When someone buys or rents a common area in apartments, it provides not only their own private space but also access to a shared common environment, including parks, corridors, lobbies, lifts, and various community facilities. These are common spaces-the backbone of apartment living.
Everyone would want the common area to be well-kept; it is a direct reflection of the quality, management, and discipline exercised within an apartment community. Yet, many people are still quite unaware of the designations for common areas, ownership, and applicable rules.
This blog is aimed at understanding the meaning and objectives of apartment common areas as the regulations concerning them as well and how these are governed and computed under current apartment laws and regulations.
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What Is Meant by Common Area?
The common spaces in the apartment are any building or sections of the housing complex that are jointly owned and are being used by the residents to fulfill their respective needs. Differently from private flats, whose ownership is limited to an individual resident or to the parking space, common areas are shared collectively and maintained through common funds.
As defined in the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), 2016, the common areas are all portions of properties in Bangalore that are intended for common use, which are lobbies, staircases, corridors, elevators, basements, rooftops, and recreational facilities.
Basically, any area that benefits residents collectively and not an individual is categorized under an apartment’s common area.
Types of Common Area in Apartments
Common area in apartments can be classified into functional, recreational and infrastructural. Each of these areas has a different function in supporting living conditions and community wellness.
Functional Common Areas
Such as
- Corridors, staircases, elevators
- Entry and exit access points
- Cabins of security and fire escape routes
- Lobbies and reception areas.
- Common toilets or service areas.
These are the places that enable daily residential movement performance, accessibility, and operations in real-time in the complex.
These areas are must-have utilities as sources of mobility and safety, plus cost-effective property management.
Recreational Common Areas
Modern-day apartments have the importance to community well-being and lifestyle amenities in modernizing their apartment complexes. Spectrum shared spaces include:
- Landscaped gardens and green zones
- Clubhouses and gyms
- Swimming pools
- Children’s play areas
- Community or multipurpose halls.
These really get one talking and have become part of the quality of life.
Infrastructural Common Areas
There are also technical or service-based facilities. Other common properties include:
- Power backup systems and generator rooms
- Sewage treatment plants (STP)
- Water tanks and pipelines.
- Fire safety systems.
- Maintenance offices and staff rooms.
All these utilities benefit indirectly from a resident, so these spaces are also vital for smooth utility and apartment guideline conformity.
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Ownership of Common Area in Apartments
Common area ownership is shared collectively by the apartment owners. Each resident has an undivided share in the common areas, based on their apartment size or the total unit size of the complex.
For example, if there are 100 flats in an apartment complex, the owners possess a share of the common areas in the ratio of 1/100. This ratio is usually given in the builder-buyer agreement or some other registered documents of the society.
The builder holds title until the residents form a Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) or cooperative society, after which the title and management will be transferred to the RWA.
Maintenance and Upkeep Responsibilities
They require daily normal inspections and maintenance to ensure safety, cleanliness, and usability. Maintenance responsibilities are generally assigned in apartment rules and regulations under RWA or by a property management firm.
All residents pay towards:
- Monthly maintenance dues – collected for general services such as cleaning, security, and lighting.
- Sinking fund or reserve fund – for such costs that need major repairs, like under-house repainting, lift replacement, or landscaping.
- Special assessments – an additional cost levied temporarily for a repair or upgrade that was not foreseen by the last budget.
The apportioning of the amount collected is done fairly among all the residents, ensuring that it is fair and that there is accountability for what’s happening.
Key Apartment Rules and Regulations for Common Areas
By incorporating apartment rules and procedures, the bylaws lay down certain interventions to regulate common area usages, thereby maintaining harmony, safety, and fairness.
Equal Rights to All Residents
All residents, regardless of ownership price and time of stay, have equal rights to the use of common areas, and the exclusive right of one person is barred.
No Encroachment and Private Storage
Residents are not allowed to occupy or store any of their belongings- bicycles, furniture, plants, etc.- in those areas that are common.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
Residents shall ensure that he/she does not litter in or damage the common areas. Maintenance staff shall regularly clean them, but the etiquette ought to be maintained by all users.
Structural and Aesthetic Changes
In the case of any structural alterations, decorations, or displays to be installed in common spaces, including any banners, light fittings, and wall art, the written consent of RWA or the Management Committee is a prerequisite.
Noise Restrictions and Activities
Community halls and clubhouses have time restrictions on usage. Residents should implement noise restrictions during functions to not disturb others.
Fire and Safety
All common areas should be kept clear in case of emergencies. Blocked exits and storage of flammable material will be viewed as strictly prohibited.
By maintaining these apartment regulations, the residents together form a serene and safe environment.
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How to Calculate Common Area in Apartments?
To be one of the vital aspects considered during the purchase of an apartment is to understand the percentage in the common area, which affects the total cost and usable area.
Key Terms:
- Carpet Area: Actual usable area inside the apartment.
- Built-up Area: Carpet area with wall thickness and balcony space.
- Super Built-up Area: Built-up area plus a proportionate share of common areas to the super-built-up area.
Formula for common area calculation:
- Common Area Percentage = Super Built Up Area – Carpet Area/ Super Built Up Area ×100
For example, if the carpet area = 1000 square feet, the super built-up area = 1250 square feet, then the Common Area = 250 square feet.
- The Common Area Percentage = (250 ÷ 1250) × 100 = 20%.
Commonly, the ratio of common area fluctuates between 15% and 30%, depending upon the architectural design of the project, amenities provided in the project, and said standards followed by the developer.
Legal Framework Governing Common Areas
Bylaws for common areas of apartments with ownership and management rights in India may be any state, along with its own national laws, as here:
- Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, of 2016 (RERA) – requires a complete declaration of common areas, ownership shares, and basis for maintenance responsibilities.
- Acts of Apartment Ownership– Apartment Ownership Acts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, defining the legal rights of owners and associations.
- Model Bye-laws for Housing Societies- state the Standard rules regarding maintenance, conduct and redress.
Under RERA, developers:
- Clearly declare an itemized list and the associated percentage of common areas.
- Transfer maintenance to the association after the project is done.
- Do not consider the unapproved or private areas as part of the super built-up area.
Eventually leading to transparency to avoid fraudulent activities at the time of sales.
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Importance of Common Area in Apartments
A common area is not just a physical space; it is equity in community, social balance, and in public good. It allows so much more than just convenience:
- Social Interaction: Gardens and clubhouses may also be where residents gather to form relationships with all people.
- Adding Property to Value: Having good and neat common areas can actually add value to an apartment complex.
- Safety and Accessibility: Fire exits, lighting, and CCTV give safety to all.
- Improves Lifestyle Quality: Along with fitness centers, swimming pools, and open spaces, one gets life to be well-rounded life.
Hence, in a way, how the common area is being maintained reflects the efficiency with which the apartment management system runs.
Best Practices for Residents
Working to maintain equilibrium and orderliness in shared spaces is one a the roles that the residents can assume.
- Partaking in any RWAs’ meetings and speaking rationally.
- Following all apartment rules and respecting the premises’ rules.
- Reporting all matters concerning maintenance or misuse promptly.
- Participating in community clean-up drives and awareness campaigns as a collective.
Responsible participation will ensure that the common areas remain pleasing and workable for all.
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Conclusion: Common Area in Apartments
The common area in an apartment, therefore, is not merely a shared facility but a conceptual foundation that gives rise to living together in respect for one another. Whether it be an unpretentious corridor or an impressive clubhouse, these areas stand for cooperation and shared responsibility among the residents.
By understanding ownership rights, complying with apartment regulations, and keeping all maintenance matters visible and transparent, apartment communities can forge safer, cleaner atmospheres of living and work.
Common areas reflect not only how well a building is managed but also how good a community is.
FAQs
Q1 What are the common areas in an apartment?
Common areas encompass shared use zones such as corridors, lobbies, stairways, lifts, gardens, clubhouses, and parking spaces accessible to all residents.
Q2 What is meant by a common area?
A common area refers to any part of a residential complex that is not privately owned but jointly used and maintained by all apartment owners.
Q3 What are some examples of the common area?
Examples include terraces, lobbies, children’s play areas, swimming pools, and gardens — all accessible to every resident within the apartment community.
Q4 Who owns common areas in apartments?
Common areas are collectively owned by all apartment owners through a housing society or Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) in proportion to their ownership share.
