How to check a Perth mortgage broker's licence before you sign
By Nathan Ellis · Updated 2026-07-10
Before you hand over payslips, bank statements, and details of your financial life to a mortgage broker, it’s worth spending five minutes confirming they’re actually licensed to give you credit advice. This is general information about how licensing works in Australia, not a substitute for checking the current register yourself before proceeding with any broker, including any listed on this directory.
Why this matters
Anyone can set up a website or a social media page offering to help you get a home loan. Licensing is what separates someone genuinely authorised and accountable under Australian law from someone who isn’t, and it’s a check that takes very little time compared to the amount of financial detail you’ll eventually share with whoever you choose.
Mortgage brokers in Australia operate under the National Consumer Credit Protection framework. They must either hold their own Australian Credit Licence (ACL) or operate as a credit representative authorised under someone else’s licence. This isn’t just paperwork: it’s what obliges them to act in your best interests, disclose how they’re paid, and meet ongoing conduct and education standards.
The practical steps to verify a broker
- Ask directly for their ACL number or credit representative number. A legitimate broker will have this ready. If they hesitate or seem unsure, that’s worth noting.
- Search the public register. ASIC’s Financial Services and Credit Register lets you search by name, business name, or licence number and confirms whether the licence or authorisation is current.
- Check who the authorising licensee is, if the broker is a credit representative rather than an ACL holder directly. This tells you who is ultimately responsible for their conduct.
- Look for consistency. The name on the register should match the business name and the individual you’re dealing with. Mismatches are worth asking about.
What licensing does and doesn’t guarantee
Holding a current licence confirms a broker has met the baseline legal requirements to operate and is subject to conduct obligations, including best interests duty. It doesn’t guarantee they’re the best fit for your situation, or that their advice will suit you perfectly. Think of it as a minimum bar, not a full vetting process. Reviews, how clearly a broker explains their reasoning, and how comfortable you feel with their answers still matter on top of a clean licence check.
Quick reference
| Check | What it confirms | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| ACL or credit representative number | Legal authority to give credit advice | Ask the broker directly |
| Current status on the public register | Licence is active, not lapsed or cancelled | ASIC’s Financial Services and Credit Register |
| Authorising licensee (if applicable) | Who is responsible for a credit representative’s conduct | The same register |
| Industry body membership | A supporting signal, not proof of licensing | The relevant association’s own member list |
What to do if something doesn’t check out
If a broker’s details don’t show up on the register, or the licence status comes back as lapsed or cancelled, don’t proceed with the application. You can report a suspected unlicensed credit provider to ASIC directly. It’s also worth mentioning what you found to anyone who referred you to that broker, since they may not be aware there’s an issue.
If the licence checks out but something still feels off, that’s a different situation. A clean licence doesn’t mean you’re obligated to proceed. You’re free to walk away from any broker relationship at any point before you’ve signed a formal application, and a legitimate broker won’t pressure you not to.
Red flags worth acting on
Be cautious of anyone unwilling to provide licence details, pressure to sign documents before you’ve had a chance to review them, or requests for unusual upfront payments outside the standard commission arrangement most brokers work under. None of these alone proves a problem, but together they’re worth pausing over.
Once the licence checks out, our list of questions to ask a mortgage broker covers what else is worth confirming before you commit.
This is general information, not legal advice, and licensing requirements can change. Confirm a broker’s current status on the official ASIC register before proceeding with any application, regardless of how they’re presented elsewhere. See our scoring methodology for how this directory evaluates and ranks brokers.
FAQ
- What's the difference between a credit licence and a credit representative?
- An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) holder is directly authorised to provide credit assistance. A credit representative operates under someone else's licence rather than holding their own. Both are legitimate, but you should be able to see which applies and who the authorising licensee is.
- Where do I check if a broker is licensed?
- ASIC maintains a public register of credit licensees and credit representatives, searchable by name or licence number. A legitimate broker should be able to give you their ACL or credit representative number without hesitation.
- Is being a member of an industry association proof of a licence?
- It's a positive sign, since most reputable industry bodies require licensing as a condition of membership, but it's not the same as verifying the licence itself. Treat it as supporting evidence, not a substitute for checking the register.
- What if a broker won't share their licence details?
- That's a clear red flag. A properly licensed broker should be comfortable sharing this information, since it's public anyway. Hesitation or vague answers are a reason to look elsewhere.