Rental, hiring and real estate services industry
Last Updated: 22 July 2022
Business types in this industry
The rental, hiring and real estate services industry includes businesses providing a diverse range of rental services to individuals, other businesses and organisations. Some of these include:
- motor vehicles
- transport equipment
- farm animals & bloodstock
- video and other electronic media
- heavy machinery
- scaffolding
- furniture and appliances
- intangible assets (e.g. patents and trademarks)
Legislation, standards and initiatives
You must be aware of the laws that apply to the rental, hiring and real estate services industry. Key legislation includes:
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010
- Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
- Consumer guarantees
- Fair Trading laws
- Privacy Act 1988
- Personal Property Securities Act 2009
- Anti-discrimination laws
- Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
- State or territory body corporate regulations
- State or territory property or real estate agents act
Licences and permits
State or territory governments manage the licences and permits for the rental, hiring and real estate services industry.
The licences and permits you may need include:
- hire car operator accreditation
- real estate agent accreditation
- vehicle permits and licences
- luxury car licence
- erecting/displaying signage
- playing video/sound recordings
- disposal of waste
- zoning permits
- restricted trading days
Taxation
The rental, hiring and real estate services industry have specific Goods and Services Tax (GST) measures. Know your GST obligations and register with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure you can claim your GST credits.
Visit the ATO website to learn more about the GST requirements for the rental, hiring and real estate services industry:
Other tax measures that may apply to your rental, hiring and real estate services business include:
- Fuel tax credits provide a credit for fuel tax (excise or customs duty) that is included in the price of fuel. Credits only apply to fuel that is used in eligible business activities.
- Luxury Car Tax (LCT) applies if you purchase or import luxury vehicles valued above a certain amount.
- Boat hire arrangements may apply if your arrangement qualifies as a business for the purposes of tax.
Employ people
If you employ staff, you need to comply with Australia’s national workplace laws specific to the rental, hiring and real estate services industry.
Workplace health and safety (WHS)
There are general work health and safety regulations for all businesses, however there are state and territory WHS requirements that apply to businesses in the rental, hiring and real estate services industry:
Environment
While the rental, hiring and real estate industry does not rely heavily on the environment, they can still have a significant impact. The main environmental issues that businesses in the rental, hiring and real estate services industry should understand include:
- waste management and reduction
- reporting
- fuel economy
- sustainability
Insurance
Alongside compulsory insurances, the rental, hiring and real estate services industry has specific insurances. These insurances include:
- public liability
- equipment and machinery
- property and buildings
- vehicles
- animals and business interruption
Find support
If you need advice or support, consider getting help from your industry association, a business adviser, accountant or legal professional.
Further advice and assistance
Check our general business information for additional regulations and obligations relevant to your business.
For further advice and assistance, consider contacting your accountant, solicitor, business adviser or industry association.
