another state/territory or in New Zealand, you can apply for mutual recognition.

To apply for mutual recognition, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application for mutual recognition.

Application for mutual recognition PDF (177.3 KB)
Application for mutual recognition DOCX (71.8 KB)

Step 2. Pay the fee and submit the application at your nearest Territory Business Centre.

After you apply

Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the decision.

If your application is rejected, you can request a copy of the reasons.

If you're successful, you must open and maintain a trust account as required under the Act.

Contact

For more information, contact your local Territory Business Centre.

Property agent licence fees

You need to pay a fee to apply or renew a real estate, business or conveyancing agent licence in the Northern Territory.

All fees are free from GST.

Real estate agent licence

Item	Fee
1 year	$897
3 years	$2,422
5 years	$4,038
Restricted - 1 year	$899
Restricted - 3 years	$2,427
Restricted - 5 years	$4,045

Business agent licence

Item	Fee
1 year	$897
3 years	$2,422
5 years	$4,038
Restricted - 1 year	$899
Restricted - 3 years	$2,427
Restricted - 5 years	$4,045

Real estate and business agent licence

Item	Fee
1 year	$1,036
3 years	$2,798
5 years	$4,664

Conveyancing agent licence

Item	Fee
1 year	$1,036
3 years	$2,798
5 years	$4,664

Opening and maintaining a trust account

If you are a licensed agent, you must hold all money you receive in a trust account.

This includes sales deposits, rent and security deposits (also known as bonds).

Under the Agents Licensing Act 1979 and the Agents Licensing Regulations 1979, this applies to you if you have a:

real estate
business or
conveyancing licence.

If you have just been granted one of these licences, you must open a trust account within 7 days.

Find out what the account must include and how you must manage it below.

If you’re employed by another agent or company

You are exempt from opening and maintaining an account if:

you’re employed by another licensed agent e.g. a real estate company and
monies received are held in an account by them.

This exemption is provided under section 5A of the Act and formalised by the following polices.

Exemption from requirements relating to trust obligations (conveyancers) PDF (43.5 KB)
Exemption from requirements relating to trust obligations (real estate and business agents) PDF (78.8 KB)

Setting up an account

You must open an account in the NT at one of the following approved institutions:

Macquarie Bank
Commonwealth Bank
Bendigo Bank
ANZ Bank
Westpac Bank
National Australia Bank
BankSA.

It must have a BSB that reflects this and also have a title that includes:

your name or your business name (if you do business under a registered business name)
the words ‘trust account’ and
‘security deposits’ - if it only holds security deposits (as defined in section 63 of the Business Tenancies (Fair Dealings) Act 2003 and section 4 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1999) and any interest on them.

If you meet these requirements, you can open and hold multiple accounts.

When you open an account

You must notify the department within 7 days of opening an account.

If you plan to have multiple, you must do this for each one.

To notify the department, fill in the notification form and email it to propertyagents.licensing@nt.gov.au.

Notification of opening a statutory trust account PDF (171.1 KB)
Notification of opening a statutory trust account DOCX (85.9 KB)

Failure to do so is an offence under the Agents Licensing Act 1979 and may result in penalties or disciplinary action.

Auditing your account

Under the Agents Licensing Act 1979, your trust account must be audited every year.

If you stop trading as an agent

You must have your account audited within 2 months of stopping your business as a licensed agent.

This final audit must cover the period:

since your last audit or
from the date you commenced trading (if no previous audit was conducted).

Under regulation 14(5), exceptions may apply if another agent has taken over your business and has the relevant period in their audit.

Contact

For more information or to submit an audit report, email Board.Services@nt.gov.au or call 1800 193 111.

Auditing your trust account

If you have a real estate, business or conveyancing licence, you must open and maintain a trust account.

This means you must audit your trust account every year unless you have an exemption.

When auditing your account, you must follow the below obligations to comply with:

part V of the Agents Licensing Act 1979
part III of the Agents Licensing Regulations 1979.

Failure to comply is an offence under the Act and may lead to penalties.

The information below is a general overview. You should be familiar with the full legislative requirements outlined in the Act and Regulations.

Exemptions

The following exemptions apply.

If you’re employed by another agent or company

You are exempt from auditing your account if:

you’re employed by another licensed agent e.g. a real estate company and
monies received are held in an account by them.

This exemption is provided under section 5A of the Act and formalised by the following polices.

Exemption from requirements relating to trust obligations (conveyancers) PDF (43.5 KB)
Exemption from requirements relating to trust obligations (real estate and business agents) PDF (78.8 KB)

If you didn't receive or hold any monies

If you didn't receive or hold any monies during a prescribed period, you are exempt from auditing your account that year.

Instead, you must submit a statutory declaration to the board within 2 months after the prescribed period.

For most agents, this means you must submit a statutory declaration by 30 August.

To submit a statutory declaration, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the relevant statutory declaration.

Company licensee statutory declaration PDF (66.8 KB)
Company licensee statutory declaration DOCX (19.2 KB)

Individual licensee statutory declaration PDF (125.6 KB)
Individual licensee statutory declaration DOCX (19.0 KB)

You must declare that no trust money was received or held during a prescribed period (regulation 16).

Declarations that are not made using the approved form will not be accepted.

Read the policy on requirement to use approved form for declaration under regulation 16 PDF (847.6 KB).

Step 2. Submit your statutory declaration by email to board.services@nt.gov.au.

Who must audit your account

Your account must be audited by a qualified auditor who:

is a registered company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
is not your employee, business partner or a close relative
is not involved in the keeping or custody of your accounting records
is not a licensed agent or business manager of your business
meets the other requirements set out in section 60 of the Act.

Engaging an unqualified or conflicted auditor is an offence and may attract a penalty.

When your account must be audited

Every year, a qualified auditor must audit your account within 3 months after the prescribed period.

For most agents, the prescribed period is 1 July to 30 June the following year (section 58).

This means you must have your account audited by 30 September.

If you commence trading within 3 months before 30 June

Your first audit will not be due till 30 September the following year.

This means it will cover a longer period, starting from the date you began trading up to 30 June the following year (regulation 13).

This ensures you are not subject to an immediate audit obligation for a short period.

What the auditor must do

Once the audit is complete, the auditor must:

prepare a report on whether you have maintained your records in line with section 62(2) of the Act and
provide a copy of the report to you and the board by email (section 62(1)).

The audit report covering form below must also be submitted with the report, or it will not be accepted.

Audit report covering form PDF (221.3 KB)
Audit report covering form DOCX (88.5 KB)

See policy on requirement to use audit report covering form PDF (831.3 KB).

Failure by the auditor to comply with reporting requirements is an offence under sections 62 and 63 of the Act.

If the auditor identifies serious issues

The auditor must submit a special report to the board immediately (section 63).

Serious issues may include missing funds, non-compliance, or inadequate or un-auditable records.

If you stop trading as an agent

You must have your account audited within 2 months of stopping your business as a licensed agent.

This final audit must cover the period:

since your last audit or
from the date you commenced trading (if no previous audit was conducted).

Under regulation 14(5), exceptions may apply if another agent has taken over your business and has the relevant period in their audit.

Contact

For more information or to submit an audit report, email Board.Services@nt.gov.au or call 1800 193 111.