Property documents and surveying, explained clearly

Living space, floor area, usable area, gross volume: for one and the same property several figures are often in circulation, and it is rarely documented how they were arrived at. The following pages explain the rules behind them — not as advertising, but as a reference.

• Scanning a Building Correctly — mkm|Scan App Guide Preparation, splitting scans correctly by floor and apartment, the five-metre rule and the most common mistakes — how your scan becomes a usable basis for a floor plan and living space calculation.
• Living Space Calculation under the WoFlV — Rules and Weighting Which rooms count towards the living space, how measurements are taken, and what proportion of balconies, low rooms and conservatories is included.
• WoFlV or DIN 277 — Which Calculation Do You Need? Two sets of rules, two purposes, two different figures for the same building. When each calculation is required and why the results differ.
• German Living Space Ordinance (WoFlV) — Full Text The official text of the German ordinance on calculating living space of 25 November 2003, with all five sections — for reference and citation.
• DIN 277 — Floor Areas and Volumes in Building Construction Gross floor area, net room area, usable area and gross volume explained: which figures the standard defines, how they relate and what they are used for.
• Bank-Ready Property Documents — What Lenders Actually Require Why documents get rejected, which features a bank expects, and what "bank-ready" actually means — it is not a legal term.
• How Accurate Is a LiDAR Scan? How the measurement in a smartphone works, what affects its accuracy, where the limits of the method lie, and when an on-site survey is the better choice.
• Sloping Ceilings and Living Space — the 1 and 2 Metre Rule How rooms under sloping ceilings are counted, where the thresholds lie, and why living space in a loft is considerably smaller than the floor area.
• Elevations and Sections — When Banks and Building Authorities Require Them What elevations and sections show, why lenders and building authorities ask for them, and when a floor plan alone is not enough.
• Lettable Area under MF-GIF — the 2023 gif Guideline How the MF-GIF guideline delineates lettable areas, why it has stood independently of DIN 277 since 2023, and what that means for the lease.

These pages are no substitute for legal advice or an assessment of your individual case. For a robust calculation, confirmed by a certified surveyor where required, see our living space calculation or get in touch with us.