Real Estate Photo Editing: What’s Legal, What’s Ethical and What We Stand For
KATE AKERS – JULY 7TH, 2025
You’ve probably seen the recent announcement from the Minns Government in NSW: new measures have just been introduced for image editing of rental properties. The reforms require an agent to disclose any image editing that could mislead tenants, such as altering a photo to hide property damage or adding furniture that makes a room appear larger than it really is. The penalties are steep:
🔹 $5,500 for individuals
🔹 $22,000 for businesses
This blog post will walk through exactly what we can and can’t edit and how we can help you show a property in its best light.
What We Can Ethically Edit
Our goal is to help your listings look polished, clean, and professional — while staying 100% honest. Here’s what we’re proud to offer:
- Lighting adjustments – Fixing dark areas or uneven light
- Sky replacements – Swapping grey skies for blue
- Colour correction & white balance – Making tones more true-to-life
- Perspective correction – Straightening lines and verticals
- Window enhancement – Making outside views clearer (but not fabricating them!)
- TV screen replacement – Adding tasteful lifestyle images or neutral views
- Adding fire to fireplaces/firepits – For a welcoming vibe
- Minor distraction removal – Think bins, loose cords, or the neighbour’s car (but not their house!)
- Greener lawns – Enhancing grass colour slightly (no landscaping fakery!)
- Virtual staging or decluttering – Always tagged with a clear disclaimer
What We Cannot (Legally or Ethically) Edit
There are certain things we can’t touch, because it’s unethical, misleading and in some cases, illegal. These include:
- Removing structural damage – We won’t hide cracks, mould, water stains, and other physical defects
- Adding views that don’t exist – We won’t Photoshop in ocean views or city skylines that aren’t there
- Making a room look larger than it is – We won’t use wide-angle trickery to stretch a space
- Editing out permanent features – We won’t remove power poles, neighbouring houses, roads or buildings
- Changing finishes – We won’t swap out floors, cabinets, tiles or fixtures unless it’s clearly disclosed as a virtual renovation
Why This Matters
- Keep you compliant with legislation
- Protect your agency’s brand
- Build trust with tenants, buyers and landlords
- Avoid costly complaints, disputes and fines
- Attract the right clients with honest, professional presentation