mumbai flats

Did you get an amazing discount on booking a new flat? Before rejoicing, complete a few checks.

Real estate experts say many developers have increased the super built-up area by 60-70%. Which simply means that if you are buying a 1,000 sq ft apartment, yourcarpet area will only be 40-30%. So, you are not actually paying anything less. Developers simply reduce the carpet area and increase the super built-up space and lure home buyers with attractive discounts.

For beginners, carpet area is the livable part, the wall-to-wall area that can be carpeted while super built-up is the non-livable area like the lobby, lift space, flower beds, swimming pool, staircases etc. Since you pay for the super built-up area, discounts actually carry no meaning.

The real-estate jargoncalls it ‘loading’. In effect, it means that if you are buying a 1,000 sq ft apartment, your carpet area will only be 40-30%. Therefore, although you get a discount for your carpet area, since you are paying for the entire 1,000 sq ft, you don’t save anything with the discount. Earlier in Mumbai, there was only 20-30% loading.

According to Pankaj Kapoor, MD of property research firm Liases and Foras, , said that the super built-up concept is deceptive wherein buyers are literally squeezed. He appeals to buyers to first check the local body approved plan of the building and ask for carpet area only. Another property expert, Ajay Chaturvedi says, “Besides increasing super built-up areas, most developers also reduce the height of the ceiling. As per development control rules, the ideal ceiling height should be 11 ft, however, developers are limiting it between 9 and 9.3 ft,”.

Manohar Shroff, general secretary, Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry,said that since ‘super built-up’ is a very technical term, he appeals to developers to sell property on the basis of the carpet area. In super built-up, the rates look low.

Even Cidco was observed to be selling apartments with almost 65% loading. If a government body like Cidco does not hesitate in cheating buyers, properties advertised by private builders cannot be guaranteed at all. Home buyers only have to exercise caution before getting tempted with the striking discounts offered by developers.

Recently, the legal metrology department (LMD) has directed to all real estate developers and builder to use the certified equipment across to ensure the quality in all buildings residential and commercial as well.

Sanjay Pande, the controller and special inspector general of LMD met the representatives of the MCHI (Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry) on January 3, 2015 to told and inform them to get equipment checked and certified in next three months. Sanjay Pande also added that now it is mandatory to get the certified equipments from authorized department, under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

Before two months Pande has taken the charge of LMD and just after one month he started to enforce this little-known provision. In recent incidents on January 3, 2015 department has sealed three more apartments in Krupa Cooperative Housing Society, located in the Mulund (east) because one of the owner complained that the builder had given them less area than mentioned area in the agreement.

Pande suggested to all the real estate builders to appoint representative to check the measurements while handing over to apartments and we want to assure the real estate industry that the department does not want to create obstacles. Other side MCHI (Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry) representative and developer Boman Irani, stated that the demand is acceptable.