Rental, hiring and real estate services industry
Last Updated: 24 June 2020
COVID-19 affected industries
Victorian COVID-19 restrictions
From 6pm on Sunday 2 August, Melbourne moved to Stage 4 restrictions and regional Victoria moved to Stage 3 restrictions.
Find how to create a COVID Safe Plan and understand how Stage 4 restrictions apply to your industry on the Business Victoria website.
From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August 2020, all Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live. You and your staff should wear them when at work and also when travelling to and from work. If you don't, you must have a lawful reason not to.
Find more Victorian business COVID-19 information.
COVID-19 support for all Australian businesses
It's important to keep workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19. You can find the latest information and resources for your industry on the Safe Work Australia website.
If the coronavirus has affected your business, get coronavirus information and support for business.
Business types in this industry
The rental, hiring and real estate services industry includes:
- motor vehicles
- transport equipment
- farm animal & bloodstock
- video and other electronic media
- heavy machinery
- scaffolding
- 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
Find the licences and permits you need for your business
Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to find information on the licences you may need.
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 arrangementsmay apply if your arrangement qualifies as a business for the purposes of tax.
Employ people
Workplace health and safety (WHS)
All business must comply with general occupational health and safety regulations. The rental, hiring and real estate services industry also has state specific WHS requirements.
These include:
- occupational noise management
- standards for protective clothing and equipment
- standards for occupational safety signage
- national standard for manual handling
- prevention and response to workplace bullying
- prevention of workplace violence (e.g. robbery)
- electrical safety
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
Government organisations
Open all
Federal government organisations
State and territory government agencies
Government industry research
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.
