With Queensland’s biggest property reform in years now on our doorstep, it’s more important than ever to understand what’s changing. Here, we explain what real estate agents need to know.
From 1 August 2025, Queensland’s property sale process is undergoing its most significant change in years. Under the new Seller Disclosure Reforms, sellers must provide prospective buyers with a comprehensive disclosure statement before signing a contract.
This new requirement aims to improve transparency, reduce post-sale disputes, and standardise disclosure obligations across the board.
But with these changes come new risks—and responsibilities—for real estate agents. This is where a property lawyer becomes your most valuable ally. As a real estate agent, your core business is listing, marketing, and negotiating sales—not interpreting legislation or ensuring your sellers comply with legal requirements.
Yet under the new framework, helping clients navigate disclosure will become a key part of your role. Failing to get it right could jeopardise deals, result in buyer termination rights, or expose sellers (and potentially you) to legal risk.
Here’s why working closely with a property lawyer will protect your clients, your reputation, and your bottom line.
Key Takeaway: You sell property – let a lawyer handle the legal
The 2025 Seller Disclosure Reforms are a game-changer for Queensland real estate. They promise greater transparency—but also demand stricter compliance and a sharper legal lens on every transaction.
By engaging a property lawyer early in the process, you’ll:
- Protect your clients from costly mistakes
- Safeguard your reputation and minimise professional risk
- Deliver faster, smoother transactions
- Differentiate yourself in the market as a trusted, informed professional
In short, involving a lawyer isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Let Attwood Marshall Lawyers’ experienced Property & Commercial team support you.
6 reasons why real estate agents need a property lawyer under Queensland’s new seller disclosure reforms
1. The disclosure statement is not just a box-ticking exercise
The new regime introduces a standardised disclosure statement, which must include prescribed documents and information about the property. These may include:
- Title searches
- Registered encumbrances (e.g., easements, covenants)
- Zoning and planning designations
- Flood and bushfire risk maps
- Notices affecting the land
- Building compliance records
A property lawyer can help ensure all relevant documents are obtained and accurately interpreted. For example, what if a title contains an easement that impacts how the land can be used? Or a planning overlay restricts certain development? A lawyer can explain the implications clearly, so both seller and buyer understand what they’re dealing with—reducing the risk of future disputes.
2. Avoid contract termination and deal fallout
Under the new laws, if disclosure is not made before the buyer signs, the buyer can terminate the contract and walk away—potentially weeks into the transaction. This could cost your client a sale and waste everyone’s time.
A lawyer ensures the seller meets their pre-contract obligations correctly and on time. They can also advise if any additional voluntary disclosures should be made to mitigate buyer claims of misrepresentation later.
3. Reduce Your Professional Risk
While agents aren’t legally responsible for preparing the disclosure documents, you are often the first point of contact for clients during the sales process. If a client fails to disclose something and the contract falls through—or worse, leads to litigation—there’s reputational risk to your agency. In some cases, a buyer might even allege misleading conduct if incorrect or incomplete information is passed on.
Partnering with a property lawyer protects you by:
- Ensuring documents are prepared correctly
- Clarifying complex property issues
- Providing written legal advice to the seller (keeping the legal liability squarely with the lawyer)
4. Speed up the sales process
One of the goals of the disclosure reforms is to improve certainty and efficiency in property transactions. However, getting all the necessary documents together takes time and expertise. Delays in compiling disclosure paperwork can result in lost momentum—or missed opportunities.
A lawyer can streamline this process, gathering title documents, council searches, and more, so that disclosure is ready when the property goes to market. This helps you:
- List faster
- Present a complete, compliant disclosure pack to buyers
- Reduce back-and-forth once a buyer is found
5. Navigate “grey areas” and unusual properties
Not all properties are straightforward. Rural properties, apartments, flood-prone areas, heritage listings, and properties with building work done without approval can all raise disclosure complexities. The new reforms may not capture every nuance—meaning interpretation is needed.
A property lawyer can:
- Interpret how the legislation applies to the property
- Identify when extra documents should be disclosed voluntarily
- Provide a legal “buffer” between the seller and any claims down the track
6. Stay ahead of legal and regulatory change
Legislation often evolves—and so will the regulations and prescribed forms that underpin these disclosure reforms. Partnering with a lawyer ensures you’re kept informed of updates and best practices, so you can remain confident in your compliance and give sound guidance to clients.
Attwood Marshall Lawyer – the legal partner you can rely on for property and conveyancing law
Let’s work together to make sure your listings are legally watertight and sale ready. Contact our Property and Commercial Law Department on 1800 621 071.