What is a BHK

The BHK complete form implies a bedroom, hall, and kitchen. It usually specifies how many rooms are in a house. For instance, a 2BHK denotes a specific home with two bedrooms, a hall, and a kitchen. Similarly, 1 BHK means a home with a single bedroom, theatre, and kitchen. n their advertisements. So, to simplify, 4 BHK complete form is four bedrooms, a hall, and a kitchen. Although there may be two bathrooms or toilets, vendors will always state the bedroom number. Most BHKs have a toilet+bath area, even if the short form has no “T”. Some developers might market their flats as a 3BHK Plus 2T, where the 2T signifies two toilets. It emphasizes the edge of the extra space in the three-bedroom house.

In addition to flats, bungalows, independent homes, builder floor properties, and villas are also referred to by the abbreviation ‘BHK.’ ‘BHK’ does not mean a plot of land unless it is used to represent its future potential. For instance, “You can construct a four-bedroom residence on this land.”

Let’s understand various types of BHKs: 

What 0.5 BHK full form?

0.5 BHK means an apartment with a smaller bedroom than a usually sized bedroom, a toilet, and a kitchen are called a 0.5BHK apartment or half bedroom. Developers have tested different BHK apartment layouts that are popular with home purchasers. The trend of 0.5BHK apartments is expanding in India due to the country’s fast urbanization and changing demand for living space. A 1RK is quite a popular option in many posh and high-end apartment complexes.

What is 1 BHK full form?

A hall, a kitchen, and a standard-sized primary bedroom create a 1BHK. Usually, 1 BHK means the primary bedroom’s bathroom and toilet are separate rooms that are not connected. Due to the price of 1BHK apartments, they are a prevalent option for customers searching for real estate, particularly in centrally located areas.

What is 1.5 BHK full form? 

A 1.5BHK full form is a house that has a primary bedroom that is the usual size and a smaller bedroom. This smaller space can be used as a storage, study, servants, or kids’ room. Many interior designers also suggest using this extra room in the apartment as a pooja room. However, this room may or may not have windows and other amenities like the main bedroom.

What is 2 BHK full form?

An apartment called a 2 BHK has two bedrooms, one hall, and one kitchen. The main bedroom of the two-bedroom house has an attached bathroom, while the guest bathrooms are located outside the rooms. Families with young children like these apartments as they are more spacious than a one-bedroom apartment and less expensive than a three-bedroom apartment.

What is 2.5 BHK full form?

2.5 BHK means a flat having two bedrooms plus a smaller room that can be used as a servant or storage space. The demand for such BHK apartments is rising, especially in Delhi-NCR. Mostly middle-sized families prefer 2.5 BHK since they offer the convenience of a 3BHK at an affordable cost.

What is 3 BHK full form? 

A 3 BHK means a home with three bedrooms, one hall and one kitchen, also in demand, especially in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, i.e. the National Capital Region, including Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. It may have three bathrooms, two attached to the rooms, and the third one is common. 

What is the reason behind 0.5, 1.5, or 2.5 BHKs?

Builders have come up with extra “half-rooms,” or 0.5 BHK, due to the high demand for 2BHK units; 1.5 and 2.5 BHK units represent a desirable alternative for purchasers who prefer not to upgrade to a 3BHK and spend more. Half-rooms provide the extra space that buyers need. Therefore, these BHKs are quite in demand for resale properties as well.

What is 1RK?

When we talk about BHKs, it is imperative to speak about 1RK. A 1RK unit is an alternate choice for individuals searching for compact apartments. 1RK means a unit has a single room, a kitchen, and a bathroom or toilet. As the name suggests, such a structure has removed the living space. Customers on a tight budget typically choose this setup. This structure is ideal for frequent travellers. These folks may not wish to invest much money in real estate in another city or stay too long in a hotel. For this kind of individual, a 1RK arrangement is appropriate.

Why is it important to understand the size of the property?

Sometimes a 1BHK unit may appear larger than a typical 2BHK, or a 3BHK may look smaller than a 2BHK size. In other words, some builders would market an 800-square-foot unit as a one-bedroom; others might offer a two-bedroom instead. Depending on the builder, the size of a 2BHK apartment may vary from 750 to 1,000 square feet. 2 BHK apartments in Delhi and other pricey cities are typically between 650 and 700 square feet in size. The dimensions can be smaller than 600 square feet in some areas. However, luxury residential projects that provide 2BHK apartments of 1,000 square feet or more offer big residences for potential buyers.

So why do such inconsistencies occur concerning a property’s area? This is because there aren’t established guidelines for a typical BHK house, and the areas or real estate markets may create unspoken guidelines in this regard. For instance, Delhi can have larger two-bedroom apartments than Mumbai. Uneven BHK sizes indicate the accessibility of land in a certain area. It also depends on factors such as the premium associated with a building in that location, the total cost of construction, the market price, etc.

Carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area

It’s critical to understand carpet area while talking about property size. In a BHK, the carpet area refers to the real usable space you receive to utilize within your home. The space used to construct the entrance, the lift, the staircase, the playground, etc., and the interior walls’ width are not included. At the same time, the built-up area in an apartment means the total area covered by the carpet, inside walls, and balcony. 

On the other hand, super built-up space contains the built-up area, the carpet area, and a portion of the common area, including the stairs, lobbies, and galleries, which are accessible to all inhabitants. Before the RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) came into existence, developers would mention how densely populated the area was, and salespeople would tout the spaciousness of new developments. The RERA has now outlawed such malpractices.

How to decide between 1 BHK or 2 BHK while buying a property? 

There are several considerations to examine when choosing between a 1BHK, 2BHK, or 3BHK apartment. While choosing between a one or two-bedroom apartment is a popular argument among buyers, especially with a modest budget, it can be complicated due to the numerous possibilities offered by developers of residential properties. These can be in different formats; the home loan options provided by banks and Non – banking finance companies, the cost of the property, the area, the size, the builder, the needs of the buyers, etc.

Let’s discuss these various factors in detail:

1. Purpose of Buying

First and foremost, the reason for buying a property should be decided. For example, if you are buying it for investment, a 2 BHK unit is more likely to sell than a 1 BHK apartment. This is due to the demand for two bedrooms consistently outpacing a single bedroom. Therefore, a 2BHK home is always preferred if you buy an apartment for financial purposes.

2. Future Planning

A 1BHK signifies a first-time buyer’s finest balance of comfort and cost. However, investing in a house must be done in the long run. A 1BHK apartment might initially seem adequate for a small family; however, the same unit might not be enough if you decide to grow the family. However, a two Bedroom apartment can provide ample room for a modern family to live comfortably.

3. Property Price

The size of the house drives the cost of an apartment. The price of a 2BHK home will be higher than a 1BHK home of identical size and location. Therefore, the 1BHK apartment will be the only choice if the 2-bedroom flat is out of your price range, even with a home loan.

4. Market Trend

A 2BHK apartment might be more practical, even for a bachelor or a small family. Based on the location, pricing and layout of the apartment, a home buyer might prefer a 2 but then 1 bhk. The higher demand for 2BHK apartments has led to real estate companies paying much closer attention to the supply and facilities of a 2BHK flat. 

Though these are some deciding factors while buying a one, two, or three BHK apartment, research shows that purchasing a 2BHK is more profitable than a 1BHK apartment. 

What is the difference between 1BHK and Studio?

The term Studio is quite popular nowadays. Every home buyers looking for a 1 BHK apartment get to hear the term Studio by property agents. Getting confused with these two terms’ Studio’ and ‘1 BHK’ is quite a common problem among home buyers. Let’s understand the difference between a studio and 1 BHK here: 

A studio flat is similar to 1 BHK in size, but the layout is different. A studio comprises one sizable room where you must allot space for your kitchen, bed, etc. So, there is no separation between the bedroom and kitchen or living space. A studio is an open layout that gives the homebuyer just one room with a bathroom/toilet. If the space has a wall separating the sleeping area from the kitchen, then this apartment is called 1 RK. However, most of the time, the carpet area of a studio is more than a 1RK and feels more open and spacious. A 1 BHK apartment, in comparison, has a specific bedroom, a kitchen, a living space, and a bathroom/toilet.

How to choose between 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments? 

Several factors involve deciding whether to buy or rent a 2BHK/3BHK/4BHK apartment. Let’s discuss some of these factors: 

1. Budget & Price

Whether to rent or buy comes up for practically everyone at some point, particularly in a big metropolis. The financial burden of purchasing a two, three, or four-bedroom apartment is more significant than renting one. If one plans to purchase any flat, the buyer must determine their income before looking at the EMI. The cost of a BHK apartment must be evaluated based on several variables. If a loan should be taken, then EMI should ideally not exceed 25% of the borrower’s income. However, renting should be chosen if purchasing a 2 BHK, 3 BHK, or 4 BHK flat will impose an undue financial strain on the buyer.

2. Rules & Regulation

There are many limitations on what can and cannot be done when renting an apartment. For example, there might be regulations on entry and exit timings, making any structural changes to the apartment, or even restrictions on visitors. However, these limitations do not apply to self-owned 2 BHK, 3 BHK, or 4 BHK apartments.

3. Flexibility

If one continues to pay rent, they can quickly relocate out of their apartment when they need to stay in a different area. However, this won’t be as simple if you decide to buy a 2BHK, 3BHK, or 4BHK flat. Whether renting a home has one or more bedrooms, there is much more flexibility involved. Therefore, the buyer’s likelihood of moving must be carefully considered before making a purchase decision.

4. Interior & Layout Design

Beyond a certain point, a tenant might not be able to customize further the interior of the 2BHK, 3BHK, or 4 BHK apartment. When you rent a place, there are always restrictions on making any permanent design changes. However, a 2BHK, 3BHK, or 4BHK flat’s owner is free to make as many interior or layout changes as they choose.

5. Tax Benefits

Only a specific part of the rent is eligible for tax benefits if you stay in a rented apartment. However, acquiring a 2 BHK, 3 BHK, or 4 BHK apartment provides several tax advantages. After the 2019 Budget, the tax advantages for buying property have grown. A deduction of Rs 2 lakh is allowed for the house loan interest paid. In addition, the tax benefits increase to Rs 3.5 lakh per year if the stamp duty cost of the obtained property is over Rs 45 lakh.

What do you think?