Complain about a real estate professional

If you have certain concerns about a real estate professional, you can apply for disciplinary action.

Your concerns must be based on one or more grounds in section 44(1) or 67(1) of the Agents Licensing Act 1979.

A real estate professional includes a real estate, conveyancing or business agent or an agent's representative.

Before applying, you should try to resolve matters directly with the relevant agent (or a more senior person) if possible.

Examples of concerns

Your concern may include:

  • charging fees they’re not entitled to charge (e.g. outside of agreements or not allowable by law)
  • withholding your security deposit without authority to do so
  • failing to carry out your lawful instructions as a landlord.

For more information, read section 44(1) or section 67(1) of the Act.

What's involved

The Agents Licensing Board will consider your application through the disciplinary process.

During this process, the relevant professional will have the opportunity to respond.

The process may include the following steps:

  • initial investigation of matters raised in application
  • consideration of application by board
  • decision by board about whether to hold a disciplinary inquiry or reject the application
  • holding of a public inquiry
  • board to determine whether to take disciplinary action
  • publication of board’s decision.

This process holds professionals accountable for serious acts or inactions rather than trivial or inconsequential matters

It is not a dispute resolution mechanism and it cannot award compensation.

Before you submit

Read the guide for more information on the process, your role and what information you need to provide.

Guide for applicants PDF (329.1 KB)
Guide for applicants DOCX (71.9 KB)

How to submit

To apply for disciplinary action, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application for disciplinary action.

Application for disciplinary action PDF (182.9 KB)
Application for disciplinary action DOCX (66.5 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application with supporting documents by email Associations.Compliance@nt.gov.au or by mail to:

The Registrar of Land, Business and Conveyancing Agents
Associations and Compliance
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
GPO Box 9800
Darwin NT 0801

Other services

There may also be other services that can assist you with your matter below.

The Community Justice Centre offers free dispute resolution.

Read more about the Community Justice Centre.

Northern Territory Consumer Affairs provide useful information and guidance for tenants and landlords.

For contact details or more information, go to the NT Consumer Affairs website.

You may be able to lodge a claim through the NTCAT if you're seeking compensation or reimbursement from an:

  • agent
  • agent’s representative.

Read more about the NTCAT.

If you're eligible, you may be able to apply for compensation from the Agents Licensing Fidelity Guarantee Fund.

To be eligible, you must have suffered financial loss due to the misuse of funds that were or should have been held in a trust by a:

  • real estate professional
  • person performing the functions of a real estate professional.

For more information, email registrar.agentslicensing@nt.gov.au.

Contact

To find out more about the complaints process, contact Occupational Licensing and Associations by calling 1800 193 111 or emailing Associations.Compliance@nt.gov.au.

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