What is RERA Carpet Area? / What is Carpet Area as Per RERA?
Introduction to RERA
To understand where RERA Carpet Area came from, we need to know what RERA is.
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, commonly known as RERA, has transformed the Indian real estate landscape. Introduced to protect home buyers and boost investments, RERA has set stringent regulations for developers and builders.
Learn why RERA Carpet Area Matters more than you think
If you want to learn how to measure Carpet Area as mandated by RERE here is your guide
Definition of Carpet Area as Per RERA Guidelines
RERA’s definition of carpet area called, colloquiallyย called RERA Carpet Area, provides a standardized measure for buyers and sellers. This standardization ensures transparency and fairness in property transactions.
As defined by RERA, carpet area refers to the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by external walls, areas under service shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area, and exclusive open terrace area. However, it includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment.
A very detailed explanation of how the RERA Carpet Area is derived is available in this blog
Understand ‘what really matters to home buyers’
Comparison with Other Area Definitions
It’s essential to distinguish carpet area from other terminologies:
- Built-up Area: This includes the carpet area plus the thickness of outer walls and the balcony, shafts, deck etc.
- Super Built-up Area: Often termed as the saleable area, it consists of the built-up area plus the proportionate area of common spaces like lobbies and staircases. The proportion is divided as a ratio of your apartment area. Now which area the builder considers is left to the builder.
Various Types of area definitions
Importance of Carpet Area
Understanding the carpet area is crucial as it directly impacts the property’s value. Buyers and sellers must be well-informed to ensure transparent and fair transactions.
How to Measure Carpet Area?
The Importance of Accurate Measurement
Accurate measurement of the carpet area ensures that both buyers and sellers get a fair deal. Any discrepancies can lead to disputes and legal complications.
Step-by-step Guide on Measuring Carpet Area
- Start by measuring the length and breadth of each room using a laser measure.
- Multiply these measurements to get the area of each room.
- Measure the dimensions of the apartment in such a manner so as to get the thickness of the internal walls
- Sum the footprint of all the internal walls
- Add the areas of all rooms to the footprint of all the internal walls get the total carpet area.
- Remember to exclude balconies, terraces, and external walls.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Not accounting for wall thickness: Always measure from wall-to-wall.
- Forgetting small areas: Spaces like storerooms or utility areas should be measured too
- Not measuring properly : Remember to take the measurements at 90 degrees to the surface. As a practice it is better to take multiple dimensions to average our errors
Implications of Mis-measuring
A wrong measurement can lead to price discrepancies. Moreover, if a property is advertised with incorrect measurements, it can lead to potential legal issues or loss of trust among buyers.
What Do You Mean by Carpet Area?
Understanding the Term’s History or etymology
The term ‘carpet area’ has been in use for decades, but its definition has evolved over time, especially with the introduction of regulations like RERA. Earlier definition or common understanding was the area within the apartment that a carpet could be spread across – thus the term ‘carpet area’.
Comparison with Similar Terms Globally
In many Western countries, the term ‘livable area’ or ‘usable area’ is analogous to India’s ‘carpet area’.
Practical Tips for Property Buyers
Always ensure that the carpet area mentioned in property documents matches the actual measurement. It’s advisable to get an independent verification if there are any doubts. Further you are also advised to look at the clauses which may mention a certain range or acceptable variance in the area of the property. In many or most cases up to 2% is mentioned. Meaning if you buy a property of 1000 square-feet then a variance of 2% i.e. 20 square-feet is acceptable (if you have signed the agreement)
Some salient points that are brought about in RERA
- The developer ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ปโ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ any ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ to the plan ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ. This provision will ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ the developer to ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ of their projects.
- The law ensures that realty project is ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ. If delayed, then the developer will have to ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ on the amount paid by the buyer.
- ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ for all commercial and residential real estate projects where the land is over 500 square metres or includes eight apartments & which are under-construction.
- As per the new act, every phase of apartment will be considered a ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐, and separate registration needs to be obtained for each project.
- It is ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐น๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ for a state to establish a State Real Estate Regulatory Authority as per the new act. Buyers could approach this body for redressal of their grievances.
- ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐-๐๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐.๐ฏ
- Failing to register a property will attract a penalty up to 10% of the project cost and a repeated violation could send the developer in jail.
- As per the new law, the developer will have to place 70% of the money collected from a buyer in a separate escrow account to meet the construction cost of the project. This will keep a check on developers who divert the buyer’s money to start a new project, instead of finishing the one for which money was collected & also ensure that the respective project is completed in time.
- If the buyer finds any shortcomings in the project then buyer can contact the developer in writing within one year of taking possession.
- The law has a provision of a maximum jail term of three years with or without a fine, for a developer who violates the order of the appellate tribunal of the RERA.
- All approvals should be in place.
- Structural changes require 2/3 buyers approval
- Imprisonment in case of delay or changes to what has been promised.
- Provide all details on web-site with regular updates
- Rectification of defects within 5 years