ACCC Forces REA Group to Remove Exclusive Listing Restrictions

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has secured an enforceable undertaking from REA Group, the operator of realestate.com.au, to remove anti-competitive restrictions from its contracts. The regulator found that REA Group's contracts effectively forced real estate agents to list all properties exclusively on its platform, which limited customer choice and hindered competition from rival listing services.

Under the new agreement, REA Group will modify its operations for three years to provide agents with greater flexibility in how they advertise properties for their clients. This outcome follows a regulatory investigation launched in May 2025 into the company's market dominance and restrictive clauses.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb stated the move is a win for competition that will enable agents to offer clients the listing service that best meets their needs. REA Group, which is controlled by News Corp, stated it engaged constructively with the regulator and remains focused on delivering products and services that improve the property experience for buyers, sellers, and renters.