Victoria's underquoting reforms are due to require vendors to publicly disclose a reserve price at least seven days before auction. The timing could land very close to this year's Block auctions, with the new rules due to begin on October 1, 2026.
That could change one of the show's biggest finale pressure points.
The Reserve Price Rule Could Change Auction Week
Reserve prices are usually one of The Block's final pieces of suspense. Contestants wait to learn the figure they need to clear, buyers try to read the room, and everyone watching at home becomes emotionally invested in a number they only heard 20 seconds earlier.
But if reserves have to be published a week earlier, auction day may not play out with quite the same mystery.
The Victorian Government says the change is part of a push to make property sales fairer and crack down on underquoting. Under the reforms, agents would need to publish the reserve ahead of auction and would not be able to proceed if that notice period is not met.
Adam And Jolene Are Feeling The Pressure
In a Now To Love report, House One couple Adam and Jolene admitted the looming change has added another layer of nerves before auction day.
Jolene said the contestants are "all a little nervous", while also pointing out that the teams can only focus on the homes they deliver. Adam took a similar view, describing the new reserve-price rules as another one of the show's "challenges and curveballs".
Honestly, that is probably the healthiest possible mindset. Trying to control The Block auction chaos feels a bit like trying to negotiate calmly with a spreadsheet while five buyers, three agents and one very dramatic music cue stare back at you.
Lisa And Roscoe Wonder What It Means For Bidding
Lisa and Roscoe are also thinking about how a public reserve could change the feel of the auction. Lisa told the outlet it could take "a bit of the surprise" out of the day, while also questioning whether Nine would factor the change into how reserves are announced.
It is easy to see why contestants would be twitchy. Last year's Block auctions were bruising, with two homes passed in after failing to meet their reserves. The reserve number can shape the whole mood of the finale, especially when every team has spent months hoping their renovation choices translate into buyer confidence.
For the 2026 teams, the homes, market conditions and buyer appetite will still matter most. But the reserve conversation may no longer be a behind-closed-doors reveal saved for the last possible moment.
Auction Day Could Look Very Different
Nothing in the report confirms exactly how Nine will handle this year's Block auctions if the timing overlaps with the new rule. The show has survived plenty of format headaches before, but auction week is where tiny details can suddenly feel enormous.
The contestants can control the rooms they deliver. The reserve-price drama, as always, might be the bit that keeps everyone sweating until the hammer falls.
