Montreal Listing Requirements 2026 | Centris & OACIQ Compliance

Key Information

Quebec real estate brokers listing on Centris in 2026 are governed by Quebec's Real Estate Brokerage Act (Loi sur le courtage immobilier) and rules set by the Organisme d'autoreglementation du courtage immobilier du Quebec (OACIQ). Listings must be accurate, photos must not mislead, and the broker must verify the information they convey about the property. Quebec also has distinctive obligations: the Declarations of the Seller form is standard practice, and listings are typically prepared in French (or French alongside English). BuildMyListing produces Centris-ready packages, drafts copy that works in French markets, and keeps an alteration log per photo.

Pricing: Starting $99/month

Time Required: 10-25 minutes per Montreal listing

The Problem

Quebec brokers operate under the Real Estate Brokerage Act and OACIQ Rules, with verification duties that go beyond US-style 'agency.' Centris is the listing platform across Quebec, and the Declarations of the Seller form is standard practice. Listings often need French and English copy in parallel, and any photo alteration can become a complaint.

The Solution

BuildMyListing produces Centris-ready photo packages, drafts listing remarks in French and English from the same intake, and keeps an alteration log for every photo so an OACIQ inquiry can be answered with the originals.

Key Features

Centris Photo Specs Out of the Box

Photos exported at Centris-ready dimensions, file sizes, and ordering. Consistent treatment of indoor-outdoor exposure for Montreal's high-contrast spring and fall conditions.

Benefit: No reformatting between shoots and Centris upload

French + English Listing Copy

Listing remarks drafted in French (the typical Quebec listing language) with an English parallel for cross-market buyers. Both pass a Charter of the French Language-aware review for Centris display.

Benefit: Cover Quebec buyers and out-of-province buyers from one record

Declarations-of-the-Seller Companion

Intake captures the kinds of facts that appear on the Declarations of the Seller form — known issues, prior work, easements — so your listing record and the seller's declaration line up.

Benefit: Fewer revisions when the form arrives

Per-Photo Alteration Log

Every staged room, decluttered shot, sky replacement, or removed seasonal element is logged with a timestamp and the original photo. A public disclosure URL is generated automatically.

Benefit: Defensible answer to 'how was this photo made?'

How It Works

Capture Property + Declarations Items

Intake property details and the items the Declarations of the Seller typically asks about. BuildMyListing flags items the broker typically follows up on.

Upload, Enhance, and Stage

Upload photos. AI corrects exposure, applies optional staging or decluttering — every change logged. Listing copy drafts in French and English.

Export Centris Package

Download Centris-ready photos, French and English listing remarks, feature sheet, and the alteration disclosure record together.

Compliance Reference

Montreal Listing Element	Governing Authority	What's Expected	How BuildMyListing Handles It
Listing accuracy + verification	Quebec Real Estate Brokerage Act (Loi sur le courtage immobilier) + OACIQ Rules	Broker must verify the information conveyed to buyers	Material-fact intake + AI description pass
Declarations of the Seller	Standard Quebec practice + brokerage policy	Seller-completed declarations form customarily provided	Declarations-adjacent items captured on listing record
Centris listing data	Centris listing platform rules	Photos and listing fields meeting Centris specifications	Auto-formatted exports + alteration log
Listing language	Charter of the French Language (where applicable)	French copy customary and often required for public-facing display	FR + EN drafting from same intake
Listing remarks language	Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (housing)	No language indicating preference for or against a protected group	Drafting pass flags risky phrases before publish

Common Use Cases

Plateau Mont-Royal Duplex Pre-Sale

Scenario: Empty plateau duplex with character features and a need for French-first copy.

Process: Upload photos → virtual stage one unit interior → AI drafts FR remarks first, EN parallel → export Centris bundle

Compliance: Staged unit photo paired with original on disclosure URL. Centris remarks display in French first.

Westmount Detached with Prior Repairs

Scenario: Detached home with prior foundation work and a tired exterior shot from grey November.

Process: Declarations intake captures the foundation repair → AI corrects exposure → drafts FR + EN remarks → export bundle

Compliance: Prior repair is on the listing record so it lines up with the seller's declarations form. Exposure correction logged as cosmetic.

Laval Condo with Cross-Province Buyers

Scenario: Investment condo being marketed to Ontario and US buyers alongside Quebec.

Process: Upload condo photos → AI drafts FR + EN remarks → export Centris + cross-province packages with jurisdiction-appropriate disclosure footers

Compliance: One source of truth, multiple board exports, alteration log shared across all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Quebec law governs how I list a property on Centris in 2026?

Quebec's Real Estate Brokerage Act (Loi sur le courtage immobilier) is the governing statute, administered by the Organisme d'autoreglementation du courtage immobilier du Quebec (OACIQ). The OACIQ Rules and regulations set conduct and disclosure expectations, including a broker's duty to verify information conveyed to clients. Centris is the listing platform used across Quebec and adds platform-level requirements on top.

Do I have to disclose that a listing photo was virtually staged or AI-enhanced?

The Quebec framework does not single out virtual staging, but the broker's verification duty and the general prohibition on misleading buyers mean that any alteration that could change a buyer's understanding should be discoverable. BuildMyListing keeps a per-photo alteration log and a public disclosure URL.

What is the Declarations of the Seller form?

The Declarations of the Seller is a standard seller-completed form in Quebec residential transactions. It lists known facts about the property and surfaces them to the buyer. BuildMyListing does not produce the form itself, but the intake captures items that typically appear on it so your listing record matches.

Does the Charter of the French Language affect listing copy?

Listings displayed on Centris in Quebec are customarily prepared in French. The Charter of the French Language has rules about commercial publications and signage that can apply to listing media depending on context. BuildMyListing drafts French copy first with an English parallel so you can publish appropriately and have a translated version ready for out-of-province buyers.

Does the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms affect listing remarks?

Yes. Housing is covered by the Charter, and listing language that signals preference based on a protected ground can create complaints. BuildMyListing's drafting pass flags risky phrasings in both French and English before publish.

Are Centris photo specs different from US MLS specs?

Yes. Centris sets its own photo standards and listing data fields. BuildMyListing exports a Centris-tuned package separate from any US or out-of-province export profile, so you don't reformat the same shoot twice.

What about the brokerage's verification duty — does that mean I have to verify every fact?

Quebec is unusual in that the broker has an explicit verification duty for information conveyed to clients, distinct from agency duties. BuildMyListing helps by capturing material facts on the intake and surfacing items that typically need verification, but the verification itself is your professional responsibility.

What if the OACIQ asks for the originals of altered photos?

Originals are retained in your BuildMyListing listing record alongside every altered version, with a timestamp and the type of change. That is the answer the OACIQ expects when an inquiry comes in.

Is this page legal advice?

No. This is general information about how BuildMyListing maps to Quebec real estate practice. Consult a Quebec real estate lawyer (notaire or avocat) or your brokerage's compliance team for advice on a specific listing.

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Montreal Listings — Centris-Ready Photos, OACIQ-Defensible Copy