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CALCULATING LIVING SPACE CORRECTLY
Living space plays an important role in determining property prices. But not every square metre automatically counts as living space. In practice, the Living Space Ordinance (Wohnflächenverordnung) is most often used to calculate living space.
WHICH ROOMS DO NOT COUNT AS LIVING SPACE?
According to the Living Space Ordinance, cellar rooms, laundry rooms, boiler rooms and garages do not count as living space. The areas of door and window frames, built-in furniture, stoves and bathtubs are included.
THE HEIGHT OF THE ROOMS IS DECISIVE
Above all, the room height plays a decisive role in calculating living space. In attic apartments, areas under sloping ceilings with a room height of up to one metre may not be counted as living space at all. Areas under a slope between one and two metres high can only be counted at half. The same applies to rooms less than two metres high, such as box rooms in the attic. Rooms and parts of rooms with a height of at least two metres are counted in full. If there are stairs within the apartment, areas under the stairs are calculated on the same principle as sloping ceilings.
CALCULATING BALCONIES ETC.
Apartments and houses often have balconies, terraces, roof gardens, conservatories and swimming pools that increase the value of a property. The question is to what extent they can be included in the living space calculation. Unheated conservatories and swimming pools can only be counted at half their area. Balconies, roof gardens and terraces are counted at a quarter or at most half, depending on size, orientation and location.