Real Estate FAQs

Carpet Area: This is the area of the apartment that does not include the area of the walls i.e. the area of the apartment that a carpet can cover.
Built-Up Area: This is the area of the apartment that includes the area covered by the walls.
Super Built-Up Area: This includes the built-up areas such as the lobby, lifts, stairs etc. This term is therefore only applicable for multi-dwelling units, such as flat complexes.
Buying Tips

A Lease, defined under Section 105 of The Transfer of Property Act, 1882, is a transfer of the right to enjoy the concerned property for a pre-defined time period or in perpetuity. The lessor (owner of the property) gives the lessee (the one leasing the property) such consideration periodically, usually at the beginning or end of a lease agreement.
License is defined in Section 52 of the Indian Easements Act,1882. License does not allow any interest in the premises on the licensee's part. It merely gives the licensee the right to use and occupy the premises for a limited duration.
A lease deed needs to be stamped and registered. The amount payable towards the lease deed's stamp duty is more than that payable towards the Leave and License's. For a period exceeding three years, the stamp duty is same for both agreements.

There are various implications of entering into a lease agreement such as you have to pay the stamp duty, the lease agreement has to be registered etc.

Yes. The RBI may grant permission to a foreign citizen of non-Indian origin/foreign companies if the property is purchased for residential use and the consideration is paid by way of foreign exchange.

NRIs can be defined as:
• Indian citizens who stay in a foreign country for employment
• Indian citizens carrying on their businesses or vocations
• Indian citizens abroad for any other purpose in the circumstances indicating a definite intention to stay outside India for an indefinite period
NRIs can also be:
• Indian citizens working abroad on assignment with foreign governments or international agencies
• Officials of central and state government and public sector undertakings deputed abroad on temporary assignments or posted to their offices abroad
• Indians who have settled abroad permanently or gone abroad on immigration
Non-resident Indians become residents of India once they come back to India to engage in employment, for carrying on any business or vocation, or for any other purpose indicating a definite intention to stay in India for an indefinite period.

By registering the transaction of an immovable property, it becomes permanent public record. Title or interest can be acquired only if the deed is registered.

If you purchase a new flat within two years of the date of sale of the original flat and invest the entire amount of capital gained into the new flat, you will not have to pay any capital gains tax.

For instance, 70 per cent tenants out of a total of 32 tenants are ready to form a co-operative housing society.

There is no new provision in the new Rent Act regarding the prescribed percentage of tenants willing to form a society.

Approach the Registrar of Co-Operative Societies and file the various relevant documents.

Approach the Registrar of Co-Operative Societies and file the various relevant documents.

A notice is sent to the tenant, failing which a court case may be filed. It usually takes 10 to 20 years to reach a verdict.

Yes, tenants of an old, repaired building can form a co-operative housing society without the landlord's permission. Assume there is a lease agreement for 6 years for a shop with a built-in escalation clause at the rate of 20 per cent after 3 years. The lease expires on a specified date say, March 31, 2000 and the concerned landlord has sent a written letter. It is always advisable to make a new agreement with the landlord.

There is no prescribed norm for determining the market rent rate though it can be easily found out by approaching individuals such as brokers, registration authority, etc.