Do BC sellers have to fill out a Property Disclosure Statement?

Direct answer

No — the BC Property Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a STANDARDIZED form (BCFSA-issued) that the SELLER may complete to disclose facts they personally know about the property, but it is NOT mandatory. A seller can refuse to fill out a PDS, which is then noted on the listing. However: (1) if the seller does complete a PDS, every answer must be truthful — knowingly false answers are misrepresentation and grounds for rescission and damages; (2) the seller's licensee has a SEPARATE duty under BCFSA Rule 5-13 to disclose material latent defects regardless of whether the seller fills out a PDS — that duty cannot be contracted around; (3) the absence of a PDS is itself a material fact most buyer's agents flag, since it shifts more diligence burden to the buyer's own inspection. The PDS includes about 60 questions covering structure, water, electrical, environmental hazards, easements, strata issues, and disputed boundaries. "Do not know" is a permissible answer when the seller genuinely does not know — but "do not know" used as a shield against actual knowledge is misrepresentation. Most BC realtors require a PDS as a subject-removal condition; sellers who refuse should expect lower offers.