Super Built-up Area: Clarifying the Concept in Indian Real Estate

What is the Super Built-up Area?

When it comes to buying or renting a property in India, you may often come across the term "super built-up area." A super built-up area means the total area in a property, which includes not only the actual usable area but also a proportionate share of common areas such as corridors, lobbies, staircases, and other amenities. It is important to have a clear understanding of this concept to avoid any confusion and make informed decisions in real estate transactions.

Super Built Up Area Calculation

The super built-up area is a way to measure the size of a property. It's larger than the actual usable space (called the carpet area) because it includes common areas like hallways and staircases. Usually, the super built-up area is about 40% bigger than the carpet area. In other words, the carpet area is typically 70-80% of the super built-up area.

Let's say you're looking at an apartment with a carpet area of 1000 square feet.

Here’s the super built-up area calculation:

• The super built-up area is usually about 40% larger than the carpet area.
• So we add 40% to the carpet area: 1000 + (40% of 1000) = 1000 + 400 = 1400 square feet

This means:

• Carpet area: 1000 sq ft
• Super built-up area: 1400 sq ft

In this example, the carpet area (the space you can actually use) is about 71% of the super built-up area.

When buying a property, knowing which area the price is based on is important. If it's the super built-up area, ask about the cost for just the carpet area too. This helps you understand the true value of the space you're getting. Different builders might calculate this differently, so always ask for clear information about the areas and pricing.

Differentiating Super Built-up Area from Carpet Area and Built-up Area

To fully grasp the concept of a super built-up area, it is essential to understand its relationship with carpet area and built-up area.

Carpet Area:

Carpet area refers to the proper usable area inside the walls of a property, excluding any common areas or walls. It is the area where you can place your carpet or any other flooring material.

Built-up Area:

The built-up area includes the carpet area along with the area covered by the walls of the property. It includes the consistency of the inner and outer walls.

Super Built-up Area:

The super built-up area is the complete built-up area along with a proportionate share of common areas. It includes the built-up area with a percentage of the common areas like lobbies, passages, staircases, elevators

Understanding the Significance

Cost Calculation and Pricing

One of the significant implications is its impact on the cost calculation and pricing of a property. Builders and developers typically determine the price per square foot based on the super built-up area.

Allocation of Common Area Costs

Another important aspect of a super built-up area is the allocation of costs for the maintenance and upkeep of common areas. As the super-built-up area includes a proportionate share of common areas, the maintenance charges and other related costs are distributed among all the property owners or tenants based on their respective super-built-up areas.

Clarifying Misconceptions and Transparency

The super-built-up area has sometimes been a subject of confusion and misunderstanding in the real estate sector. However, the introduction of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) in India has brought more transparency 

Final Words:

Understanding the concept of a super built-up area is crucial when considering a property in the Indian real estate market. It helps you evaluate the actual usable space, assess the value for money, and comprehend the allocation of costs for common area maintenance.