What Does RERA Carpet Area Means and How is it Calculated?

What Does RERA Carpet Area Means and How is it Calculated



While making a real estate purchase, it is crucial to understand the different terminologies associated with property measurements. It has a direct impact on a variety of things, like property value, seller-buyer negotiations, etc. There are several words that are commonly used when someone talks about the property area. Carpet area is one of those important terms that you must have an idea about.


In simple words, carpet area can be defined as the actual usable area of any property. This area excludes the walls, balcony, or any other common area. For a better understanding, see the carpet area as the space that can be covered by a carpet. Generally, this area is measured from the inner walls of the house, shop, or flat.


There used to be a time when a few property sellers used to mislead buyers with inflated measurements. Since this is a key metric in the calculation of property costs, users used to pay an unnecessarily extra amount in such scenarios. Thankfully, in the last few years, the Indian real estate industry has undergone a complete transformation. Particularly since the inception of RERA in 2016, things have changed a lot. Now, there are several new rules and regulations in place to make things easier for everyone in the real estate market. With several new provisions, the new concept of the RERA carpet area has been introduced recently.


Now you must be thinking, What is the RERA carpet area, and is it any different from the regular carpet area? Well, here is the answer to all such questions that are flooding your mind.


Read on to understand the meaning, calculation, guidelines, and impact of RERA Carpet Area. This comprehensive guide will help you ensure that you make an informed decision while buying or selling a real estate property.

What is RERA Carpet Area?

The meaning of RERA carpet area is somewhat similar to the regular carpet. This term also describes the net usable floor area of the property (apartment/shop/office etc.). It excludes the area covered by the external walls, space under service shafts, balcony or verandah, open terrace area, etc. However, the area covered by the internal partition walls is included in the carpet area. As per RERA, the carpet area is usually 70% of the built-up area.

Benefits

Here are a few key advantages of calculating carpet area as per RERA:

  • Better Transparency
  • Standardised Trade and Business Practices
  • Higher Trust
  • Fair Sale Prices
  • Direct Impact on Loan Eligibility

Difference between RERA Carpet and Carpet Area

There is a minor difference between the RERA carpet area and actual carpet area. Generally, carpet area of a property is the usable area within the walls. It does not include the area covered by the inner partition walls of a house/shop/flat, etc. For RERA carpet area calculation, on the other hand, the area covered by all the inner walls is also required. So, if you compare the RERA carpet area to actual carpet area, you’ll see a minor difference (approximately 5%) in the square feet value.

How to Calculate Carpet Area as per RERA?

A simple formula is used to calculate the carpet area of a property as per the RERA Act of 2016. This is:


RERA Carpet Area = Net Usable Area + Internal Partition Wall Areas


Here, the net usable area excludes any external walls, open terraces, balconies, or verandahs.

How to Verify RERA Carpet Area?

By now, you must have an idea about the RERA carpet area and how it can affect any real estate transaction that you make. So, while making any purchase, it is important to verify if the carpet area that you’re being told has been calculated as per the RERA Act of 2016. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Whether you’re making a purchase from a builder or an individual, always ask for legal documents of the property. Those documents should have things like carpet area, built-up area, super built-up area mentioned clearly.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is the authenticity of the real estate platform you’re using. Almost every reputable builder or real estate agent complies with RERA regulations.
  • For further confirmation, you can also conduct a personal visit to the property. If possible, you can take all the measurements and perform the calculation on your own. Or, you can also use an online RERA carpet area calculator to get a clear idea.

Although the calculation for RERA carpet area remains the same throughout the country, it can slightly vary at some locations. So, it is best to check the calculation method used by the state-specific RERA. For example, if you’re looking for plots for sale in Tambaram or plots for sale in Minjur , you should check it with TNRERA (Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority) once.