What is included in the living and common area of ​​the apartment: what is it, definition

Often, when buying a home, people do not know what is included in the living area of ​​the apartment. This indicator directly affects the cost of square meters, so it is important to find out all the nuances before purchasing an apartment.

Many people are interested in whether the balcony is included in the living area of ​​the apartment or not. It is necessary to understand the difference in the concepts of “total housing area” and “living area”.

These questions are especially relevant for those who purchase housing in shared ownership.

What are the types of space?

To understand whether the kitchen is included in the living area of ​​the apartment, as well as the balcony, it is necessary to understand the distinction between the types of spaces in housing. Highlight:

1. General.
2. Residential.
3. Usable area of ​​the apartment.

Any room in the house can be classified into one of three types. We will consider each of them in detail.

What is meant by usable area

To understand what is included in the concept of “living area of ​​an apartment,” you need to know the definition of usable area. This parameter reflects the total area of ​​residential and non-residential premises. It does not include utility rooms. The presented interpretation is typical for the Russian Federation. In Western countries, useful means only that space that is used for specific purposes.

What is meant by living space

In order to know what is included in the living space of an apartment, you should identify the components of the living space in the house. Most often, this term refers to the total value of space in all rooms that are suitable for habitation.

It is difficult to do the calculations correctly in apartments that have been converted into studios. Some people mistakenly believe that the kitchen is included in the living area of ​​the apartment.

According to the Housing Code, this statement is erroneous. Based on the definition, we can say that the kitchen is not included in the list of premises suitable for living.

It turns out that the living area of ​​the apartment includes all premises suitable for living. Using calculations you can determine the total amount.

Which rooms fit the definition of living space?

Based on the definition, we can say that the balcony is not included in the living area of ​​the apartment. It includes:

• Bedroom.
• Children's room.
• Living room.
• Guest rooms.

The loggia is not included in the living area of ​​the apartment. Similarly, toilets, bathrooms and kitchens cannot be attributed to this concept.

How to calculate the living area value

To calculate the living space value, you need to calculate the space in each room separately. After this, you need to add up the resulting values.

What is meant by total living area

When registering a home, many people do not know whether the balcony is included in the living area of ​​the apartment. Based on SNIP “Residential Buildings” we can say that this concept means the following elements of the apartment space:

1. Bedroom.
2. Living room.
3. Kitchen.
4. Hallway and dressing room.
5. Bathroom and toilet, if the bathroom in the house is separate.

It must be remembered that the definition cannot include a terrace, balcony and loggia. To calculate the total living space in an apartment, you need to add up the space in all available rooms. In this case, different coefficients are used during the calculation. We also note that the concepts of “loggia” and “balcony” are different (we’ll look at why this is a little later).

What coefficients are used when calculating

For correct calculations, you need to know what is included in the living area of ​​the apartment, and also take into account certain coefficients. All current rules on this issue can be found in SNIPs. For each type of premises, a different coefficient is used.

If calculations are carried out indicating the area of ​​the loggia, then a coefficient of 0.5 must be applied. Balconies and terraces are considered with an indicator of 0.3. If the house has a veranda, then a coefficient of 1 should be used.

When making calculations, you need to remember simple mathematical techniques, for example, how to calculate the area of ​​a square or rectangle. It all depends on the shape of the room. But there are also non-standard rooms. In this case, all walls are measured. Let's look at how to do this correctly below.

How to measure walls

Not every person knows how to measure walls correctly. Measurement data is important when calculating the area of ​​housing. If the calculations are carried out incorrectly, this will affect the cost of square meters. Most often, when calculating, the area value is greater than it actually is.

Such calculations are beneficial to sellers, since they will receive a larger amount of money than they expected before the sale of the apartment. Buyers are advised to check the paperwork more carefully when completing a transaction. It is best to request an extract from the BTI for a specific apartment.

In it you can see not only the plan, but also all the exact values ​​of the areas.

It is recommended to take measurements on the inside of the baseboard. If you follow this recommendation, you will be able to avoid mistakes in your work.

What additionally is included in the living space

Please note that additional parameters may be included. These include:

1. Partitions.
2. Niches that are higher than two meters.
3. Arches, if they exceed two meters in height.
4. Stairs, if there are any inside the apartment.
5. Heating stove, as well as other protruding elements.

If homeowners want to get accurate data about the area of ​​their apartment, then they can invite measurers who quickly make calculations. You need to pay for this work, but you can be sure that the calculation of the living space was carried out in accordance with all standards and requirements.

What is the difference between calculating the area in apartments in a new building?

When a person buys a home in a new building, he can sign a shared development agreement. In such cases, all measurements, as well as area calculations, are carried out taking into account reduction factors. The contract must clearly state all values ​​used.

The developer can decide for himself what to take as a basis: the total area of ​​the apartment or only the living area. If the latter value is taken, then the price per square meter of housing in this house will increase. If the developer bases it on gross square footage, then buyers have the opportunity to purchase the home at a lower price.

When buying an apartment, it is important to carefully study the contract.

There are times when people check the values ​​​​indicated in the document and realize that they differ from the real values. In this case, the buyer who registered shared ownership has the right to return money for meters that he does not have.

Why are different coefficients used when calculating the area of ​​a loggia and the area of ​​a balcony?

You should pay more attention to the question of how a loggia differs from a balcony, and also take into account different coefficients. Many people believe that there is no difference between a loggia and a balcony. Such judgments are erroneous. To calculate the area taking into account the loggia, use a coefficient of 0.5. To find out the area with a balcony, use a coefficient of 0.3.

The main difference between a balcony and a loggia is that the first protrudes beyond the perimeter of the building. And the loggia is included in the living area of ​​the apartment. It has side walls as well as a ceiling.

Why is it important to know the correct area of ​​the apartment?

For the buyer, one of the important questions will be to find out the actual area of ​​the apartment. The footage of the apartment is important, since based on these indicators the cost of the apartment increases or decreases.

This value will also affect utility bills. If homeowners do not have special meters installed for water and gas, then they are charged an amount based on the total area of ​​the home.

There are exceptions to this calculation system. Unheated rooms and storage rooms are not taken into account. The receipt for utility bills contains a clause that describes general household needs.

This parameter is also influenced by the value of the total area of ​​housing.

Conclusion

So, we have looked at what living space is and what rooms it includes. As you can see, this point is very important when purchasing and further operating an apartment.

Does the living area of ​​the apartment include? Concept and features of calculation:

Three components

Before you find out what the living space of an apartment includes, you need to understand what types of space are available in the home. After all, this is extremely important. Especially if you are the buyer of a particular apartment. At the moment we can highlight:

• total area;
• residential;
• useful.

Remembering these points is not so difficult. According to modern legislation, specific premises are classified as a particular area. But which ones exactly? And what does each point mean?

Definitions

What does the living area of ​​the apartment include? The law, or more precisely, the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, reveals in detail the answer to this question. First, it’s worth understanding what each type of space in a home means.

Useful - an indicator reflecting the sum of the areas of residential and non-residential premises, but including utility rooms. This is exactly the definition that applies in Russia. In other countries, only the space used is called useful.

To understand what the living area of ​​an apartment includes, you need to understand the definition of this term. We can say that this is the amount of space in premises suitable for habitation.

Living space

Many people are interested in exactly what components are included in the concept of living space in an apartment. The question is controversial. Especially if we consider not a studio apartment, but an ordinary home. It can have a huge variety of rooms.

For example, does the living area of ​​an apartment include a kitchen? No. After all, just by one definition of the term it is clear - residential is an area suitable for living. And the kitchen is not included here. Even if it is completely refurbished so that you can sleep here.

General

Does the living area of ​​the apartment include a kitchen? No, we already found that out. But then what can this room be classified as? It is worth remembering such an item as the total area of ​​the apartment. She also plays a certain role. The definition of this term has already been given. But what does this concept mean?

We found out what the total living area of ​​the apartment includes. SNIP (1-71 “Residential buildings” dated January 31, 2003) indicates that, as already mentioned, all residential and non-residential premises are classified as common space (not residential). There can be many items, it all depends on your apartment.

Based on this law, the following components of the common space can be distinguished:

• bedrooms;
• living rooms;
• kitchens;
• hallways;
• bathroom;
• toilet (with separate bathroom);
• wardrobe.

Odds

How to calculate the area of ​​a particular apartment? It's actually not that difficult. It is enough to know a few rules. They are prescribed in SNIPs. Which ones? Speaking about calculations carried out in apartments, it is worth taking into account SNIP 2.08.02-89. It indicates that living space will be calculated with certain coefficients for certain premises. Which ones?

For loggias, this indicator is set to 0.5, balconies and terraces - 0.3, and verandas and storage rooms are counted with a coefficient of 1.

In general, calculating the area of ​​a particular housing is not so difficult. Remember all the areas of primitive geometric shapes. We need to build on them.

For example, for a square room you will have to use the formula for calculating the area of ​​a square. Nothing difficult. Accordingly, rectangular rooms are calculated in a similar way.

Simple mathematical knowledge is enough to understand the problem.

Some people think about how to properly measure walls. This is a valid question. After all, if you measure the walls incorrectly, you will end up with the wrong area. Usually it increases. In real estate transactions, such errors are beneficial to the seller. But for buyers - no.

Please note that all measurements to calculate the area of ​​the apartment should be made on the inside of the baseboard. This is the rule that will help prevent errors in calculations. Nothing difficult or special!

Additional inclusions

What else should you pay attention to? On what the living area of ​​the apartment includes! The joint ventures indicate that the common apartment space should include not only the “dimension” of the premises. Sometimes niches and partitions with walls are also included here. Under what conditions? If this:

• niche higher than 2 meters;
• arch more than 200 centimeters;
• internal staircase (the space under it is taken into account);
• heating stoves;
• other protruding structures.

Basically, that's all. Now the main points that are important for both real estate buyers and sellers are clear. In order not to suffer for a long time with calculating areas, you can call special measurers - they will quickly help you correctly calculate both the total space in the housing and the living space. Usually there are no difficulties with this.

Another option is to take a BTI extract for a particular apartment. It will contain a detailed plan with all areas and data regarding the “dimension” of the property. Don't forget to request a similar document from the seller when dealing with housing.

What is included in the total living area of ​​an apartment - controversial issues

The two legislative pillars on which regulatory functions for housing lie are:

1. Housing Code of 2005.
2. SNiP from 2003, known as “Residential multi-apartment buildings”.
3. Federal Law No. 384 of December 30, 2009, which has priority regulation. If necessary, it cancels some points of the previous edition of SNiP from 2003 (unlike SNiP, it does not take into account the balcony in the total living area).

Important! Some provisions of the above documents were abolished by the Federal Law introduced in 2009 under number 384-F3.

Let's go through the housing code, namely its important points:

1. Article 15, paragraph 5 is the basis for calculating the total area of ​​your home - it is equal to the sum of all areas of the apartment, also of an auxiliary nature, in which all the needs and requirements of the owner are satisfied, without taking into account the balcony, loggia, veranda, terrace.
2. Article 16 - defines the types of residential premises (clause 1), which include: residential buildings or parts thereof, an apartment or part thereof, a room.
3. Article 16, paragraph 3 - defines the concept of an apartment - a structural premises of a separate nature, located directly in an apartment building, with direct access to common areas, which consists of one or more rooms and auxiliary premises that satisfy the household and other needs of the owner.

According to the above SNiP, the total area put into operation of an apartment should be understood as its calculation based on external dimensions. But here there is already a direct connection of both the loggia and the balcony, etc.

When calculating area, it is recommended to use the following coefficients:

• Loggia - 0.5.
• Balcony, terrace - 0.3.
• Veranda, cold storage room - 1.

However, you need to remember and understand that SNiPs are good, but the primacy of the Housing Code has not yet been canceled. This means you need to focus on it.

What is included in the total area of ​​the apartment

• Corridor.
• Kitchen.
• Bathroom.
• Toilet.
• Bedroom(s).
• Pantry.
• Other rooms except loggia, balcony, veranda, terrace.

It will not be superfluous to have an idea about all types of areas that are in the apartment:

1. Total - the sum of all housing areas that must be accounted for in accordance with the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.
2. Living room - the sum of the areas of living rooms that are allocated as such during the design of the building. The semantic purpose of this room is permanent residence of a person.
3. Useful - in our country - is the sum of the areas of all premises, taking into account the balcony, mezzanine, except for stairwells, elevator shafts, ramps and the like; abroad - the sum of only the used areas.

Is the balcony included in the total area of ​​the apartment?

No matter how much a greedy official would like to add extra meters to the total area of ​​your apartment, adding a balcony will not work out here. Although he, of course, will give you the SNiP of 2003 as a basis, which gives him such an opportunity, however, you calmly assert that the Housing Code of the Russian Federation should be taken as a basis for such a calculation. And it excludes the balcony from the total area of ​​your apartment.

Partitions come as parts of auxiliary or main premises, which, according to the Housing Code and Construction Norms and Regulations, must be included in the total area of ​​the apartment.

Important! The distance that will be used in calculating the total area of ​​the apartment must be measured along the perimeter of all walls at a height of 1.1 to 1.3 meters from the floor.

This includes areas:

• Niches with a height of 2 meters.
• Arched openings from 2 meters.
• Internal staircase (under it).
• Protruding structural elements.
• Heating stove.

Controversial issues

Since the current laws of our country are constantly being modified, many controversial issues arise on this issue and very often. After all, most of the nuances are regulated by various documentation and by-laws that are not accessible to the average person.

Important! All data on the characteristics of residential premises, based on the construction project and measurements of BTI employees, are displayed for reference in the object acceptance certificate.

Thus, the area of ​​a loggia or balcony will be of a reference nature in BTI documents. Based on these indicators, a reconciliation is underway between the developer and the BTI.

Buyers' rights

When purchasing a home in a new building, upon detailed study of the drawings and design of the apartment, a logical question arises: what are the coefficients and what do they hide?

To do this, let's look at an example:

The buyer signed an agreement with the developer on shared participation, with the expectation of buying an apartment of 77 sq. m. m. Including the area of ​​the loggia. However, in the contract there were no references to the coefficients used in the calculations and a copy of the floor plan of the building.

The apartment was put into operation, a technical passport was received. And then it happened! The actual area of ​​the apartment was 72.5 square meters. m. The area of ​​all rooms was included in it - 68 square meters. m. And a loggia of 4.5 sq. m.

Regarding the secondary housing market, redevelopment is frequent, especially by owners of apartments located on the floors of buildings. And as a result, loggias are made heated as if they were an extension of the room. And here, if previously it did not need to be included in the total area, now it is definitely yes.

And when you receive a bill for the heating network, it usually includes a calculation based on the total area of ​​your apartment, without taking into account balconies, loggias, etc.

But when your loggia has become warm, it will definitely be included in the total area . Which, accordingly, will increase your costs for heating network services.

All rooms that were previously “cold”, and now have radiators powered by the central heating network, will be included in the total area of ​​the housing.

Arbitrage practice

Often, the courts will be on the buyer’s side, as in the above example. Which is not surprising. After all, the court was guided by the primacy of the Federal Law, despite the fact that the developer took regional acts and SNiPs as a basis. So, you don’t need to donate your money, but you need to boldly go to court for your hard-earned money.

The Housing Code of the Russian Federation in force today states that the total area of ​​housing is the totality of all rooms and auxiliary premises of the apartment, with the exception of unheated loggias and similar premises in the form of balconies and terraces. We remember that if you decide to cheat and not pay for a heated loggia, be prepared that the court will side with the utility companies and award you a very large fine for such arbitrariness.

What is included in the living area of ​​an apartment, what is the total area and how are they calculated

24.01.

2018

Many citizens who are going to carry out any transaction with their real estate, or rather an apartment, are interested in the question of what is included in the living space of the apartment, because the more space allocated for living, the correspondingly higher the price of the property, this is quite normal. You should also know that the premises have not only residential, but also other types of areas. Everything that directly concerns the size of housing needs to be understood and understood, then you will be able to choose the most suitable housing.

Total area of ​​the apartment - definition

This term refers to the total footage of all premises located in the housing, and it does not matter whether they are residential or utility.

These meters are used when calculating payments for utilities, in a sales contract, etc. It consists of:

• Rooms that are suitable for living in them.
• Children's room, living room and bedroom.
• A room reserved for cooking.
• Cabinets that are built into the wall.
• Niches located in the walls.
• Loggia.
• The corridor is also included in it.
• Terrace.
• Veranda.

Calculation of the total area of ​​the apartment

Everything is very simple, to find out what the estimated area of ​​​​the entire apartment is, you should find out the footage of each room, and then sum up the resulting values . Determining the square meters of rooms is quite simple, using formulas familiar to everyone from a regular mathematics course at school. Please note that measurements are taken exclusively on the inside of the baseboard.

You may also find the formulas from the following article useful: how to calculate square meters (with examples). ⇐

Are partitions included in the total area of ​​the apartment?

This is an important question that arises among people interested in calculating the total area of ​​their home. The answer to this is found in the Housing Code and SNiP. It clearly states that they are part of the general living area.

Please note that the distance required to calculate the total area is measured along the perimeter of all walls at a height of 1.1 to 1.3 meters from the floor.

What is the living area of ​​an apartment

Many people are interested in what exactly relates to the square footage of an apartment, for example, whether the kitchen is included in the living area of ​​the apartment . The answer is simple - no. After all, by definition it is clear that residential means suitable for living. Even if the cooking room is equipped with everything necessary for sleeping, it is still not residential.

Hence the conclusion that the living area is the total square footage of all rooms suitable for living, for example, a bedroom, living room, children's room and other similar rooms. All other rooms, such as the kitchen, balcony, bathroom, etc., do not belong to the living space.

How the living area of ​​an apartment calculated

There are several options for how to do this, for example, often the total area of ​​your living space is already known. Then it is enough to calculate the footage of all premises that are not residential, and subtract the resulting result from the total area. But it may also be that the value of the entire footage of the apartment is unknown and there is no time to determine it.

You should calculate the area of ​​each habitable room, and then add them up. The resulting value will be the living area of ​​the apartment.

Is the kitchen, bathroom or toilet, balcony included in the living area

This has already been mentioned before, but it’s worth repeating just in case. All premises that are not suitable for living are not included in the living area of ​​the apartment.

That is, it turns out that the kitchen, bath, toilet, balcony and similar rooms are not part of the living space of your house . Take this into account and exclude them when calculating, otherwise you will get the wrong footage!

What does the square footage of an apartment affect?

First of all, it affects the cost of the apartment; the size of utility bills directly depends on the cubic capacity. For example, payment for heating is calculated taking into account the total area of ​​the living space, excluding those rooms that are not heated. If there are no meters, payments for hot and cold water are calculated in the same way.

Not long ago, housing and communal services introduced “Common Household Needs”. They are also related to the square footage of the apartment. All homeowners pay TDS in relation to the area of ​​the premises they own.

How to increase the area of ​​an apartment

Many apartment owners do not agree with its layout, so they often want to make a renovation, that is, change the current arrangement of rooms, thereby making the living area larger or smaller. Before doing this, you need to obtain the appropriate permission:

1. The citizen collects the necessary documents and submits them to the competent authority, which can be found at the location of the apartment.
2. Consideration of the application can last 45 days from the date of its submission, then the owner will receive a response in writing.
3. If the answer is positive, you can begin redevelopment.

Attention! If the answer is negative, it can be challenged in court. To do this, the citizen must submit an application, to which he must attach all documents confirming that the refusal is illegal.

List of documents that need to be submitted to the competent authority:

• Technical certificate.
• Inquiry as to whether construction work can be carried out.
• Ready redevelopment project.
• Documents confirming that the citizen is the owner of the property.
• Permission to carry out redevelopment from all co-owners.
• Technical expertise confirming that it is permissible to make changes to the current layout. Its results may prohibit doing this if the building of the house is, for example, dilapidated. This should be taken seriously.

In some cases, this list may be longer. A government agency official will notify you when the property owner submits a request.

Important! Do not remodel without permission, this can lead to fines and even confiscation of property.

Conclusion

Now you know what the living space of an apartment consists of and have decided what this concept is. It includes exclusively residential premises; it should also not be confused with the living area, which implies the total footage of the entire apartment.

What is included in the total area of ​​the apartment and how to calculate it correctly

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Most Russian residents live in apartments. These real estate properties have several main characteristics, one of which is the square footage of the property.

When calculating this parameter, some parts of the apartment are not taken into account.

The article discusses such important issues as: what is included in the total area of ​​an apartment, how to calculate it, the differences between residential and general area.

Differences between living space and general space

Total area (TA) is the sum of square meters of all premises available in the apartment, regardless of their purpose, which are used to make payments for utility bills, in property purchase and sale agreements and for other purposes.

When conducting a transaction with a real estate property, as a rule, two terms appear in the documents - residential and total area. Even though it is easy to distinguish between them, some still make mistakes when using them.

It is important to know: The total square footage is the entire square footage of the apartment, which, according to documents, is classified as a given property, and the living space means only rooms suitable for habitation.

Below is the answer to the question what is the difference between the living area and the total area of ​​an apartment:

1. Dimensional parameters. The residential area represents only a part of the total, i.e. its size is smaller. Most often, this difference is significant; sometimes the footage for housing is equal to half of the total.
2. Living space includes rooms (bedrooms, children's rooms, living rooms) where people spend most of their time at home. In addition to them, the OP includes all other square meters of housing.
3. Purposes of use. The size of residential premises influences the living conditions of citizens (the possibility of receiving social benefits, adopting a child, etc.). The market value of housing, the amount of utility bills and contributions (for heating, major repairs) depend on the OP.

Below is information on how to calculate the area of ​​an apartment by total footage.

What's included

The total square footage includes all the premises that make up a housing unit in an apartment building:

1. Residential premises (rooms). These are bedrooms, living rooms, children's rooms, where people sleep, work, relax - spend their leisure time at home.
2. Kitchens. Regardless of the amount of time residents spend in the kitchen, this room is still classified as a household room and is included in the total area. Even if the owner decided to arrange a place to relax there and spends all his free time there, this does not affect the purpose of the kitchen.
3. Corridors that connect the rooms inside the apartment with each other.
4. Rooms for sanitary purposes (bathrooms, toilets) do not belong to living space. They are part of the overall footage.
5. Wall closets also belong to the OP, despite the fact that residents, as a rule, do not go into them at all.
6. Niches in the walls of Stalin-style houses designed for storing food in winter, instead of a refrigerator.

What doesn't turn on

Some people mistakenly believe that when calculating the total area of ​​an apartment, all premises of the property should be included, but in this case there are exceptions. The following square meters are not included in the accounting of the OP:

1. Balconies, loggias. Until recently, they were taken into account with a reducing factor - 1/2 from the loggia and 1/3 from the balcony were included, but now they have been excluded from the calculation completely.
2. Verandas, terraces. These places are intended for a person to relax and engage in his hobby (for example, growing flowers). Therefore, they are not taken into account when calculating the total footage.
3. Niches with a height of less than 1.8 m. Thus, low wall cabinets are not included in the OP.
4. The place under the stairs with a span height of less than 1.6 m from the floor (the distance must be measured with a tape measure at right angles to the floor). This applies to two-level apartments.
5. Stoves and fireplaces. Even if they are in working order, the space under them is not included in the total area.
6. Doors and arched structures less than 2 meters wide, i.e. they have a very low threshold. Therefore, it is not advisable to include them in the OP.
7. Premises without heating, when the total square footage needs to be calculated in order to calculate the amount of payments for heating and check the calculations of the housing company.

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Calculation rules

How to calculate the total area of ​​an apartment is given below. This calculation is not difficult - you need to measure the area of ​​​​all the rooms included in it and summarize the results. But there are some nuances that should be taken into account:

1. To calculate the square footage of a rectangular room, you need to measure the lengths of its 2 walls, which are connected to each other. After this, the resulting numbers must be multiplied.
2. A complex-shaped room can be mentally divided into rectangles, their areas can be calculated by analogy with the first option, and added. The result obtained will be equal to the area of ​​the room.
3. If the room has diagonal walls, then you should proceed in the same way: divide it into imaginary rectangles. That part, one of the sides of which is a wall at an angle to the other walls, will be a right triangle. Its area is equal to half the product of its legs (walls forming a right angle). Add all the obtained values ​​together.

Recommendation: It is better to draw rectangular figures that are taken into account on paper using a ruler. This action will help reduce the likelihood of errors.

Room measurements must be taken from inside the room using a tape measure, applying it to the junction of the wall and the floor. It is better to perform these steps together for convenience.

Legislative basis

All issues that relate to residential premises in apartment buildings are regulated by the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

Also, if the need arises, you can refer to such regulatory documents as:

1. Construction norms and rules (SNiP) from 2003.
2. Federal Law No. 384 of December 30, 2009, which presents technical regulations for the safety of buildings and structures.

Important: The priority of regulation among these documents belongs to the latter (Federal Law No. 384). Thus, its provisions may cancel the effect of some clauses of the RF Housing Code and SNiP 2003.

When studying the Housing Code in order to calculate the square footage of an apartment, it is especially necessary to highlight Article 15, which provides a definition of what exactly is the object of housing rights.

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All subjects of the Russian Federation use a unified system for calculating OP. How different types of living rooms are divided is discussed in Art. 16 residential complexes. Article 17 describes issues such as the purpose of residential premises and defines restrictions on their use.

What does OP influence?

Some important points depend on the size of the apartment’s OP:

1. The cost of the property for the buyer. An inexperienced person, when looking for housing, may mistakenly focus on the value of the OP. When choosing an option suitable for purchase, you should first of all concentrate on the size of the living space.
2. Amount of heating payments. Utilities calculate based on total footage.
3. The amount of contribution for major home repairs. The amount of payment for general building repairs directly depends on the square footage of the entire apartment of each specific owner.
4. Comfort of living. The size of the living space has a direct impact on the comfortable living conditions of each person. But the OP is no less important, since it also includes other rooms that play an important role for the convenience of living (bathrooms, storage rooms, cabinets in niches, kitchen).

OP is an important parameter for the apartment owner. Many aspects depend on it: from the market price to the comfort of living. The general quadrature should be distinguished from the residential quadrature, which includes only living rooms.

The main legislative document regulating issues related to the square footage of citizens' housing is the Housing Code of the Russian Federation. It also provides an answer to a fairly popular question among citizens, whether the loggia is included in the total area of ​​the apartment. The regulatory document clearly states which premises are included in the OP and which are not.

This parameter is calculated by calculating the square footage of each room of the property.

Total area of ​​the apartment

Don't want to overpay for square meters? We tell you what the total area is. We explain how to correctly calculate the area of ​​an apartment and defend your rights in court in 2018.

What is the total square footage of housing

The total area of ​​the apartment is the total area of ​​the residential and non-residential premises of the apartment, except for loggias, balconies, terraces and verandas. To avoid being deceived, carefully study the preliminary documents for the apartment before purchasing. If you know what the total area is and how to calculate it, you will not overpay for extra square meters.

• This square footage is also taken into account when paying for utilities. This area consists of:
• ???? rooms suitable for living;
• ???? nursery, living room, bedroom;
• ???? rooms for cooking;
• ???? wall-mounted cabinets;
• ???? niches located in the walls;
• ???? corridor.

What is the total reduced area of ​​an apartment

This is an outdated concept that was previously used when calculating utilities. The total area shown includes all rooms of the apartment, including utility rooms - storage rooms, balconies, and so on. For balconies, loggias, and terraces, a special reduction factor is used, because these areas are not considered residential and are classified as common areas.

Total and living area of ​​the apartment - what's the difference?

General - absolutely the entire square footage of housing. Only residential premises are counted as residential - bedrooms, living rooms and other living rooms. That is, the toilet, bathroom, kitchen, dressing rooms and everything else is not considered living space.

What is included in the total area of ​​the apartment

❓ Which rooms and premises to count. All living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, storage rooms are included in the common area.

❓ Is the loggia included in the total area of ​​the apartment. Loggias, balconies, and terraces belong to common areas of the house and are not considered residential. They are taken into account with a reduction factor. We will tell you more about the coefficient further.

If you have attached a loggia to the living room or bedroom, you may be fined. The connection of a loggia to a living room cannot be legalized; it is prohibited by law.

❓ Do you need partitions? It turns out that walls and partitions are also included in the general quadrature. They are considered parts of auxiliary or main premises.

According to the provisions of the Housing Code and Building Codes, these auxiliary parts must also be included in the total area. The distance must be measured along the perimeter of the walls - 1.1–1.3 meters from the floor.

It is worth taking into account niches and arched openings with a height of 2 meters, the internal staircase and the space under it, protruding structural elements, heating stoves.

What is a reduction factor

Anything that extends beyond the common walls of the building is not considered an apartment. Terraces, loggias and balconies are included in the “summer premises” section and are not suitable for living according to the Housing Code.

The coefficient is a legal reduction in the total cost of the apartment. The ratio of balcony to living area is 0.3. To increase the square footage of a summer room, multiply its area by 0.3 and add it to the rest of the rooms. If it is a loggia, it refers to a built-in unheated room with a coefficient of 0.5. These figures will be useful for the papers of the Bureau of Technical Inventory.

Remember that the purchase and sale agreement must include a floor plan. Check out the footage of the summer unheated sections to check whether the coefficient has been applied to them.

If the summer room is insulated, it is considered residential. To avoid problems with BTI and legal costs, make similar changes to the redevelopment, and the square footage of warm balconies to the living area without coefficients.

For example, a developer sells apartments of 100 m2 for 60,000 rubles per square meter. The balconies of these apartments are 4 m2, and the loggias are 6 m2. The total cost of such housing is 6,000,000 rubles. If you apply a reduction factor, you will get different numbers.

The correct price of the apartments will be 5,832,000 and 5,800,000 rubles. If you apply the correct calculations, you can save up to 200,000 on your purchase.

What is owned after calculating the coefficient

Although the coefficient of loggias and balconies is confirmed by non-regulatory acts, it indicates inconsistencies in the laws. You think that you have paid for the entire square footage of your apartment, however, by law, balconies are included in the common property of the house. Therefore, your personal possession will only be the footage between the walls, and the common property of the apartment building is:

1. ???? floor;
2. ???? ceiling;
3. ???? walls;
4. ???? base plate;
5. ???? façade wall;
6. ???? communications;
7. ???? parapet.

The right of private property extends only to what is within these limits. In such a case, it is unlawful to demand payment for extra unheated meters. Naturally, there will be no complaints regarding the use of this space. But remember that you should not damage or interfere with public property, so as not to receive a fine.

How to calculate the total quadrature

The price of housing will depend entirely on this parameter. Therefore, learn to correctly calculate the total area so that you are not deceived. To do this, read the layout and write down the footage of each room, add up the resulting numbers. Or measure the premises you want to purchase yourself. Remember that you need to measure the apartment along the inside of the baseboard.

• If you count squares yourself , prepare:
• ✅ roulette;
• ✅ paper, pencil or pen for writing;
• ✅ protractor for measuring non-standard angles;
• ✅ calculator with √ and sin signs.

For square and rectangular rooms, the calculation is simple - multiply the length of two walls from one corner. For example, if one wall is 4 meters and the second is 8, multiply the values ​​and get a room with an area of ​​32 m2. This way you measure all the rooms in the apartment. If you end up with uneven numbers, leave two digits after the decimal point for rounding.

Non-standard shapes of premises. Non-standard rooms are divided into rectangles or triangles and the resulting result is added.

???? Round - use the formula S = Pi*r^2.

Pi = 3.14, r is the radius, that is, half of the straight line from one edge to the other, passing through the center.

???? Triangular - calculated using the formula S = √(P/2(P/2 -A)×(P/2 - B)×(P/2 - C)).

A, B, C are the sides of the triangle, P is the perimeter, the sum of all sides. After counting everything in parentheses, use the square root sign on your calculator.

Walls . Multiply the length of the wall by the thickness. For example, thickness is 0.3 meters, length is 5 meters, then S = 0.3*5 = 1.5 m2.m

Does the balcony count towards the total area of ​​the apartment? It is considered a common house area. Use the coefficient for balconies and multiply it by the area of ​​the balcony.

How to calculate the living area of ​​an apartment

According to Order of the Ministry of Land Construction of the Russian Federation dated August 4, 1998 No. 37, the residential areas include the territories of all living rooms of the apartment. To determine the living area of ​​an apartment, calculate it using formulas or sum up the squares of the room according to the documented layout.

You can increase your living space by adding storage rooms, corridors, loggias, and so on. This will require redevelopment and execution of appropriate documentation. The redevelopment must be registered in the technical passport.

If you change the layout, but do not legalize it, your additional residential squares will not be valid. Before calculating living space, coordinate changes with local authorities.

Why do you need a detailed calculation of squares?

Price . The market price for apartments is formed by taking into account the total number of useful square meters. Therefore, it is important to accurately determine the area of ​​the property you are purchasing.

Litigation. The coefficient makes it possible to challenge in court the specified square footage of the developer and the amount for purchasing the apartment. Check documents confirming ownership. They must contain all information about auxiliary premises. If the information is not documented, the trial will drag on.

1. Other:
2. ???? determination of the tax base for property tax of individuals;
3. ???? provision of housing under a social tenancy agreement;
4. ???? payment of monetary compensation for renting residential premises by military personnel.

How not to overpay when buying a home

Analyze the situation in advance. Before concluding a purchase and sale agreement, ask the seller whether extensions are included in the overall size of the apartment and on what basis.

Often, an unscrupulous seller will evade a direct answer. The standard excuse is the impossibility of making a final calculation of the price of housing at the moment due to ongoing construction.

He may refer to the lack of technical documentation for the object, but this is not so.

Study the BTI conclusions . After the house is built, the state commission accepts the finished object. In order to deliver the property, the developer must know the exact number of square meters of construction.

Local BTI specialists help with calculations and record them in documents with summary data tables. The data is divided into categories, including unheated rooms.

Then BTI employees issue certificates for individual apartments with the mandatory application of a reduction factor.

Talk to the developer again. After examination, measurements and receipt of a certificate, the developer can name the exact sale price of each apartment. If he refuses to take into account the reduction factor in the calculations, contact the judicial authorities for support. If you are right, the cost of housing will be reduced.

Sometimes developers include their own coefficients in regulations, for example, 0.8 or 0.4. This is illegal data that does not comply with SNiPs. You have the right to hold such a developer accountable and compensate for damages for deception.

 However, if the developer decided to cover the losses and completely removed additional extensions from the calculation of square footage and increased the price per square meter, you will not be able to take him to court.

This is legal and all that remains is to make an informed decision about purchasing housing from one developer or another.

Living space laws in 2018

To protect your interests in court, the norms of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation will help. It regulates all issues related to residential premises in apartment buildings.

Pay special attention to Article 15 - there you will find a definition of the object of housing rights. The difference in types of premises is described in Article No. 16 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

Article 17 specifies the purpose of residential premises and limits of use.

Additionally, SNiPs from 2003 and Federal Law No. 384-FZ of December 30, 2009 will be useful to you. The Federal Law has a higher priority, therefore it cancels some paragraphs of the editions of SNiPs from 2003 and the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

Be sure to review the latest information on housing laws or seek professional help. This will help you save on buying a home or protect your interests in controversial issues.

Read more interesting articles about real estate: Floors Magazine

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