By Dr Sanjay Murari Chaturvedi, LLB, PhD.Â
Section 2(k) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 Preamble:- The government of India has enacted the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 and all the sections of the Act have come into force with effect from May 1, 2017. The government of Maharashtra has also notified the rules under the Act and established Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA), vide Notification No.23 dated 8 March 2017, for regulation and promotion of real estate sector in the State of Maharashtra, with its headquarters at Mumbai. Maha RERA, thereafter, has notified Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (General) Regulations, 2017, for the implementation of the Act and processing the applications received for Registration of Real Estate Projects and Agents. Whereas the MahaRERA Authority, under section 37 of the RERA Act, 2016 and Regulation 38 of the MahaRERA (General) Regulations 2017 is vested with the powers to issue directions and orders to promoters, real estate agents and allottees from time to time for effective implementation of the Act and to achieve the underlying object behind the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. Whereas under section 2(k) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, carpet area of the apartment to be sold by the promoter is defined as “carpet Area” means net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, area under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but including the area covered by the internal partition walls of the Apartment. Explanation — For the purpose of this clause, the expression “exclusive balcony or verandah area” means the area of the balcony or verandah, as the case may be which is appurtenant to the net usable area of an apartment, meant for the exclusive use of the allottee and “exclusive open terrace area” means the area of the open terrace which is appurtenant to the net usable area of an apartment, meant for exclusive use of the allottee. Whereas the MahaRERA Authority, under section 37 of the RERA Act, 2016 and Regulation 38 of the MahaRERA (General) Regulations 2017 is vested with the powers to issue directions and orders to promoters, real estate agents and allottees from time to time for effective implementation of the Act and to achieve the underlying object behind the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. Whereas there are various interpretations being given to the words “internal partition walls” and “external walls” by different professionals and Architects and therefore there is need to clarify the terms “internal partition walls” and “external walls” in order to have uniformity in the calculation of carpet area of an Apartment across all the projects being registered with Maha RERA. For the purpose of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, “walls” would mean walls made of Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) or plain concrete or Shear wall(s) or wall made from bricks or blocks or precast materials or drywalls or walls made of any material or composition of one or more of any of the materials and shall include column(s) within or adjoining or attached to the wall. Therefore, for the purpose of calculation of carpet area under clause 2(k) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, All walls which are constructed or provided on the external face of an apartment shall be regarded as “external wall”. All walls or independent columns constructed or provided within an apartment shall be regarded as “internal partition wall” An illustration is attached herewith for clarification of the walls which are to be considered as “External Walls” and “Internal Partition Walls” with respect to an apartment and also of the area to be included and excluded while calculating Carpet area of an Apartment. This Order will come into force with effect from the date of commencement of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
Case Citation:
“When it comes to MOFA, under Section 3(*), Promoter was to disclose one of
the particulars in the advertisement for sale of flats and clause (i) states the
particulars tothe extent of carpet area of the flat including the areas of balconies
whereas under RERA, balconies have been excluded in the definition of carpet
area.
It is clear from the facts of the complaint that on the date of booking of the said
apartment MOFA was in effect and on the date of the said agreement RERA was
holding the ground. Both the Acts defined carpet area differently.
Hence there is no actual change but simply a variation / difference in the
methodology of calculation of carpet area as per MOFA and RERA from time to
time.”
Download Order Here: RERA Judgement on carpet area