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Public confidence in the real estate profession has continued its sharp decline, with agents ranked one of the least trusted professions in Australia by a wide margin.
The Governance Institute of Australia’s 2025 Ethics Index revealed that real estate agents scored a -22 per cent net trust rating, placing them at the bottom of the list of 10 mainstream professions.
The score marks a 4-point drop compared with 2024.
According to the index, agents lag behind state and local politicians, as well as senior executives, who are all viewed as more ethical by the public.
The contagion has also affected the profession’s advocacy bodies. The Real Estate Institute of Australia was rated lower in public trust than the CFMEU, highlighting the broad reputational impact across the sector.
Pauline Vamos, chair of the Governance Institute, said the ongoing challenges in the housing market have influenced perceptions of all related associations.
“You look at all the other stakeholders and the participants in the property market, real estate agents are at the bottom of the list of all the occupations,” Vamos said.
“You look at the industry bodies involved in construction and the housing industry, the Property Council, the Australian Bankers Association, the CFMEU, the Real Estate Institute, they’re all at the bottom of the list.
“That’s not to say they want unethical outcomes, but survey respondents are rating them at the bottom because of this overwhelming concern about housing.”
Ipsos, which conducted the survey, noted that despite the profession’s low ranking, the decline in trust reflects broader public concern over housing affordability and market pressures, rather than direct ethical failings.
The findings underline the urgent reputational challenge for agents and their representative organisations, as public confidence in the sector continues to slide.
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