Immigrating to Portuguese citizens, when choosing housing, are certainly faced with new and unusual formulations for them.
When buying a property, in addition to factors such as the location and condition of the object, the choice is influenced by the cost per square meter of real estate. But at the same time, it is necessary to take into account what area we are talking about. For example, an area of both 100 m2 and 160 m2 can be specified for the same apartment. How is this possible?
Both in real estate advertising and in documents, four types of space can be found: useful, shared, private, shared and dependent. Let’s look at each of these squares in more detail.
Usable area (Área útil)
The areas of all rooms are summed up, which include bathrooms, corridors, vestibules, built-in wardrobes, etc. It is calculated along the inner perimeter of the walls limiting housing, while subtracting the area of internal walls, partitions and air ducts (their width is up to 30 cm).
Total area (Área bruta)
The total area is measured along the outer perimeter of the exterior walls and the axes of the walls separating neighboring objects. The total area includes not only the area of all personal premises, but also the share of common premises. That is, balconies, terraces, garages, storerooms and other auxiliary rooms are taken into account.
Private common area (Área bruta privativa)
The private total area, like the total area of Área bruta, is calculated from the outer perimeter of the exterior walls and the axes of the walls separating adjacent objects. The difference is that the measurements include enclosed private balconies, attics and basements related to the address. This does not take into account open balconies or verandas, a garage and a storage room.
Dependent area (Área dependente)
Here, the areas of absolutely all objects are taken into account, even auxiliary ones that are located outside the house. Sum up the open and closed areas for private use. That is, they include storage areas, accessible basements and attics, animal spaces, garages and storerooms.
Example of area calculation
Let’s imagine that the following data are indicated in the documentation and layout of the object: useful area — 100 m2, total private — 130 m2, total — 160 m2, dependent area — 30 m2.
Measuring the apartment along the inner perimeter of the walls, we get 100 m2, and if we take into account and add the area of the inner walls, partitions and ducts, we get 130 m2. Let’s say this apartment has an open balcony, garage, storage room with a total area of 30 m2 — corresponds to the dependent area. If we add this area to the total private area, then we get the total area of the object.
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish