Habitable Surface

Know the difference between living space and usable area

It is often the case that the actual area of a property differs from the area indicated in the purchase or rental contract. For this reason, it may be worthwhile to take a precise measurement yourself or to have a professional floor area calculation carried out by an appraiser. There are several methods to do this, but it is advisable to use the Housing Area Ordinance as a guide. In legal disputes, it usually forms the basis for determining the living area of a property.

Definition of living space

The definition of living space includes all rooms in an apartment or house. Special rules apply to areas that are not located directly in the living area, such as balconies, cellars or terraces. And which, depending on the calculation method, are fully, partially, or not included in the calculation at all. The total area results from the sum of the billable floor areas of the property. There are various calculation methods for calculating living space.

So the possible results you get when you calculate the area of a property are different. A special case is the living room with sloping ceilings, because if you live in an attic apartment, you have less space due to the sloping walls. For this reason, the area is fully included in the calculation only from a room height of two meters. If the height of the room is less than one meter, it is not taken into account at all. But if it is between these two limits, half of the area is taken into account.

How to calculate gross living area

The calculation of the gross living area according to the standard is based on the floor area and the volume in the construction of buildings. It is considered to be advantageous for homeowners because it allows the maximum possible living area result to be obtained. In this approach, balconies, cellars, terraces and roof surfaces are also taken into account along with their total area. As a result, this method often results in a significantly higher number of zones. Especially in attic apartments, only with other measurement methods. The area is calculated based on the internal dimensions (so-called free dimensions) between the respective components of the front edge of the wall covering.

Gross living space can dictate the value of a property.

Gross living area vs usable area

It is advisable to specify the method of calculating the area in the purchase or rental contract. Calculating living space according to the Housing Ordinance, which provides a measure of usable space, is generally cheaper for renters or buyers. This therefore results in a smaller area and therefore a lower rental or purchase price. Owners, on the other hand, benefit more from the variant according to the standard, which calculates the gross living area. Buyers also often have to perform a professional calculation of the living area if they want to apply for financing. A calculation of living space for the bank provides information on how to assess the profitability of the property

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Difference between usable space and living space

The terms living area and usable area are sometimes used synonymously, but there are a few differences. Living space is always part of the usable space, which is why the latter is in principle larger. For example, usable space also includes rooms outside an apartment, such as the basement, attic, boiler rooms, or garages. The balcony or terrace is also fully included here. While a quarter to a maximum of half of them are included in the living area. Usable space can also have more broadly defined goals than living space. Rooms used as offices, classrooms, laboratories, or to store goods are considered usable space. Whereas living space is a more narrowly defined objective.

What living space can I count as?

Basements, garages, bonus rooms, unfinished rooms. Does your home have any of these zones? Are you confused if you can count them in the living area of your home? In this article, we'll answer the question we've heard from countless homeowners: “What living space can I count on?”

The aim is not to give you all the examples of areas that can and cannot be counted as living space. But to give you some general guidelines that you can apply to almost any area in your home.

In general, to be included in the square footage of your home, the area must be finished. And this area should be accessible to other finished areas in the house. And specific ceiling height requirements must be met. We'll look at each of these next.

Accessibility

What role does access play? The finished surfaces above the garages are included in the finished area that is on the same level in the main body of the house, but only if they are connected to the house by continuous finished surfaces such as corridors or stairs.

So, if you go out into the detached garage and go up the stairs to a finished, heated and air-conditioned area, this cannot be taken into account in the area in m2. Or even if the garage is attached to the house. And that you need to get to the bonus room by entering the attached garage, up the stairs to the finished room. This area cannot be counted either.