Learning & Development
QLD seller disclosure laws start 1 August
👓 2 minute read
‘Form 2’ mandatory vendor disclosure requirements will be required to be available to prospective purchasers before contracts are signed from 1 August. The new seller statement must be displayed at open homes, auctions, and be provided electronically. Read on, or listen to our AI-hosted deep dive by clicking the above image.
Missing or inaccurate disclosures can lead to terminated contracts
The disclosure statement must be provided in the approved form and will contain key information such as:
Title details and survey plan
Current council rates and water notices
Zoning and planning certificates
Council, government, or regulatory body notices/orders
Body Corporate records (if applicable)
Unregistered or statutory encumbrances, i.e., residential tenancy agreement/short lease/infrastructure easements
Vendors can authorise their agent to act on their behalf in relation to complying with the scheme. In such circumstances, the agent would sign the Form 2 and give it to the buyer. First National recommends that all Queensland sales agents be familiar with:
How the disclosure documents may be given
When the documents are taken to have been received
The different rules that apply to auction disclosure
The ‘buyer beware’ principle, of course, remains in effect, and a Community Management Statement has been reintroduced, bringing back disclosure obligations for community title schemes.
The QLD Government has provided a PDF Guide to the Seller Disclosure Scheme. SearchX provides a disclosure solution claimed to remove 100% of the liability from agencies; however, the company has not been reviewed or assessed by First National Real Estate.
NSW rental reforms backflip
👓 20 second read
The Minns government has quietly walked back one of its rental reforms only four weeks after its landmark changes came into effect.
Landlords wishing to terminate a lease so they can renovate are NOT now required to submit one of the five specific forms of evidence that they were previously required to submit. Now, just a written statement from the landlord will suffice.
First National 'Accelerator Series' upcoming dates
Membership Director, Darren Pearce and L & D Consultant, Trevor Maher, explain the exciting new Accelerator Series learning and development initiative in the above video.
Property Management Accelerator Series #1: Accelerated Leasing
29th July, 2pm AEST – Watch On Demand and complete the eLearning
Property Management Accelerator Series #2: Rent Collection & Arrears Management
20th August, 2pm AEST – book here
Property Management Accelerator Series #3: Maintenance and Repairs
16th September, 2pm AEST – book here
Finance Accelerator Series #1: The Accounting System
5th August, 2pm AEST – book here
Finance Accelerator Series #2: The Profit & Loss Statement
3rd September, 2pm AEST – book here
First National's Workplace Health & Safety programme – People First at First National
👓 30 second read
Every two weeks, we’re sending your team a bite-sized eLearning module that includes an editable policy. Just review, sign, and file it at your office. We’ll remind you which training to complete and the matching policy to review.
Nominate a member of your team to be your Learning Influencer. They will keep everything on track by:
- Confirming every staff member has an individual FN Central login
- Scheduling each 10-minute module (over the next six months)
- Click here to find out how you assign a learning Influencer on FN Central
NEW: Module 3 - Workplace Safety Essentials
👓 10 minute module - covers the core rules every state regulator expects
First National’s Workplace Safety Essentials training module is now live on the Learning Hub as part of our ongoing WHS programme.
This fortnight's actions for your team:
- [Launch Module 3]
- Complete the 10 minute Workplace Safefy Essentials module in the Learning Hub
- Download, review and sign the Safety Essentials Policy
- File the signed policy as part of your WHS records
To support implementation, use theStep Guide and Coaching Guide available on the Learning Hub. These tools will help you set up clear safety procedures in your office – protecting your team and your clients.
Module 2 - Behavioural Safety
👓 10 minute module
This module is designed to help your team recognise and address unsafe behaviours before they lead to incidents - reinforcing our commitment to a culture of proactive safety.
Why it matters
Unsafe shortcuts cost more than time; they cost reputations and, at worst, livelihoods.
The training covers:
The human behaviours that contribute to incidents
The ABC model (Antecedent - Behaviour - Consequence)
Practical ways to encourage safer choices at work
This fortnight's actions for all staff:
Complete the 10 minute Behavioural Safety module in the Learning Hub
File the signed policy as part of your WHS records
To support implementation, use the Step Guide and Coaching Guide available on the Learning Hub. These tools will help you set up clear safety procedures in your office - protecting your team and your clients.
Module 1: Workplace Health & Safety
👓 10 minute module
▶ Module: Workplace Health & Safety
▶ Policy: Editable PDF
▶ Deadline: 19 July
Signed policies + module completion = confidence you're meeting your responsibilities.
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Earn CPD points in NSW
Mastering commercial leases
Monthly FN Commercial meetings – Connecting the whole network
👓 2 minute read
Monthly FN Commercial meetings provide a dynamic space for commercial members to exchange ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and forge stronger relationships across our 31 offices nationwide. Hosted on the last Thursday of each month, a concise agenda opens discussion, then members steer the conversation where it delivers the most value.
While born out of FN Commercial, the initiative benefits every First National office. For instance, the network is developing a live, shared form where participants will log team structures, rent roll metrics, preferred tech platforms, fee models, and current listings. These insights will create a benchmark library that residential, rural, and strata teams can reference to refine their own operations, pricing and service consistency.
Market intelligence shared last month helped members compare conditions: stronger enquiry in NSW and Victoria, acute stock shortages in WA, and a buoyant office sector in Queensland. Such a cross‑border context equips every office to brief clients with confidence, irrespective of specialty.
All members are encouraged to watch for a calendar invite, share your data via the new form once live, and join the conversation. Together, we sharpen our collective expertise and strengthen the First National brand.
National commercial workflow template rollout
A key resource now available to FN Commercial members is the new suite of national workflow templates. These forms and letters have been designed to comply with the relevant state-based Retail Lease Acts and provide property managers with correct, up-to-date documents to use when issuing notices to tenants and landlords. This allows our members to operate with confidence, knowing they are compliant and consistent in their daily operations.
Housed within the FN Central Commercial Portal, the documents are available to FN Commercial members exclusively. VIC, NSW, WA, and QLD have each received the rollout, with QLD coming shortly. SA, TAS, and NT will be supported as needed, once membership expands in those regions.
The templates cover essential tasks such as:
- Breach notices
- Lease renewals
- Terminations and more
Step-by-step checklists are being developed to support process management, particularly for onboarding new
listings or landlords. These will help property managers self-audit their files to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance – forming part of a best practice approach to asset management in order to mitigate risk.
Our Commercial Toolbox provides resources designed to plug straight into your business and includes templates, Canva marketing designs, commercial sales forms, and more.
Each rollout is followed by a two-week feedback window, giving members time to integrate the tools and provide suggestions to enhance usability – with very positive feedback.
Upcoming FN Commercial webinars
August 14th – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Session Three Property Leases: Negotiation, Documentation & Handover Excellence
October 8th – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Session Four: Mastering the Art of Listing and Selling Commercial Investment Property
Register now
December 4th – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Session Five: Recap and Overview of the Commercial Marketplace