CMHC MLI Select Energy Modelling for Part 9 Multi-Unit Buildings
Energy modelling, audits and attestations that help low-rise rental projects reach their MLI Select points target — without overbuilding to get there.
How the points translate into financing
CMHC’s MLI Select program prices multi-unit mortgage loan insurance on a point system. Projects earn points by committing to affordability, energy efficiency and accessibility. The higher the score, the better the terms: reduced premiums, longer amortization, and more room on loan-to-cost and loan-to-value.
|
Total points |
What it unlocks |
|
50+ |
Up to 40-year amortization, reduced premium, up to 95% loan-to-cost |
|
70+ |
Up to 45-year amortization |
|
100 |
Up to 50-year amortization, limited-recourse financing |
Energy efficiency is worth up to 50 of those points, and it’s the category where timing matters most. Envelope assemblies, window specifications and mechanical systems get decided early, and changing them later is expensive.
CoEfficient Building Science models those decisions while they can still change, so your team knows what the building scores and what each additional point costs.
We do Part 9
For MLI Select work, we focus on Part 9 buildings: walk-up apartment blocks, stacked townhouses, rowhouse rental and small infill rental, generally three storeys or under.
This matters because CMHC sets different professional requirements by building type. On Part 9 buildings under four storeys, an energy advisor accredited by Natural Resources Canada can prepare the energy simulation. Larger Part 3 buildings need an engineer, architect or certified energy manager, which costs more and takes longer.
CoEfficient’s advisors hold NRCan accreditation, and Part 9 modelling is what we do daily. If your project falls under Part 3, we’ll tell you at first contact rather than partway through a proposal.
Energy targets for Part 9
New construction is measured against NBC 2020 Tier 1.
| Points | Performance target |
| 20 points | 20% better than NBC 2020 Tier 1 |
| 35 points | 40% better than NBC 2020 Tier 1 |
| 50 points | 70% better than NBC 2020 Tier 1 |
Existing buildings are measured against their own current performance: a 15% reduction in energy use and emissions earns 20 points, 25% earns 35 points, and 40% earns 50 points.
Most Part 9 projects land at 20 or 35 energy points and make up the balance through affordability and accessibility. The 50-point tier is achievable but takes a Passive-House-adjacent envelope, and the budget that comes with it. We’ll model the options so you can choose rather than discover.
One thing to decide early. Accessibility points are all-or-nothing. Before a project earns any of them, every unit has to be 100% visitable under CSA B651:23, with all common areas barrier-free. That’s a concept-stage decision, not a finishing detail.
Secure your funding in 6 simple steps:
Points combine
Insurance flexibilities are determined by total score, not by energy points alone. Three common Part 9 routes to 100 points:
- 50 affordability + 30 bonus (20-year commitment) + 20 energy. The lightest energy requirement, in exchange for a two-decade affordability commitment.
- 50 energy + 50 affordability. Higher envelope investment, shorter rent commitment.
- 20 energy + 30 accessibility + 50 affordability. Balanced, subject to the accessibility prerequisite below.
Flexibilities scale approximately as follows:
| Total points | Amortization | Additional flexibilities |
| 50+ | Up to 40 years | Reduced premium; up to 95% loan-to-cost (new construction) or 85% LTV (existing) |
| 70+ | Up to 45 years | Up to 95% LTV on existing properties |
| 100 |
Up to 50 years |
Limited-recourse financing available |
Minimum debt coverage ratio is 1.10 for standard rental housing. Final terms are determined by CMHC.
One prerequisite to plan for early. Accessibility points are not available incrementally. To earn any accessibility points, every unit in the building must be 100% visitable under CSA B651:23, with all common areas barrier-free. This is a concept-stage design decision, not a finishing detail.
Our services
Energy modelling and pathway analysis. We model envelope and mechanical options and report what each combination scores, so your team weighs cost against points while the design is still open.
Energy audits for existing buildings. On acquisition and retrofit projects, we establish baseline performance and model the reductions your scope will deliver.
Airtightness testing. Blower-door and air-leakage testing to inform modelling, catch envelope problems during construction, and verify final performance. CoEfficient has delivered some of the largest and most complex airtightness tests conducted in Canada.
Attestations and documentation. Energy modelling summaries and the signed attestation confirming the energy efficiency criteria have been met, ready for your lender to submit.
We’re headquartered on Vancouver Island and work throughout the Island and the Lower Mainland, with project experience across Canada.
When to engage
As early as you can. At feasibility or early schematic, we’re comparing pathways rather than defending a fixed design, and acting on the results costs the least. Before permit still works, though the cheapest options may already be committed. After that, expect to trade budget for points.
MLI Select applications go to CMHC through an approved lender. Bringing your lender and your energy modeller in around the same time keeps the financing and technical work aligned.
Eligibility
Minimum 5 units
retirement homes require a minimum of 50 units or beds
Non-residential space
must not exceed 30% of gross floor area or 30% of total lending value
Standard rental, single room occupancy
supportive housing and retirement homes are also eligible
Student housing may qualify
under energy efficiency and accessibility only
Affordability commitments
run a minimum of 10 years; commitments of 20 years or more earn 30 additional points. Affordability is measured against CMHC’s published median renter income data for the market
Program details are updated periodically. Confirm current requirements with CMHC or your approved lender.
Find out what your project scores
Send us your drawings and a short project description. We’ll confirm the building classification, estimate where the design currently lands, and outline what it would take to reach the next tier.
Frequently asked questions
Does the energy model require a professional engineer?
Not for a Part 9 building under four storeys. CMHC accepts an energy simulation prepared by an energy advisor accredited by Natural Resources Canada, which represents a meaningful difference in cost and schedule compared with the Part 3 requirement.
How do I know if my project is Part 9 or Part 3?
Part 9 generally means three storeys or fewer and 600 m² or less in building area, though occupancy and other code conditions apply. Your architect can confirm it. Send us your drawings and we’ll tell you quickly.
Can a project reach 100 points through energy efficiency alone?
No. Energy efficiency is capped at 50 points. Reaching 100 requires combining energy with affordability and accessibility commitments.
We are acquiring an existing building and plan to retrofit. Does that qualify?
Yes. This is a common MLI Select structure. Points are based on projected reductions against the building’s current performance, and the commitment to complete the retrofit within an agreed timeframe supports the financing terms. We deliver the pre-retrofit audit, the energy model and the attestation.
Will your documentation satisfy CMHC?
We prepare the energy model, supporting documentation and signed attestation to current program requirements, using CMHC-accepted, ASHRAE 140-compliant simulation software. The approved lender submits the application, and CMHC determines eligibility and final terms.
Is airtightness testing required?
Not in every case. Requirements depend on the pathway selected and how performance is substantiated. Many project teams choose to test regardless, since envelope deficiencies identified during construction are considerably less expensive to correct than those found at verification.