Prospective purchasers can now expect information about flooding risks on Nova Scotia properties as a basic element of vendor disclosure. The Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission has updated its property disclosure statement (PDS), a standardized form that sellers use to convey their knowledge about a property, to include information about coastal flooding and erosion, general flooding and pooling or drainage issues.

The Commission is the regulatory body for Nova Scotia’s real estate brokers and agents. While it is not mandatory for prospective sellers to prepare a PDS, realtors are required to use the standardized form if a PDS is offered. In practice, the Commission reports that most sellers do opt to provide a PDS, as it is seen as an instrument that can protect them from later liability claims.

“I applaud the leadership of the real estate commission, who, with this change, are helping property buyers make informed decisions and investments with respect to potential impacts of climate change,” says Timothy Halman, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “This is the type of all-hands-on-deck approach to adapting to global climate change that is needed to ensure our communities and homes are sustainable and safe.”

The updated form was adopted as of July 1.