When it comes to real estate and property discussions in India, terms like “built-up area,” “carpet area,” and “super built-up area” often pop up, leaving many potential homebuyers and investors confused. In this blog post, we’ll demystify the concept of built-up area and explore its significance within the Indian real estate landscape.
Defining Built-Up Area:
Built-up area refers to the total floor area that is covered by a building, including all usable spaces within the walls. This encompasses the area occupied by rooms, corridors, staircases, balconies, and even common areas like lobbies. In simple terms, it’s the entire space you would physically occupy within the four walls of a building.
Calculation of Built-Up Area:
The calculation of built-up area includes both the carpet area and the thickness of walls. The carpet area is the actual usable area within the walls where you can place your furniture or walk around. The thickness of walls is added to account for the non-usable space taken up by the walls themselves. This makes the built-up area larger than the carpet area.
Importance in Real Estate Transactions:
Built-up area holds paramount importance in real estate transactions, as it directly influences the property’s valuation and pricing. Builders and developers use this metric to determine the cost of construction, which in turn affects the selling price of the property. Homebuyers use the built-up area to evaluate the spaciousness and utility of a property, helping them make informed decisions based on their requirements and budget.
Legal Regulations and Consumer Rights:
To protect the interests of homebuyers and promote transparency in the real estate sector, India has introduced the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA). According to RERA guidelines, builders and developers are required to disclose the carpet area, built-up area, and super built-up area of a property in all marketing and promotional materials. This ensures that buyers are aware of the actual space they are purchasing and prevents misleading advertisements.
Difference from Super Built-Up Area:
It’s important to differentiate between built-up area and super built-up area. While built-up area includes the usable space within the walls, the super built-up area also accounts for the common areas shared by all residents, such as the lobby, staircases, elevators, and amenities. Super built-up area is used to calculate maintenance charges, but it doesn’t contribute to the actual living space.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, understanding the concept of built-up area is essential for anyone considering a real estate investment or a new home purchase in India. It impacts the property’s pricing, your living experience, and even your legal rights as a consumer. As the real estate sector continues to evolve, initiatives like RERA strive to make the buying process more transparent and consumer-friendly. So, the next time you’re exploring properties, you’ll have a clearer picture of what the term “built-up area” truly entails.
