MLI Select Point Documentation Requirements Checklist: Everything CMHC Needs for Your Calgary Application

Universal Application Requirements

Regardless of project type or scoring strategy, every MLI Select application submitted through a CMHC-approved lender requires the following foundational documents:

• Completed CMHC MLI Select application form — submitted through the approved lender’s underwriting system
• Property appraisal or valuation report — confirming the purchase price or replacement cost for new construction
• Borrower net worth statement — documenting net worth of at least 25% of the purchase/project cost
• Property pro forma / financial projections — including detailed NOI calculations and DSCR analysis at the applied-for amortization period
• Executed purchase agreement (for acquisitions) or construction contract and cost breakdown (for new builds)
• Site plan and survey — confirming property boundaries and unit count
• Certificate of title or equivalent ownership documentation
• Environmental assessment — Phase I (and Phase II if required) environmental site assessment

Affordability Documentation Requirements

Affordability points require the most formal commitment documentation in the MLI Select application package. CMHC needs legally binding evidence of the affordability commitment — not just a stated intention.

• Formal Affordability Commitment Letter — must specify:
  • Exact number and unit designation of committed affordable units
  • The applicable CMHC Calgary CMA affordability threshold rent being committed to
  • Confirmation of the 10-year minimum commitment period with start date
  • Signed by the borrower/property owner
• Current CMHC Calgary CMA Affordability Threshold Reference — confirming the applicable annual median renter income figure used to calculate the threshold rent
• Unit rent schedule — showing current rents for all units and identifying which units are designated for affordability commitment
• Existing lease agreements (for acquisitions) — confirming current rent levels for all occupied units
• Affordability monitoring plan — describing the process by which the borrower will track and report affordability compliance annually

Energy Efficiency Documentation: New Construction

For new construction projects in Alberta, energy efficiency points are substantiated through the EnerGuide rating system. The documentation package must include design-stage modeling results that support the claimed point score.

• EnerGuide Design-Stage Energy Model Report — prepared by a Registered Energy Advisor (REA), including:
  • Building envelope specifications (wall R-values, window U-values, air tightness targets)
  • Mechanical system specifications (HVAC type, efficiency ratings, DHW system)
  • Modeled energy consumption relative to NECB reference building
  • Projected EnerGuide score and percentage improvement above baseline
• Architectural drawings and specifications — confirming all envelope and mechanical specifications referenced in the energy model
• Mechanical engineer’s summary — confirming HVAC system design and efficiency ratings
• Registered Energy Advisor credentials — confirming the REA’s qualification to conduct EnerGuide evaluations in Alberta

Energy Efficiency Documentation: Existing Buildings

For existing building acquisitions in Alberta, energy efficiency points require a two-stage documentation approach: a pre-retrofit baseline audit and a post-retrofit performance confirmation.

• Pre-Retrofit Baseline Energy Audit — conducted by a qualified energy auditor, establishing:
  • Current Energy Use Intensity (EUI) in GJ/m² or equivalent
  • Breakdown of energy end uses (space heating, DHW, lighting, common loads)
  • 12 months of utility bills confirming baseline consumption
• Retrofit Scope of Work — detailed specification of planned energy improvement measures, including:
  • Equipment specifications and efficiency ratings for all proposed mechanical upgrades
  • Envelope improvement specifications (insulation type and R-value, window specifications)
  • Projected energy reduction percentage from each measure, supporting the total claimed point score
• Energy Modeler’s Projection Report — confirming the projected post-retrofit EUI and percentage energy reduction supporting the claimed points
• Contractor quotes or contracts — demonstrating commitment to completing the specified retrofit scope

Accessibility Documentation Requirements

Accessibility points are documented primarily through architectural drawings and specifications that clearly identify and describe all accessibility features included in the design or retrofit scope.

• Architectural drawings with accessibility annotations — floor plans and sections clearly showing:
  • Step-free entry configurations with grade or ramp details
  • Doorway clear width measurements throughout
  • Accessible unit bathroom layouts with turning radius dimensions
  • Grab bar blocking locations and specifications
  • Accessible parking stall dimensions and quantities
• Accessibility feature specification sheet — itemizing all accessibility features claimed for points with reference to applicable accessibility standards (e.g., CSA B651, National Building Code accessibility provisions)
• Architect’s accessibility declaration — confirming that the design meets the accessibility standards claimed in the application
• Elevator specifications (where applicable) — cab dimensions, door width, and accessibility control panel specifications

Post-Construction Verification Documentation

After construction is complete, a second documentation package is submitted to CMHC through the lender to confirm that design commitments were achieved in the as-built condition.

• EnerGuide As-Built Evaluation Report — including blower door test results confirming achieved air tightness and final modeled energy performance
• Architect’s Accessibility Completion Declaration — statutory declaration confirming all specified accessibility features were installed as designed
• Executed lease agreements for affordable units — confirming units are occupied or available at the committed affordability threshold rent
• Occupancy permit — confirming the building has received municipal occupancy approval
• As-built drawings — confirming no material changes were made to MLI Select-relevant specifications during construction

Ongoing Compliance Documentation

Throughout the 10-year affordability commitment period, annual compliance documentation must be submitted to CMHC through the approved lender.

• Annual Affordability Compliance Report — confirming current rents for all committed affordable units versus current CMHC CMA threshold rents
• Lease summaries or rent rolls — for the committed affordable units, showing unit number, tenant name (or anonymized identifier), and current monthly rent
• Updated CMHC threshold documentation — confirming the current year’s applicable affordability threshold used for comparison
• Vacancy documentation (if applicable) — explaining any periods when committed units were vacant and confirming they will be re-rented at or below threshold upon re-tenanting

Master Documentation Checklist Table

Expert Take — New Homes Alberta: The most common documentation failure we encounter on Calgary MLI Select applications is the affordability commitment letter — specifically, letters that are too vague about unit designations, threshold rent figures, or commitment period terms. CMHC will return these for revision, adding two to four weeks to an application timeline. We work with every client to prepare a CMHC-standard commitment letter before submission that leaves no ambiguity about what is being committed, to whom, and for how long. A properly drafted affordability commitment letter is a one-to-two-page document that takes less than an hour to prepare correctly — and it is the single most important document in the entire application package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CMHC require original signed documents, or are digital submissions acceptable?

MLI Select applications are submitted through CMHC-approved lenders who use CMHC’s digital submission systems. Wet signatures are typically not required — electronic signatures on commitment letters, declarations, and financial documents are generally accepted. Confirm current submission format requirements with your approved lender before preparing your documentation package, as lender-specific requirements may vary.

How far in advance of an application submission should the EnerGuide design-stage energy model be commissioned?

Allow a minimum of four to six weeks from engagement of a Registered Energy Advisor to receipt of a completed EnerGuide design-stage energy model report. In peak construction seasons in Calgary (spring and summer), qualified REAs can have longer lead times — commission early to avoid delays. The energy model must be based on finalized design documents, so coordinate the design completion timeline with your REA engagement.

Can New Homes Alberta help prepare and review our MLI Select documentation package before submission?

Yes. Documentation review and preparation support is one of the core services our team provides to Calgary investors and developers using the qualifying for MLI Select program. We review your complete package before it goes to the lender to catch gaps, errors, and ambiguities that could delay or downgrade your approval. Schedule or visit MLI Select Calgary to get started.

Is there a specific order in which documents should be submitted to the CMHC-approved lender?

Most CMHC-approved lenders have a structured submission checklist that organizes documents by category. Work closely with your lender’s MLI Select underwriter to confirm their preferred submission format. Submitting a complete, well-organized package in the lender’s preferred format is the fastest path to CMHC review. New Homes Alberta maintains working relationships with multiple Calgary-based MLI Select lenders and can facilitate introductions and submission guidance — call +1 403-305-9167 to connect with our team.