When house plan sellers refer to Total Living square feet, they are referring to the “living area” of the home. This can be thought of as the area that will be heated or cooled. It is called the living area because this is where you spend your time. An attic, while a useful storage area, is not living space.
As a result, the living space actually includes only those rooms that serve for living, living and residence in the house or apartment. Typical rooms included in the living space are living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, an office or a study in the apartment, bathroom, separate toilet, kitchen and dining room.
Depending on where you are buying a home, there are legal definitions around livable space that require spaces like a basement to be finished, heated and ventilated, partially or fully above-ground, and to have an entrance or exit to the outside for safety reasons.
The finished space must be contiguous and directly accessible from the balance of the living area. Finished space that lack permanent stairs or direct access, such as plant shelves, are not considered living area. Finished spaces only accessed by ladders, such as lofts, are not considered living area.
Living Space means the climate-controlled area within a Dwelling used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking purposes and excluding such areas as closets, garages, attics, and utility spaces.
What's included in a home's square footage? Main living spaces make up the bulk of your home's square footage, including the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Stairways and hallways are also included, although these spaces are not as easy to measure as square rooms.
Non-Habitable: Space in a structure that is not used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking, such as, but not limited to, garages, toilet compartments, closets, utility spaces or similar areas. Commercial and industrial structures do not have habitable space.
While a finished basement is considered living space where your property value is concerned, it's only in rare instances that this living space is counted towards the square footage. Even if your basement is not an exception to the rule, a finished basement is an asset to your property value.
Square footage is always enclosed heated area of a home. Any porches, terraces, unfinished basements, exposed to the elements or lacking heating/cooling would not be considered livable and therefore not be counted as part of the square footage of a home.
A detached garage doesn't count as living space. An attached garage may count as living space if it meets specific requirements. Converting your garage to a livable space may increase your home's value.
Measure the length and width, in feet, of each room. Then, multiply the length by the width to calculate that room's square footage. For example: If a bedroom is 12 feet by 20 feet, it is 240 square feet (12 x 20 = 240).
Livable space is the measurement that includes only space that you commonly use or is available for everyday use. Of the three types, livable space has the smallest square footage. You likely won't live in the storage areas, hallways, and closets. Those areas aren't included in the square footage measurements.
Yes! Square footage commonly includes built-in closets, storage rooms, and utility areas like laundry rooms or dedicated storage closets. These spaces contribute to the overall livability and functionality of the house.
Living Spaces is an American furniture retail chain based in La Mirada, California.
Tricky areas to consider are three-season porches and other unheated spaces. Unless they have a permanent heat source (confirm the types of heating local code allows) don't include these spaces in your finished square footage calculations.
Independent accommodation refers to properties with their own front door and private facilities (i.e. your own kitchen, bathroom and toilet).
In order to be considered habitable space, someone must be able to live there year round and eat, cook, sleep etc in the space. It must be protected from the elements, including heated. An unfinished basement or attic is not considered living space, nor is a garage area.
In general, staircases and closets count as finished square footage, while spaces like garages, three-season porches and unfinished basements or attics are not included.
The living area of the attic must be directly accessible from other living areas through a door, heated hallway, or stairway. Unfinished basements and attics, garages, and other non-living areas, such as foyers, atriums, patios, and balconies are excluded. Living areas must be contiguous.
Finished living area is the total finished floor area of the main home or section. Do not include any built-in garage area and any finished basement area, or bi-level unfinished lower level area. Finished living area is used to calculate the total living area.
Ensure You Can Legally Make an Apartment in Your Basement
"Most areas will not allow a basement in a single family home to be used as a legal dwelling. You would have to appear before the zoning board to file a case. The unit would also have to be compliant with city codes and regulations."
Usually, at least from what I have seen, they include the basement finished square footage in their finished square footage estimates.
Space standards for new dwelling houses
According to the nationally described space standard, the minimum floor area of any new home should be 37 square metres. In 2017, the government set out further internal area requirements for bedrooms in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).
Even though a laundry room may not be classified as a habitable space, there are ways to make it more inviting. Adding a cozy, fresh coat of paint, incorporating good lighting, and organizing the space can enhance its functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Finished attics have to meet certain coding requirements to be considered a legal and safe living space.