What is the RERA carpet area rule and why does it matter for buyers?

Carpet area refers to the actual usable floor space within the walls of your flat, excluding the thickness of the walls themselves. RERA requires developers to quote and sell based on carpet area specifically, replacing the older, more inflated practice of quoting "super built-up area," which included a share of common areas like lobbies, stairwells, and lifts.

This matters significantly for comparing value across projects and builders — two flats advertised at the same "size" under the old built-up area convention could actually have quite different usable carpet areas, depending on how much common area was being loaded into that figure.

When reviewing any project brochure or agreement, make sure the carpet area is clearly and specifically stated, and that the price you're being quoted is explicitly tied to that carpet area figure, since this is what RERA actually requires and protects you on if there's a later shortfall between promised and delivered area.