Victorian Auction Reserve Prices: Disclosure Rules Now Apply

What changed this week?

Victorian residential auctions and fixed-date sales held on or after 16 October 2026 are now within the application dates for new price-disclosure requirements. Consumer Affairs Victoria says agents must publish the seller's reserve price at least seven days beforehand. The underlying changes started on 1 October.

This is an implementation update, not a new announcement on 18 October. The CAV overview of the changes, updated 2 October, sets out the dates. A published reserve gives buyers another price to examine; it is not a promised sale price, lender valuation or approval to borrow.

What to look for in a listing

CAV's overview also explains that the Property Price Statement replaces the Statement of Information, with information about the property and its comparables. Buyers can look for the current document alongside the advertised price rather than relying on an older saved listing.

Keep a simple record when comparing homes:

The CAV industry questions and answers distinguish agent-managed residential auctions and fixed-date sales from commercial sales, private sales without a fixed date and owner-managed sales. Do not extend the reserve-disclosure rule to every Australian property listing.

Sold prices have a separate timetable

CAV says the sold price generally needs to be added to the Property Price Statement within seven days after a sale becomes unconditional, with the statement publicly available for at least 18 months. This requirement applies to sales becoming unconditional from 1 October 2026.

There are exceptions. The industry Q&A identifies an older agent appointment containing a non-disclosure term, as well as an application process for personal or family violence circumstances. A missing published price alone is not enough for this article to determine whether a sale breaches the rules. Check the official guidance or contact CAV about a particular listing.

What changes in a buying-cost estimate?

No calculator formula changes follow from the disclosure rules. A clearer price input may change the scenario a buyer enters, while stamp duty, other costs and lender checks remain separate questions.

For example, compare hypothetical purchase prices of $800,000 and $840,000. The price difference is $40,000. If a hypothetical loan amount stays at $640,000, the purchase-price contribution rises from $160,000 to $200,000, before duty and other costs. That does not establish that a lender would provide $640,000, or that either price is appropriate for the property.

Run both prices through the Property Purchase Cost Calculator with the same buyer settings, then review the individual cost lines. Use the Mortgage Repayment Calculator if the loan scenario also changes. Neither tool verifies an auction contract or sets a safe bid limit.

The auction bidding budget checklist brings the surrounding cash costs and preparation questions together. Sellers comparing professional charges can use the agent commission quote worksheet.

What this update does not establish

It does not show whether the rules have changed auction outcomes, reduced underquoting or affected sale prices. That requires evidence beyond a commencement date. It also does not certify a particular advertisement, resolve a contract question or replace an independent property assessment.

CAV lists further changes for 2027 separately. Those later commencement dates should not be treated as rules already operating in October 2026.

Sources and limitations

Primary sources: CAV overview and industry Q&A linked above, checked 18 October 2026. The table and buying-cost example are original explanations. The example amounts are hypothetical, not market data or a finance offer.

General information only, not financial, legal, tax, credit or investment advice. Check current CAV guidance and obtain qualified advice for a particular sale or contract. Calculator results are indicative estimates, not approvals, valuations or recommendations.

Last updated: 18 October 2026.