Quebec real estate glossary · French to English
Déclarations du vendeur = Declarations by the seller of the immovable. The OACIQ form is the Declarations by the seller of the immovable. Brokers call it the DS.
En bref, en français : Les déclarations du vendeur se disent Declarations by the seller of the immovable en anglais, sur le formulaire officiel de l'OACIQ.
Among the mandatory and recommended brokerage forms it publishes, the OACIQ lists in English the Declarations by the seller of the immovable, for a chiefly residential immovable. It is the form on which a seller states what they know about the property.
It is one of the most consequential documents a seller signs, because what is declared, and what is not, shapes any later discussion about latent defects.
What it typically covers
- Water infiltration, past or present.
- Work done, with or without permits.
- Known problems with the foundation, roof, or drainage.
- Servitudes, litigation, and anything affecting title.
Why it matters in both languages
A seller answering in French and a buyer reading in English must be looking at the same statements. The OACIQ publishes the form in both, which is precisely so that neither side is guessing at a translation.
Say it in a sentence
The word on its own is rarely the problem. These are the sentences you will actually hear, and what they become in English.
| Vous entendrez | In English |
|---|---|
| Le vendeur a rempli les déclarations du vendeur. | The seller completed the declarations by the seller. |
| Rien n'a été déclaré au sujet du drain. | Nothing was declared about the drain. |
| La déclaration mentionne des travaux sans permis. | The declaration mentions work done without permits. |
The mistake we see most often
The mistake, on the seller's side, is answering from memory to move faster. A declaration that turns out to be incomplete is the first document a buyer's lawyer reads. On the buyer's side, the mistake is skimming it. Read what was answered and, just as carefully, what was left blank, then ask about the blanks before the inspection rather than after.
Where this fits in a Quebec transaction
Buying or selling in Quebec means signing documents that exist in both languages, written under civil law rather than common law. A word-for-word translation is sometimes right and sometimes actively misleading. The full list is in our Quebec real estate glossary, French to English.
Related terms
- latent defects in English
- our guide on vices cachés
- real estate broker in English
- selling with our team
Questions we get asked
What is the déclaration du vendeur called in English?
Declarations by the seller of the immovable. It is a standard OACIQ brokerage form.
Is the seller obliged to fill it in?
When a broker is involved in a chiefly residential transaction, this form is part of the standard documentation. Your broker will tell you exactly which forms apply to your situation.
What if something was not declared?
Undisclosed problems are the starting point of most latent defect disputes. What matters is what the seller knew, and what a prudent buyer could have perceived.
Published by the Loaa & Manseur team, number one team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025. We work in French and in English. Tell us about your project.