Home loans guide

How to find and check a mortgage broker in Australia

A mortgage broker helps you find a home loan and apply for it. Before you enquire, check the broker on ASIC's Professional Registers: they must hold an Australian credit licence, or work under a business that holds one. Then ask how they are paid, which lenders they use, and whether you will pay a fee. A broker cannot approve your loan. The lender decides.

Quick steps

  1. Shortlist brokers who cover your area and your type of loan.
  2. Ask for their credit licence number or credit representative number.
  3. Check it on ASIC's Professional Registers and ASIC's banned and disqualified registers.
  4. Ask how they are paid, whether you pay a fee, and which lenders they use.
  5. Read their credit guide and any credit proposal disclosure document.
  6. Need another language? Ask how they will handle it before you start.
  7. Compare loans from at least two lenders using each loan's Key Facts Sheet.

What does a mortgage broker do?

Moneysmart, the government money website run by ASIC (the Australian Securities and Investments Commission), describes a mortgage broker as a go-between who deals with banks and other lenders to arrange a home loan.

It says a broker should understand your needs, work out what you can afford to borrow, find options, explain each loan and its costs, and help you apply through to settlement. Settlement is when the lender releases the loan money and the purchase or refinance is completed.

A broker must act in your best interests when suggesting a loan, but does not approve loans. The lender assesses your application and decides.

How do I find a broker near me, or one who speaks my language?

Look for brokers who cover your area and your kind of loan, then check each one. For language, read what the broker lists, then ask them directly.

Moneysmart suggests asking people you know, or using a mortgage broker professional association. An association is an industry body, not a regulator, so you still need to check ASIC's register.

In the ListHQ broker directory you can search by location and filter by loan type and language. The directory is new. When this guide was last reviewed it listed only a few brokers, all in Victoria, so for most areas and languages you will need the other options on this page. Brokers supply their own languages, and ListHQ does not verify them. A listing is not a recommendation. ListHQ may receive a fee from a broker for connecting you, and some brokers pay ListHQ for a subscription plan.

ASIC's register cannot be searched by language. Before you meet, ask: Will you speak with me in my language yourself? If not, will you use a professional interpreter?

TIS National, the government's Translating and Interpreting Service, offers phone interpreting on 131 450, 24 hours a day, to anyone in Australia. Most of its services are free for the non-English speaker; generally the organisation you contact pays. Mortgage brokers are not in TIS National's Free Interpreting Service groups, so a broker who uses TIS is generally charged for it. Ask how your broker will arrange an interpreter, and whether you will pay anything for it.

How do I check a mortgage broker is authorised?

Search the broker on ASIC's Professional Registers, using the steps below. Moneysmart says a broker must be licensed by ASIC, or be an authorised representative of someone who is licensed.

An Australian credit licence lets a person or business (the licensee) carry on credit activities. A credit representative is authorised by a licensee to act on its behalf. A licensee's employees and directors can also work under its licence without being authorised as representatives. All of these are legitimate.

Every credit licensee must be a member of AFCA, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, which offers free, independent dispute resolution. Most credit representatives must be members too. Either way, the credit guide must give AFCA's details. Some of ASIC's downloadable datasets still show older scheme names, such as FOS or COSL. Every licensee must now be in AFCA, so use the AFCA details in the credit guide.

If something goes wrong, talk to the broker first. Then complain in writing, using the complaints contact in their credit guide. For a credit representative, this is usually their licensee. The licensee must reply to a standard complaint within 30 calendar days. If it is still not fixed, contact AFCA. Moneysmart lists its number as 1800 931 678, and it is free. AFCA has time limits for complaints, so don't delay.

To check a broker on ASIC's register:

  1. Ask for their credit licence number, or their credit representative number and licensee. Both appear in their credit guide.
  2. Open ASIC's Professional Registers Search. Search by name, licence or registration number, ACN or ABN.
  3. After you search, use the 'All registers' filter to show only 'Credit Representative' or 'Credit Licensee' results. You can also filter by status, individual or organisation, and state.
  4. One person or business can have several records, so open the one on the register you want.
  5. Check the name, number, address, start date, status and any conditions. ASIC's 'Register status key' explains each status.
  6. For a credit representative, also check their licensee's record, where you can search its representatives by name.
  7. Can't find the broker by name? If they are an employee or director of a licensee, check their employer's credit licence. Then contact the licensee yourself to confirm the broker works for it. Use the address on ASIC's register, not contact details the broker gave you.
  8. Search ASIC's banned and disqualified registers too. ASIC updates the Professional Registers once a day.

How are mortgage brokers paid, and what must they tell you?

Most brokers are paid commission by the lender, and some also charge you a fee. They must tell you about both in writing.

Moneysmart says commission is a percentage of the loan amount, typically with an upfront part and an ongoing part (often called 'trail'). No official source publishes a standard current rate, so ask each broker.

The law bans payments that could reasonably be expected to influence a broker's help ('conflicted remuneration') in the situations the regulations set out. For example, a lender's payment must not be based on sales volume or a sales campaign. A lender can take back ('claw back') commission from a broker for at most 2 years, and you cannot be made to pay it.

Best interests duty. Since 1 January 2021, brokers and their credit representatives must act in your best interests, and put your interests first if there is a conflict. You cannot sign this duty away. ASIC expects the broker to record and explain why a recommended loan is in your best interests. The duty does not cover insurance.

What you should receive, in order:

  1. A credit guide, as soon as it is clear the broker is likely to help you. It shows their licence number, fees, lenders (all of them, or the six they use most if there are more), likely commission, and how to complain, including AFCA. A credit representative also gives you their own guide.
  2. A written quote, if they charge you a fee. You accept it before they suggest a loan. It states the most you will pay, and whether anything is payable if no loan goes ahead. They cannot ask for payment before providing the service.
  3. A credit proposal disclosure document, when they suggest a particular loan with a particular lender. It is separate from the credit guide. It shows their fees, the estimated commission on that loan, and estimates of the lender's application fees and any third-party fees.
  4. A free written copy of their preliminary assessment (their check of whether the loan would be unsuitable for you), if you ask. It is best to ask before you apply. If you were given a fee quote, you can ask for up to 7 years after it.

What should I ask a broker before I go ahead?

Ask about their licence, lenders, pay, fees and language before you share personal documents. Moneysmart says a broker should give you more than one option and explain why each is in your best interests. If you prefer your own bank, they should still show you other lenders' loans.

  • What is your credit licence number, or your credit representative number and licensee?
  • Can I have your credit guide now?
  • Which lenders do you use, and which can't you access?
  • How are you paid, and does your pay differ between lenders?
  • Will I pay you a fee? How much, and what if no loan goes ahead?
  • Do you help with my situation, such as a first home, refinance, investment property or self-employed income?
  • Can you speak with me in my language, or arrange an interpreter? Will I pay anything for an interpreter?
  • How do I complain if something goes wrong?

Should I use a broker or go direct to a lender?

Either can work, and a broker is optional. The main differences are how many lenders you see and which legal duties apply.

A broker compares loans from the lenders on their panel. ASIC expects the panel to be 'reasonably representative', not every lender, so ask who is on it. If the panel does not let them act in your best interests, they must not help you.

A lender's own staff offer that lender's loans, and the best interests duty does not cover them. The lender still has responsible lending duties. It must make reasonable inquiries about your needs and finances, take reasonable steps to verify your finances, and not give you an unsuitable loan, such as one you could only repay with substantial hardship.

Either way, Moneysmart suggests comparing loans from at least two lenders using each loan's Key Facts Sheet, which you can get from a broker, the lender or its website. The lender makes the final decision.

What should I prepare before I talk to a broker?

Gather proof of your identity, income, savings and debts. Lenders differ, so treat the list below as common examples only.

For pre-approval, Moneysmart says lenders ask for evidence of your current financial situation. Pre-approval lasts 3 to 6 months and does not commit you to a loan. It is not a final loan approval.

A broker has no right to access your credit report, though some ask for your consent to get it for you. Lenders get it from credit reporting bureaus.

If your documents are not in English, ask whether a translation is needed. You can find a credentialed translator through NAATI. Permanent residents and some visa holders can have up to 10 eligible documents translated into English for free through the Department of Home Affairs' Free Translating Service. You must be in Australia, and your visa must have been granted in the past 2 years and still be valid. It covers personal documents issued by an official authority, such as identity documents and payslips, mostly as short summary translations of up to 100 words. Bank statements and tax returns are not on its list. Ask the lender what kind of translation it accepts before you order one.

Commonly requested items:

  • Government photo ID, such as a driver's licence, passport or foreign national identity card. If you lack standard ID, ask what else is accepted.
  • If you are employed: recent payslips, confirmation of employment, recent tax returns and bank statements.
  • If you receive government payments: Centrelink statements and bank statements.
  • If you are self-employed: tax returns, Business Activity Statements (BAS), an accountant's statement, financial statements and business account statements.
  • Details of your savings, debts and regular spending.

What does ListHQ check, and what must I check myself?

ListHQ runs some basic checks, and a ListHQ admin may record a manual check of a broker's licence details. It does not check everything, and a listing is not a recommendation.

To appear in the directory, a broker must have been accepted by ListHQ (this is not a licence check or a recommendation) and be active, and give an ABN that passes a checksum test. That checks the number is correctly formed; it is not an Australian Business Register lookup. Their latest registration check must not be recorded as failed or not found.

At sign-up, a broker gives their own credit licence number, or a credit representative number with their licensee's name and licence number, or the details of the licensee they operate under.

When ListHQ checks a broker, an admin compares these details with the register by hand. This is a manual ListHQ check, not an automated ASIC or ABR lookup. Where a profile shows licence details, it also says 'Licence details supplied by the broker and last reviewed by ListHQ on [date]'. After 90 days, it says the review is out of date.

A broker can be listed before ListHQ has checked them. Their card and profile then show no licence details at all, and no line saying they have not been checked. ListHQ shows a licence number only after reviewing it, so if a broker has none on ListHQ, look them up on ASIC's register yourself. Apart from licence details ListHQ has reviewed (shown with a date) and reviews from people who enquired through ListHQ, everything on a profile is supplied by the broker and not verified by ListHQ. That includes their name and business details, location, contact details, website, photo, tagline, years in mortgage broking, About text, languages, loan types and service areas.

Results are ordered by a current registration check (more weight if recent), closeness to the area you searched, a claimed profile, profile completeness and how recently the profile was last reviewed. No plan, payment or sponsorship changes the score. Tied brokers can swap places daily. Sponsored placements are not on sale yet. If they are offered, they will be shown separately and labelled 'Sponsored'.

Check these yourself: the broker's current ASIC status, which can change after ListHQ's review; the banned and disqualified registers; the credit guide and any fee quote; their lenders; and whether they speak your language. If a profile says the broker operates under another business's credit licence, any ListHQ check covers that licence, not the broker's link to it. Ask for the licensee's credit guide, and confirm with the licensee that the broker works for them.

If a detail on a broker's profile is wrong, open 'Is this your profile? Claim it, report a correction, or request removal' lower down that profile, then use 'Report or correct this profile'. Or email [email protected].

Common questions

How do I check if a mortgage broker is licensed in Australia?

Search the broker's name or number on ASIC's Professional Registers, using the Credit Licensee or Credit Representative register, and check the status and any conditions. An employee or director of a licensed business may not appear by name, so check the business's credit licence instead. Then contact the licensee yourself to confirm the broker works for it. Use the address on ASIC's register, not contact details the broker gave you. Also search ASIC's banned and disqualified registers.

Do I have to pay a mortgage broker?

Lenders generally pay brokers commission, usually with an upfront and an ongoing part. Some brokers also charge you a fee. If so, you must first accept a written quote stating the most you will pay, and the broker cannot ask for payment before providing the service. The broker must also tell you in writing what commission they are likely to receive.

What is the difference between a credit licensee and a credit representative?

A credit licensee holds an Australian credit licence from ASIC. A credit representative is authorised by a licensee to carry out some or all of its credit activities on its behalf. Both are legitimate. For a credit representative, check their own record and their licensee's record on ASIC's Professional Registers.

Does a mortgage broker have to act in my best interests?

Yes. Since 1 January 2021, mortgage brokers and their credit representatives must act in your best interests when helping with a home loan, and put your interests first if there is a conflict. You cannot sign this duty away, and it does not cover insurance. A lender's own staff selling its own loans are not covered by this duty, but the lender has responsible lending duties.

Can a mortgage broker access every lender?

Not usually. ASIC expects a broker to use a 'reasonably representative' panel of lenders, which need not include every lender. Ask which lenders they use and which they cannot access. If their panel does not let them act in your best interests, they must not help you.

How can I find a mortgage broker who speaks my language?

ASIC's Professional Registers cannot be searched by language. Ask people you know, or try a mortgage broker professional association (an industry body, not a regulator). Look at the languages a broker lists, then ask them directly whether they will speak with you in that language. On ListHQ, brokers supply their own languages and ListHQ does not verify them. When this guide was last reviewed, the ListHQ directory listed only a few brokers, all in Victoria. A listing is not a recommendation, and ListHQ may receive a fee from a broker for connecting you. If you need an interpreter, ask the broker how they will arrange one, and whether you will pay anything for it.

Does ListHQ verify the mortgage brokers it lists?

Only partly. To appear on ListHQ, a broker must have been accepted by ListHQ (this is not a licence check or a recommendation), be active, give an ABN that passes a checksum test (a format check, not a register lookup), and not have a latest registration check recorded as failed or not found. A ListHQ admin may record a manual check against the register, shown with its date; it is not an automated ASIC lookup. A broker can be listed before that check. Their profile then shows no licence details, and does not say it has not been checked. Apart from reviewed licence details and reviews from people who enquired through ListHQ, everything on a profile is supplied by the broker. A listing is not a recommendation, and ListHQ may receive a fee from a broker for connecting you. Always check ASIC's register yourself.

Sources

  1. Moneysmart (ASIC): Using a mortgage broker (opens in a new tab)
  2. Moneysmart (ASIC): Finance broker, glossary definition (opens in a new tab)
  3. Moneysmart (ASIC): How to complain (opens in a new tab)
  4. Moneysmart (ASIC): Choosing a home loan (opens in a new tab)
  5. Moneysmart (ASIC): Buying a house (opens in a new tab)
  6. National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, Federal Register of Legislation (opens in a new tab)
  7. National Consumer Credit Protection Regulations 2010, Federal Register of Legislation (opens in a new tab)
  8. ASIC: Professional registers search (opens in a new tab)
  9. ASIC: Search ASIC registers (opens in a new tab)
  10. ASIC: How to search the Professional Registers Search, user guide (July 2025) (opens in a new tab)
  11. ASIC: Credit representatives (INFO 126) (opens in a new tab)
  12. ASIC: RG 273 Mortgage brokers: Best interests duty (opens in a new tab)
  13. ASIC: RG 271 Internal dispute resolution (opens in a new tab)
  14. ASIC: RG 209 Credit licensing: Responsible lending conduct (opens in a new tab)
  15. ASIC: Credit Licensee Dataset help file, data.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
  16. AFCA: Make a complaint (opens in a new tab)
  17. AUSTRAC: Initial customer due diligence for individuals (opens in a new tab)
  18. TIS National: Interpreting services (opens in a new tab)
  19. TIS National: About the Free Interpreting Service (opens in a new tab)
  20. TIS National: Free Translating Service eligibility (opens in a new tab)
  21. TIS National: About the Free Translating Service (opens in a new tab)

About ListHQ and this guide

ListHQ is a referral and search platform only. It is not a lender, credit provider or credit adviser, and it does not provide credit assistance, recommend any loan or compare lenders. ListHQ may receive a fee from a broker for connecting you. Some brokers also pay ListHQ for a subscription plan. No plan or payment changes the order of directory results. This guide is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. A broker's profile on ListHQ is not a recommendation or a guarantee of their services, and using a broker does not mean a lender will approve your loan.

Last reviewed on 24 September 2026 against the official sources listed on this page. Laws and ASIC guidance change, so check those sources for the latest version. If something here is wrong or out of date, email [email protected] or use the contact form at /help/contact/. To correct a detail on a broker's profile, open 'Is this your profile? Claim it, report a correction, or request removal' on that profile and use 'Report or correct this profile', or email [email protected].