Are you thinking about purchasing a new house? Feeling overwhelmed, by the complex terminology used in real estate? No need to stress; many people find themselves in this situation. The space and legalities that come with buying a home, a villa, or an apartment must be considered very carefully. Even though a layperson may not be familiar with all the technical terms and real estate concepts associated with the home-buying zone, such as the distinction between what is carpet area and super built-up area.
However, being aware of them and possessing sufficient knowledge about them can help to streamline the home-buying process. It can also help in removing any remaining legal obstacles, and increase your sense of independence. Here is a glossary of a few real estate phrases you should be thoroughly familiar with to understand your area and a building’s features.
Understanding carpet area
The carpet area is, as its name implies, the area of your home that may be covered with a carpet. This does not account for the thickness of the interior walls, pillars, etc. The carpet space of an apartment does not include any common areas like the lobby, lifts, stairwell, play area, etc.
The carpet area is the actual space you receive for use as a home. You have access to this area. This will include the kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. About 70% of the built-up area is made up of carpet.
According to RERA, all developers of current projects are required to publish the size of their flats based on carpet area (the real area of the dwelling unit). This covers spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. This aids in giving the potential homeowner a clear picture. To match clients’ real measurements of the flat, a precise specification is helpful.
Calculating carpet area
An easy formula that can be used to determine the carpet area is as follows:
Carpet area = (area of bedroom + living room + kitchen + balconies + toilets) – the thickness of the inner walls. Your apartment’s carpeted space usually makes up between 70% and 90% of the total built-up area. Let’s look at a computation of the carpet area in an actual flat: Suppose an apartment has a built-up size of 1392.65 square feet, and the General Carpet size makes up 82.8% of that space. The General Carpet Area is then 1153.11 out of 1392.65 square feet, or 82.8%.
What is the RERA carpet area?
The RERA Act of 2016 defines the RERA Carpet Area as the total useable floor area of an apartment or home, excluding the external area, common areas, exclusive balconies or verandas, and exclusive open terraces, but including the space bounded by internal partition walls.
As used herein, ‘exclusive balcony or verandah area’ refers to the portion of the balcony or verandah, as applicable, that is attached to the net usable floor area of an apartment and is reserved for the allottee’s (homeowner’s) exclusive use. Similarly, ‘exclusive open terrace area’ refers to the portion of the open terrace that is attached to the net usable floor area of an apartment and is reserved for the allottee’s exclusive use.
Also read: What is building construction cost in Bangalore
Important things about the carpet area
- Take note that information about the carpet area should be included in marketing brochures, advertising materials, selling deeds, and sale agreements.
- Check to see if the carpet area that was described to the homebuyer is the same before investing. Requesting a refund from the developer is possible in the event of any mismatch.
Super Built-up area
The actual area measurement provided by the builder is included in this area. It includes all public spaces like lobbies, lifts, and hallways. A few times, a super built-up area will have facilities such as a clubhouse, pool, garden space, and children’s play area. The “saleable area,” also known as the “super built-up area,” is the basis for the developer/builder’s charges to you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the super built-up area is unique to apartment square feet. If there are two variations of the same project, a 2 BHK and a 3 BHK with different square feet, the super built-up area will be computed on the square feet of each apartment.
The actual usable space for the homeowner and the actual housing unit is most frequently the carpet area. While most builders offer a super built-up area to determine the base price, the super built-up area increases with the number of amenities.
Calculating super built-up area
By combining the built-up area and the proportionate common area, the super built-up area is computed. The carpet might also be multiplied by the loading factor plus 1. (For instance, 1211 square feet [RERA Carpet] x 1 + 0.50 [loading factor 50%] equals 1816 square feet.)
Consider that you have a 1000 square foot flat on the third floor and your friend has a 2000 square foot flat on the same level. The builder would divide the common space in proportion to the built-up area if the total common area was 1,500 square feet.
In this situation, the ratio is 1:2, thus the builder will increase your flat by 500 square feet while giving your friends a 1000 square-foot addition. Now, the super built-up size of your property will be 1500 square feet, whereas the super built-up area of your friend’s property will be 3000 square feet.
Important things about the super built-up area
The built-up area’s key features are as follows:-
- Ask for a breakdown of the components if a seller is selling a house with a built-up area.
- Super built-up area-based real estate offers might be deceptive.
Difference between carpet area and super built-up area
When it comes to buying or leasing a property many people often get confused about the difference between the carpet area and the super built-up area. Let’s try to understand this below:
| Carpet Area | Super Built-up Area | |
| Bedroom | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen | Yes | Yes |
| Living Room/Common Hall | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Room | Yes | Yes |
| Study Room | Yes | Yes |
| Guest Room | Yes | Yes |
| Kid’s Room | Yes | Yes |
| Lobby | No | Yes |
| Balcony | No | Yes |
| Inner Staircase | Yes | Yes |
| Outer Staircase | No | Yes |
| Pooja Room | Yes | Yes |
| Terrace | No | Yes |
| Lift | No | Yes |
| Garden | No | Yes |
| Swimming Pool | No | Yes |
| Verandah | No | Yes |
Conclusion
To sum up, it is crucial for anyone stepping into the real estate realm to know what are carpet areas and super built-up areas. The carpet area refers to the space within a property where you’ll be spending your everyday life. On the other hand, the super built-up area encompasses not only your personal living space but also communal areas, amenities, and shared facilities. Understanding this distinction empowers you as a buyer or renter to make informed choices regarding the space that will soon become your home.
