Definition : Gross area

Measurement of the area used for the sale of apartments in a new or not yet built co-ownerships. It is usually calculated from the apartment’s architectural plan (private portion).This area sometimes includes areas occupied by some components located in the commons portions, such as:

The apartment peripheral walls;
The balconies ;
The immovable’s support columns ;
The ventilation, plumbing or electrical wells;
Any other common area passing through a private unit.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ! L'Organisme d'autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ) (The Real Estate Brokers Self-Regulatory Agency) has prepared a newsletter on this subject.

WARNING ! The gross area of a private portion unit is distinct from the net area, in that it generally includes portions of the immovable classified as common portions by the declaration of co-ownership, such as those that pass through the private portion, such as ventilation shafts, the plumbing or the electrical components. It is thus normal that there are sometimes significant differences between the net area and the gross area.

Misleading superficial area: what can you do?

Most buyers attach great importance to an apartment area/price ratio. Therefore, before signing the deed of sale, take time to carefully measure the area of your unit. Discrepancies between what is shown on the plan provided at the signing of the preliminary contract, versus the actual area shown on the cadastral plan or the certificate of location are frequent. This difference can be explained by many factors listed in the factsheet entitled The Area of the Private Portion.

Les condos volent la vedette à Montréal et dans le Grand Montréal

30 août 2019 – La part du lion des condos augmente dans la région du Grand Montréal, en raison d’une croissance des prix médians au pied carré deux fois plus élevée que celui des maisons unifamiliales, et ce, pendant les sept premiers mois de l'année 2019. Cette augmentation a été respectivement de 10,3 % pour les appartements détenus en copropriété, contre 5,2 % dans le cas des maisons unifamiliales. C’est ce qui ressort d’une étude réalisée par Royal LePage, laquelle s'est intéressée à la copropriété dans cinq grandes villes canadiennes, dont Montréal.

ASK QUESTIONS TO THE DEVELOPER

How to be sure that the off-plan apartment you have spotted meets your expectations and needs? One of the keys to success in the purchase of a new home: the quality of your exchange with the real estate developer. In this regard, the Law grants to purchasers the right of obtaining the most truthful and complete information possible on the nature and exact characteristics of the property being sold. This obligation encompasses all the critical and relevant information concerning the immovable and the co-ownership. The information to be provided shall cover the private portion and the common portions of the building. You should act with the utmost care to ask for and obtain the required information to allow you to avoid disputes with your vendor (developer or builder).

The superficial area of the private portion

An obligation exists for the seller, namely that of announcing the exact size of the unit he is selling. Most buyers attach great importance to the area/price ratio of an apartment, as this is a data that will greatly influence the price offered or their decision to buy or not. Therefore, before signing the deed of sale, take the time to carefully check the area of the unit. Discrepancies between what is shown on the plan provided at the signing of the preliminary contract, versus the actual area shown on the cadastral plan or the certificate of location are not isolated cases. However, this problem of surface areas is a source of frequent conflicts in co-ownership. And it's not exclusive to off-plan sales. It can also occur during a resale.

Definition : Gross area

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