- Published:
- Saturday 18 July 2026
Labor is cracking down on illegal underquoting to make life easier and more affordable for Victorians.
The underquoting taskforce is out on across Melbourne’s inner-north this weekend for a winter blitz.
Underquoting blitz
More than 30 inspectors hit the pavement in the City of Merri-bek and City of Darebin to enforce sales rules.
Taskforce officers will visit properties this weekend to speak with estate agents and buyers, check estate agent compliance and monitor for potential underquoting.
The latest blitz comes as the underquoting taskforce reached a milestone of $3 million in total fines issued.
The taskforce has received more than 8,800 complaints through its dedicated webform, monitored more than 3,200 sales campaigns and attended more than 500 auctions.
It has issued more than 400 official warnings and more than 260 fines to agents caught breaching their obligations.
Legal action against systemic underquoting
Taskforce investigations have also resulted in legal action by Consumer Affairs Victoria against more serious cases of underquoting.
Consumer Affairs Victoria has launched new Federal Court action against Glen Waverley agency Harcourts Judd White (now trading as Ray White Judd White Group and Ray White (Judd White Group)) and three of its employees for alleged breaches of property sales laws.
Consumer Affairs Victoria alleges the agency, and the three agent’s representatives underquoted the expected sale price of 11 properties and acted in a deceptive way throughout the relevant sales campaigns.
Penalties can be up to $100 million for corporations and $2.5 million for individuals.
Further protections coming
Labor’s nation leading laws currently before the Victorian Parliament will make the system fairer for home buyers.
Agents will be required to publish a reserve price at least seven days before any auction or sale. From 1 October, agents who don't comply, will not be allowed to take the property to auction.
And once a home sells, the sold price must be made public – so buyers can see what homes locally are really worth.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs Paul Edbrooke
“Victorians are sick of wasting their weekends chasing homes they were never going to get.”
“Labor is acting – underquoting is illegal and we’re stamping it out.”