AI in property
AI for agents and property managers: what works, and the rules
Industry surveys reported in 2025 and 2026 suggest about half of Australian property businesses now use AI in some form, most often for listing descriptions. The bigger gains are less visible: answering enquiries out of hours, triaging maintenance, summarising files. So are the risks, especially misleading images, personal information and decisions nobody can explain.
Rather just ask someone? Talk to usIn short
AI helps property businesses most with enquiries after hours, maintenance triage, first drafts of listings and summaries of long files, with a person approving anything sent or decided. Don't use it to digitally add or remove features in property photos. From 10 December 2026, privacy policies must disclose automated decisions that significantly affect people, which can include tenant screening.
General information about systems and processes, current as at November 2026. It isn't legal or compliance advice: check how the rules apply to your business with your regulator, professional body or adviser.
- What is an AI receptionist for real estate?
- A phone or chat assistant that answers enquiries when staff can't: who's calling about which property, when to inspect, what's urgent for a tenant. It collects details, books or routes the request, and hands anything consequential to a person. It should say it's an AI if asked.
What actually works
After-hours enquiries are the clearest win
Buyer enquiries on a Sunday night and tenants reporting a burst pipe at 10pm both need an answer. An AI assistant that captures the details, books an inspection or escalates an urgent repair means nothing waits until Monday.
Drafts, never final copy
Listing descriptions, appraisal letters and owner updates are good AI first drafts. They must still be checked for accuracy: an invented feature in a listing is misleading advertising, whoever wrote it.
Don't alter what the property is
NSW Fair Trading says agents must not digitally add or remove features in property images, other states take a similar line, and Queensland's Office of Fair Trading has published guidance on AI and digital enhancement. NSW has also legislated disclosure of misleading altered or AI-generated images in rental ads. Virtual staging should be clearly labelled.
Summaries save conveyancers and managers hours
Section 32 statements, contracts, strata reports and long email threads can be summarised for a first read, with the original always the authority. It's useful triage, not a substitute for professional review.
Be careful with tenant and borrower decisions
Screening renters or ranking applicants with AI raises privacy and discrimination risks. From 10 December 2026, covered businesses must disclose in their privacy policy when programs use personal information to make, or substantially help make, decisions that significantly affect people. ASIC expects brokers' AI outputs to be explainable and documented.
Keep client data where it belongs
Pasting contracts, IDs or rental applications into a consumer AI tool can send personal information somewhere you don't control. Use business accounts with data protections, or tools connected to your own systems.
Where we'd tell you otherwise
If AI's only job in your business is drafting listing copy, a general AI tool used carefully is enough and you don't need us. Custom work earns its cost when AI needs to read from your CRM or property management system, handle calls or maintenance, or keep records that stand up to a regulator.
Tell us how your files move
Describe the software you run and where work gets typed twice, chased by phone or held up waiting on a client. We'll tell you what we'd do first, including when the answer is a setting in software you already pay for.
Common questions
Not to misrepresent a property. Regulators say agents must not digitally add or remove features, and misleading images breach the Australian Consumer Law. Clearly labelled virtual staging is a different matter. NSW has legislated disclosure rules for altered or AI-generated rental ad images, expected to start in 2027.
It can draft them well. Every claim must be checked against the property before publishing, because the agency is responsible for misleading advertising regardless of who or what wrote it.
Yes, for capturing the details, recognising urgent repairs and routing to the right trade or on-call person. Approvals that cost the owner money, and anything disputed, should go to a person.
Not into a consumer account without checking its data settings. Contracts, IDs and applications contain personal information. Use a business plan with data protections, or a tool connected to your own systems, and keep the original as the authority.
See it working
Software we'd build, running with a fictional business and sample data. Use it, then decide.
Also worth a look
- Property Management Software: Buy or Build?
- Real Estate Agency Websites That Win Listings
- Software and Client Portals for Conveyancers
- Holding client IDs and trust money? Security reviews for code, cloud and integrations
Last reviewed . General information, not legal advice. Prices are indicative Australian ranges, not quotes.