The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority has told homebuyers to buy residential units on the basis of carpet area, not super area, because carpet area reflects the actual liveable space inside an apartment.
The advisory, issued in a press release dated June 10, 2026, reminds builders that the law only permits them to charge based on carpet area when executing a sale agreement.
Super area includes a proportional share of shared facilities like corridors, staircases, lift areas, lobbies, and clubhouses.
What the advisory actually says
Under Section 4(2)(h) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, builders are required to disclose the number, type, and carpet area of apartments offered for sale on the UPRERA portal. They also have to disclose the area of exclusive balconies, verandahs, and open terraces attached to each unit.
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“The legal provisions do not require disclosure of the super built-up area for this purpose,” the authority said in the press release. Even if a builder has marketed an apartment based on super area, the rules still require the apartment’s size to be disclosed on the basis of carpet area.
It also pointed out that the prescribed format for the Agreement for Sale under the Rules provides for sale of apartments only on the basis of carpet area.
Industry response and buyer verification
Robin Mangla, President of M3M India, called the advisory “a timely and much-needed intervention that strengthens transparency and accountability in the real estate sector.” He said it empowers homebuyers to make informed comparisons across residential projects.
UPRERA has advised buyers to visit the UPRERA web portal before finalising any property transaction. The portal contains project-wise information submitted by promoters, including details about carpet area. They can use that information to independently verify the actual liveable area of apartments.
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When buyers pay based on super area, they may end up with less usable space inside the apartment.
Sachin Vyas, Chief Sales Officer at Square Yards, said carpet area is the space you can actually use in a home. If you know the carpet area, you can figure out whether the home is a value, compare homes, and see what you need to furnish them.
“If you do not know the carpet area, you might compare prices incorrectly. You might think a home is bigger than it is,” Vyas said.
