The difference between the areas of a property

It´s very common to wonder about the difference between the various types of areas in a property.
Mastering these concepts is essential when buying, selling or building a house, as the areas directly influence the value of the property.

Knowing the Gross Private Area of a property is fundamental to assessing the value of a property and comparing it with other properties on the market. More importantly, the GPA is one of the criteria used to calculate a property´s taxable value (VPT), which directly influences the value of the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) and the Property Transfer Tax (IMT).

• Gross Area (GA): the total area of a dwelling, measured by the outer perimeter of the exterior walls and the axes of the walls separating the dwellings, and includes private balconies, accessory rooms and the corresponding share of the building´s common circulation. In other words, it is the total area of the property, including garages, balconies, terraces, storage rooms, etc;
   
• Useful Area (UA): this is the sum of the areas of all the compartments of the dwelling, including vestibules, interior circulation, sanitary facilities, storage, other compartments with a similar function and cupboards in the walls, but is measured by the interior perimeter of the walls that limit the fire, discounting encasements up to 30cm from the interior walls, partitions and ducts. In other words, it is the area of the property from which the interior walls, partitions and ducts of the property are subtracted, so it is a smaller area than the gross construction area;
   
• Gross Private Area (GPA): this is the total area measured by the outer perimeter and axes of the walls or other separating elements of the building or fraction, including closed private balconies, basements and private attics with the same use as the building or fraction. In other words, it is the gross area excluding open balconies, garage and storage. The GPA corresponds to the space for the exclusive use of the owner of the property and is one of the main pieces of information to consider when buying, selling or renting a property;
   
• Dependent Area: this is the covered and enclosed area for exclusive use, even if it constitutes a common part, even if it is located outside the building or fraction, the use of which is ancillary to the use for which the building or fraction is intended. In other words, the garage, storage room or storeroom, the animal facility, the accessible attic or basement and the balcony. Basically, anything that isn´t included in the gross private area.