AusAML launches AML compliance service for Tranche 2 real estate firms

AusAML has introduced a compliance-as-a-service offering for real estate agents, buyer’s agents and conveyancers now subject to Australia’s Tranche 2 AML/CTF rules. The launch comes after the 29 July 2026 AUSTRAC enrolment deadline passed, raising the stakes for firms that still need programs, screening and reporting processes in place.

Why it matters: - Real estate agents, developers and conveyancers handling designated services now face AML/CTF obligations that can trigger regulatory penalties if they miss required controls. - Property transactions have long been attractive for laundering illicit funds because of high values and complex ownership structures. - AUSTRAC previously reported suspicious transactions linked to overseas property interests alone exceeding $1 billion in a single year in 2020. - Firms that have not enrolled, assessed risk, written an AML/CTF program, appointed a compliance officer and set up due diligence and reporting processes are already operating in breach of their obligations.

What happened: - AusAML launched a compliance-as-a-service offering for real estate agents, buyer’s agents and conveyancers to help them meet Tranche 2 AML/CTF requirements. - The service covers the full lifecycle of compliance, from setup through managed operations. - The launch comes after the 1 July 2026 start date for Tranche 2 obligations and after the 29 July 2026 AUSTRAC enrolment deadline. - AusAML said the service is scaled to a business’s actual requirements and transaction volumes.

The details: - The Build component includes AML/CTF program setup, AUSTRAC enrolment, risk assessment, employee due diligence, staff training and ongoing program review. - The Advise component provides a named fractional AML Compliance Officer for internal and annual AUSTRAC reporting, customer acceptance advice and regulatory liaison. - The Operate component covers KYC collection, identification and verification, PEP, sanctions and adverse media screening, customer risk rating, enhanced due diligence when required, and suspicious matter reporting preparation and filing. - Pricing starts at $2,000 per month for the Complete Coverage package. - The Complete Coverage package includes compliance program development, ongoing advisory support, day-to-day compliance operations and a dedicated fractional AML/CTF Compliance Officer. - An operations-only service starts at $800 per month for businesses that already have an AML program and in-house advisory capability. - Indicative pricing is based on businesses processing about 120 property transactions a year for real estate agencies and 240 transactions a year for conveyancing practices, with annual billing. - AusAML says the service is curated by former regulators, senior compliance leaders and locally based AML specialists. - The service is aimed at businesses entering Australia’s AML/CTF framework under the Tranche 2 reforms. - AusAML also serves professional services firms and high-value goods dealers. - The company’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects how Tranche 2 is turning AML compliance into an operational burden for property businesses that may not have needed a full program before. - The offering is designed to replace a one-size-fits-all checklist with compliance that changes with transaction complexity. - A simple residential sale may require modest due diligence, while trust structures, corporate sellers and foreign parties can require checks on trustees, directors and beneficial owners. - AusAML framed the service as a way to help businesses meet obligations without pulling staff away from client work. - The company also emphasized the value of having a named compliance officer for judgment calls. - AusAML spokesperson Rana Datta said real estate transactions are the kind of high-value, ownership-structure-heavy activity that money launderers have historically exploited.

What's next: - Businesses that missed the enrolment deadline now need to close compliance gaps quickly. - Real estate agencies and conveyancing practices will need to tailor compliance operations to the transactions they handle. - Penalties remain a major risk for both firms and responsible individuals. - In civil matters, AUSTRAC does not need to prove intent, only that a breach occurred.

The bottom line: - Tranche 2 has turned AML compliance into a core operating requirement for property intermediaries, and AusAML is betting that outsourced support will be the fastest path to compliance.