Apply for a corporate auctioneer licence (real property)
Your company must have a current licence to auction real property (or real estate). This includes attempting or offering to sell the property.
Real property includes:
- dwellings
- community title lots
- businesses
- vacant land.
The licence will also allow you to sell:
- other types of property connected to a real property auction (e.g. livestock as part of a farmhouse and rural land auction)
- real property in a different way during the auction period.
You can't auction vehicles or other goods (including livestock) without a chattel auctioneer licence.
You can operate under your corporation's name or a registered business name.
If you partner with another company, the other company must also have a corporation licence.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a corporate auctioneer licence, the person in charge of each place of business must hold an individual auctioneer licence.
The director of the company must also be licensed if they want to work as a real property auctioneer.
Ready to apply online?
Apply for a corporate auctioneer licence (real property)
Read more about applying online.
Suitability
Your company isn't suitable to hold this licence if you or any of your directors or executive officers:
- are currently disqualified from holding a licence
- have been convicted of a serious offence within the past 5 years
- are an insolvent under administration (applies to directors or executive officers only).
Serious offences
A serious offence is anything punishable by 3 or more years in prison, including:
- violent offences (including threats to use violence)
- fraud and dishonesty
- drug trafficking
- extortion
- arson
- unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse
- offences of a sexual nature.
Directors and executive officers
We consider if you and your directors or executive officers:
- have been placed in receivership or liquidation
- have a criminal history
- were an executive officer of a previously-licensed corporation that is insolvent
- were the subject of a successful claim fund action
- have had a licence or registration cancelled or suspended or been disqualified from holding one
- are disqualified from being a company director
- were an insolvent under administration
- are unsuitable because of their (or their business associates') character
- are allowed to work in Australia.
Receivership or liquidation
You must tell us if any director or executive officer was a director or executive officer of a corporation that was previously licensed and went into receivership or liquidation.
You must tell us:
- the circumstances that caused it to happen
- whether they took all reasonable steps to avoid the receivership or liquidation
- the assets they had available to distribute
- how much money (if any) they paid in dividends
- whether they broke any laws relating to these circumstances
- whether they are now disqualified from being a company director or other officer.
You must also include a report from the receiver or liquidator that includes:
- a detailed list of the director or executive officer's creditors
- the amount of money they still owe to each creditor.
Lodgement
When you lodge the form, you will need to attach certified identification for anyone named on your form, including your director, executive officer and all business partners or associates.
The identification must be a certified copy of 1 of the following documents:
- birth certificate or extract
- driver licence
- passport
- citizenship certificate.
Places of business
You can have multiple places of business, but you must register all of your business addresses when you apply for your licence. The person in charge at each place of business must have a individual auctioneer licence.
Find out more about places of business.
Criminal history check
Your application will be subject to a criminal history check. This will be thorough and can be time consuming. Each person named in your application will be checked.
If you were born in New Zealand or have a New Zealand passport, you'll need to provide a copy of your criminal history or a letter showing you have no criminal history in New Zealand.
A New Zealand criminal history check is free. It can take 20 working days to process.
We can only accept original documents dated within 1 month of the date you send them to us.
For more information visit the New Zealand Ministry of Justice website.
Processing time
The processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. It can take longer if your application isn't complete because of missing information or unpaid fees.
We'll contact you if you've submitted an incomplete application. If you don't lodge the outstanding information we might withdraw your application and you'll need to reapply.
Refunds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to a partial refund if you withdraw your application or we refuse it.
You might also get a refund on the fee for a criminal history check if it hasn’t been started.
Other ways to apply
Complete the paper application for a corporate auctioneer licence and attach your supporting documentation.
You can lodge the form:
In person—visit one of our locations
By post
Industry Licensing Unit
Office of Fair Trading
GPO Box 3111
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Note: we can't accept applications over the phone or by email.
Training
You do not need to do any training. You will have done your training to get an individual licence.
More information
- Read more about managing your property agency or business.
- Find out how to renew or restore your property licence.