When you go to buy a property, you may hear the term carpet area, built-up area, super built-up areas, and so on. This can be confusing for many buyers. Propertywala has put together this handy guide with definitions of these terms.
CARPET AREA
A carpet area in simple words is the area where we can lay our carpet. It is an area in between external walls; it includes rooms, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom, and a staircase within the unit. The carpet area excludes balconies, service shafts and common areas. There have been some changes in the carpet area after RERA (REAL ESTATE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ACT) came into effect in 2016. The internal walls of a building were not included under the carpet area in earlier versions of RERA, but they are now.
Next, it is important for buyers to determine the carpet area in an approved layout before making a purchase. This can help you understand how much carpeting will be included in your new home. So, before buying a property, ask your builder about the approved layout. And next is to compare two properties based on carpet area only for a clear understanding of the rate.
FORMULA TO CALCULATE THE CARPET AREA
The total area of the inner wall and floor is the carpet area.
BUILD-UP AREA
The built-up area refers to the entire area covered by carpet plus inside weight-bearing walls and outside walls if any. The term included areas that refer to external walls, attached balconies, verandahs, a service shaft area, and a servant room. Excluded areas are terraces, and common areas like lifts and stairs, etc. The walls of adjoining apartments will be factored into the building of your apartment at 50% of its build-up area. Built up area generally is approx. 10% higher than the carpet area.
FORMULA TO CALCULATE THE BUILD-UP AREA
The built-up area of a building is the total floor space, including carpeting, walls and balconies.
SUPER BUILD-UP AREA
When you purchase a property, you will hear about the term “super built-up area”. It means the build-up area of a flat and pro rata common area. For example, the total common space is 8000 sq feet among 8 flats in a complex, so the pro rata common area of a single apartment will be 1000 sq feet. Therefore, the common area includes built-up space like a lobby, lift shafts, staircases, pipe ducts, air ducts, and other covered common facilities. And the area which is not included in the common area is the roof terrace and open areas like parks and play areas as well as driveways. The approximately super built-up area is 25% higher as compared to the carpet area. Generally, it varies from 20% to 40% of the carpet area.
FORMULA TO CALCULATE THE SUPER BUILD-UP AREA
To convert the super built-up area into carpet area, calculate the loading factor, and subtract that from the Super built-up area.
LOADING FACTOR
The difference between the super built-up area and the carpeted area is referred to as the loading factor.
Therefore; Carpet area * (1- loading factor) = Super Built-up area
CALCULATION EXAMPLE OF SUPER BUILD-UP AREA
Let’s assume, the super built-up area of an apartment is 1,200 sq. ft. and the carpet area is 1,000 sq. ft.
1,000 X (1-loading factor) = 1,200
1- loading factor = 1,200/1,000
1- loading factor = 1.2
Loading factor = 1.2 – 1
So, the answer is 0.2 or 20%. As a standard, It is always in percentage.
IMPORTANT FACT TO KNOW BEFORE PURCHASING A PROPERTY
For your information, section 61 of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Act (RERA) stipulates that promoters can be fined up to 5% of the total cost of the real estate project for giving false information or selling on the super area. It should be sold in the carpet area.