Know Your Space: Carpet, Built-Up, Super Built-Up Area Simplified
Whether you’re a buyer or a developer, it’s essential to understand the different metrics used to measure property spaces in the real estate industry. Terms like carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area are commonly encountered during property transactions in India.
This guide aims to make you understand the definitions, calculation methods comprehensively, and important considerations associated with each area.
By shedding light on their significance in the context of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), we hope to empower you with the knowledge necessary for making informed decisions in the Indian real estate market.
So, catch up as we take you through the intricacies of carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area together.
What is a Carpet Area?
Carpet area refers to the precise, net usable floor space within the walls of a property, excluding the thickness of the inner walls. It represents the area where one can place a carpet, providing an accurate measure of the practical living space available to occupants.
Unlike built-up or super built-up areas, carpet area focuses exclusively on the interior dimensions of a unit, not including common spaces.
As a crucial metric in real estate, carpet area guides buyers or tenants by offering a transparent assessment of the actual usable space within a property.
What is the RERA Carpet Area?
RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) has introduced the term “RERA Carpet Area” as a standardized measurement in the real estate sector. It represents the net usable floor area within the walls of a property, excluding the area covered by external walls.
Unlike built-up or super built-up areas, carpet area focuses exclusively on the interior dimensions of a unit, not including common spaces.
As a crucial metric in real estate, carpet area guides buyers or tenants by offering a transparent assessment of the actual usable space within a property.
What is the RERA Carpet Area?
RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) has introduced the term “RERA Carpet Area” as a standardized measurement in the real estate sector. It represents the net usable floor area within the walls of a property, excluding the area covered by external walls.
The introduction of this specific term by RERA is to promote transparency and fairness in property transactions. Calculating the RERA carpet area is crucial for property developers to quote accurate prices and for homebuyers to ensure they pay for the actual usable living space.
Implementing RERA carpet area standards aims to protect the interests of homebuyers and create a more transparent and accountable real estate market.
How to Calculate Carpet Area?
Carpet Area = Area of Bedrooms + Living Room + Kitchen + Toilets − Thickness of Inner Walls
Things to Note about the Carpet Area:
- Carpet area provides the most accurate representation of a property’s livable space.
- It is the foundation for fair and transparent pricing in real estate transactions.
What is Built-Up Area?
Built-up area refers to the overall floor space that includes the carpet area and the additional space taken up by the thickness of the inner and outer walls. It considers the entire enclosed space of a building, including the living area, walls, and other structural elements.
The built-up area is a critical metric for construction planning and cost estimation, providing a more comprehensive measurement than the carpet area, which only considers usable living space.
Traditionally, the built-up area has been used to determine property values and pricing in real estate transactions. However, with the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), there has been a shift towards pricing properties based on the more accurate carpet area, promoting transparency in the real estate sector.
How to Calculate Built-Up Area?
Built-Up Area = Carpet Area + Thickness of Inner Walls
Essential Things to Note about Built-Up Area:
- Historically, pricing was often based on the built-up area, but buyers should seek clarity on valuation components.
- Different developers may have varied interpretations of what is included in the built-up area.
What is a Super Built-Up Area?
The Super Built-Up Area of a property is the sum of the built-up area and a proportional share of common spaces such as corridors, lobbies, staircases, and amenities.
It represents the total space a buyer or tenant is expected to share in addition to the actual living space within the unit. This measure is frequently used in real estate transactions to calculate maintenance charges and allocate costs associated with shared facilities.
Thus, the Super Built-Up Area provides a comprehensive measure of a property’s overall space, incorporating private and shared areas.
How to Calculate Super Built-Up Area?
Super Built-Up Area = Built-Up Area + Common Area
Important Things to Note About Super Built-Up Area:
- Super Built-Up Area includes common spaces like lobbies and corridors, impacting the overall measurement.
- Maintenance charges are often based on the super built-up area, influencing ongoing resident costs.
Difference Between Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super-Built-Up Area
| Spaces | Carpet Area | Built-Up Area | Super Built-Up Area |
| Living Room / Common Hall | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bedroom | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bathrooms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pooja Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Balcony | No | Yes | Yes |
| Study Room | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Utility Area | No | Yes | Yes |
| Inner Staircase | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outer Staircase | No | Yes | Yes |
| Terrace | No | Yes | Yes |
| Verandah | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lobby | No | No | Yes |
| Lift | No | No | Yes |
| Swimming Pool | No | No | Yes |
| Garden | No | No | Yes |
What is the Loading Factor and its Formula?
The difference between the carpet and super built-up areas is the loading factor.
Formula
Super Built-up area = Carpet area * (1-loading factor)
Common Mistakes:
- Neglecting wall thickness in carpet area and built-up area calculations leads to inaccuracies.
- Misunderstanding the components of super built-up areas can result in unrealistic expectations.
- Assuming uniform joint area allocation among developers can lead to miscalculations.
- Excluding relevant spaces, such as balconies, from calculations affects pricing accuracy.
- Ignoring RERA guidelines for carpet area and RERA carpet area may lead to legal complications.
To Conclude –
A clear understanding of carpet, built-up, and super built-up areas is essential in navigating the complexities of the Indian real estate market.
Implementing RERA has brought about an increased focus on transparency and fairness in property transactions.
With the information in this article, homebuyers can make informed decisions, negotiate effectively, and avoid common pitfalls in area calculations.
FAQ’S
What is Carpet Area?
Carpet area refers to the net usable floor space within a property’s walls, excluding the inner walls’ thickness. It represents the practical living space available to occupants.
What is RERA Carpet Area?
RERA Carpet Area is a standardized measurement introduced by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, representing the net usable floor area within the walls, excluding the external walls.
How is the Carpet Area Calculated?
Carpet Area is calculated by adding the area of bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and toilets and then subtracting the thickness of the inner walls.
What is Built-Up Area?
The Built-Up Area includes the carpet area along with the additional space taken up by the thickness of the inner and outer walls. It provides a more comprehensive measurement, including structural elements.
How is Built-Up Area Calculated?
The Built-up area is calculated by adding the carpet area and the thickness of the inner walls.
What is Super Built-Up Area?
Super Built-Up Area is the sum of the built-up area and a proportional share of common spaces such as corridors, lobbies, and amenities.
How is Super Built-Up Area Calculated?
The Super Built-Up Area is calculated by adding the built-up area and the common area.
What is the Difference Between Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area?
The Carpet Area represents the usable living space, the Built-Up Area includes structural elements, and the Super Built-Up Area adds common spaces to the built-up area.
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