A heat pump and an air conditioner are two different things

When signing a brokerage contract with a seller, you must collect as much information as possible on the immovable and the equipment it contains. Under the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising, this information must be accurate and verified. The OACIQ’s Assistance Department has noted that it can sometimes be difficult to determine the true nature of components such as a building’s air conditioning or heating system.

While a component affixed to the outside wall of an immovable or nearby can give the impression of being a heat pump, it may actually be air conditioning or heating unit. A “heat pump” must include both options, i.e. heating and air conditioning. Don’t be fooled by appearances. You should know that manufacturers use the same housing for an air condition as for a heat pump, and some installations have a label indicating that the system can heat and cool where this is not the case. Therefore, exercise care when providing information to a prospective buyer or his real estate broker about the nature of the equipment.

To make sure you have the correct information, you must check with the seller whether the system identified as a “heat pump” is actually used to heat and air-condition the premises. As an added precaution, the real estate broker should also ask the seller to provide all the documentation in his possession regarding the equipment (invoice, owner’s manual, etc.).

Additional information: “Identifying inclusions and exclusions”