Do you know the types of surfaces in the apartment and house? How do usable, floor, living and total areas differ from each other?

The size of a property is an important factor for many people interested in the real estate market. However, it can be a source of confusion for some individuals because advertisements give different ways of indicating the size of houses and flats.

It is important to note that the above area may not always correspond to the actual space you will have available. Therefore, it is important to know the difference between the different types of areas such as usable, floor, living and total area so that you are not tricked by dishonest real estate agents who are able to include anything in the area of the apartment.

Usable area of the property

The term usable area is used to measure the internal dimensions of a property, excluding structural elements, passages and places for the installation of technical equipment such as chimneys, columns, shafts, lifts. European Commission Regulation 1503/2006 regulates the legislative aspect of useful floor area and states that the size of the useful floor area of a building corresponds to the permitted dimensions. However, care should be taken that the usable area, which is the sum of the inside walls of rooms, does not coincide with the total usable area (see below). The term usable area used to be used, but this is no longer valid. However, in practice it can still be encountered.

Total usable area of the apartment or house

Unlike the usable area, the total area includes not only the living rooms, but also the balcony, terrace, cellar and attic space. In addition, common areas that are available to all unit owners in the building, such as corridors and wheel rooms, are also included in the total area. Therefore, you should be careful and pay attention to the difference between the usable area and the total usable area stated in the advertisements. The total usable area is not just the size of the living rooms.

Floor area

The floor area is usually the most frequently quoted and also the most important figure, as it determines how much space will actually be available for living. This area includes all rooms and accessories, including structures, but also spaces that are part of the building and are only used by the owner of the dwelling unit, such as a cellar or storage room. The definition of floor area is set out in Government Regulation No 366/2013.

Living area

The term "living area" means the sum of the area of all the premises in the property which are intended for permanent habitation and meet the specified conditions. A habitable room must be at least 8 square metres in size, lighted, ventilated and have access to heating. It is important to note that living rooms do not include bathrooms, toilets, cellars, balconies and separate kitchens, as provided for in Decree No 137/1998 Coll.

Built-up area

The definition of built-up area is not uniform due to the applicable laws and standards. According to the CSN, it is the area defined by the outer perimeter of the vertical structures of a given building or its floor, but insulating appendages are not included. In the case of unroofed buildings, the built-up area is defined by envelope lines drawn along the outer faces of the vertical structures in the plane of the landscaped ground. In simple terms, it is the area defined by the outer edge of the perimeter wall.

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