Novoclimat building: A certification to check

The NOVOCLIMAT certification is very popular with buyers. However, a verification is required before adding it to the listing or description of a new home for sale. 

An easy and mandatory verification to make 

Your new selling client tells you that his residential or commercial immovable is certified Novoclimat. This means that it would have been built to higher energy performance standards that increase its value, leading the prospective buyer to believe that he will make substantial savings on his electricity bills.

However, in accordance with your duty to verify and the rules of ethics in force, it is your responsibility to ask him to show you the certificate of approval (including a file number) before using this information. This certificate is remitted to the first owner at the end of construction by Transition énergétique Québec, the body that administers the Novoclimat program. 

Since you must be able to prove the accuracy of the information you provide, it is only when you have a copy in hand that the information can be used, including in the listing sheet and the Declarations by the seller of the immovable form (clause D10.8) or its version for divided co-ownership, containing question D9.10, which is related to this topic.

ATTENTION: under your duty to verify, you cannot affirm, even verbally, that it is a Novoclimat building without proof of approval. This breach of professional duty will lead the OACIQ to impose disciplinary measures and misled buyers to take legal action.

In the absence of this proof of approval, or if in doubt, you must contact Transition énergétique Québec at [email protected], specifying the address of the building and indicating whether it is a home or a multiple-unit building. This organization undertakes to process the verification request within an average period of two business days.

For more information

• Transition énergétique Québec - Novoclimat Program: https://transitionenergetique.gouv.qc.ca/en/residential/programs/novoclimat