The steps in this article are intended to give you an indicative idea of the dimensions of your home. An official NEN 2580 measurement, required for sale, rental, mortgage applications or valuation, can only be carried out by a certified measuring agency. This agency uses professional equipment and follows strict guidelines to draw up a recognized NEN 2580 report. Measuring yourself does not meet the NEN 2580 standard and is not officially accepted.
What is the NEN 2580 standard?
The NEN 2580 standard is a guideline for accurately measuring the area and contents of buildings in the Netherlands. This standard was developed to guarantee uniform and reliable measurements, so that no differences arise between measurements of comparable houses. The purpose of the NEN 2580 measurement instruction is to avoid misunderstandings at important moments such as the sale, rental or valuation of a property.
What is a NEN 2580 measurement report?
A NEN 2580 measurement report is an official document that summarizes the results of a NEN measurement. This report details the usable area and gross volume of a home or building, divided into categories such as:
- Living area: this includes areas used for daily living, such as the living room and bedrooms.
- Use area other indoor space: these are spaces such as the attic or garage, which do not have a residential function.
The NEN 2580 report clearly distinguishes between these different spaces and describes the number of square meters available per room and per floor. This creates a reliable and clear picture of the property, which is indispensable when selling, renting or appraising.
A NEN 2580 measurement report is commonly used in the following situations:
- Sale or rental: buyers and tenants get a clear overview of available space, including living area and gross volume.
- Appraisals: appraisers use the report to correctly estimate the value of a property, based on the accurately measured area.
- Energy performance: when determining the energy performance of a home, the exact statement of the gross volume is important.
Can you do a NEN 2580 measurement yourself?
No, only certified measuring agencies can provide an official NEN 2580 report. They use specialized measuring instruments and follow strict methodologies that comply with the standard. Measuring yourself can be useful to get a good estimate of dimensions, but it is not suitable for official purposes such as sale or rental.
What can you measure yourself?
Although you cannot prepare an official NEN 2580 report yourself, you can perform an indicative measurement. This can be useful to get a rough idea of the usable area and content of your home. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Gather necessary tools: use a tape measure, tape measure or laser rangefinder to accurately measure distances. Also provide paper or a digital tool to record your measurements.
- Mapping rooms: measure each room separately, including living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Note the length, width, and height of the rooms.
- Perform calculations: multiply the measured length and width of a room to calculate its area. Then add all areas together for an overall view.
- Check deviations: consider sloping roofs, alcoves or spaces that are not directly measurable. These can affect the usable area.
Why use a measuring agency for NEN 2580 measurement?
Measuring yourself can be useful to get an indication of the dimensions of your home. But in some situations, hiring a certified measuring agency is really indispensable. This is especially important when you want to be sure that the measurements are completely accurate and officially recognized.
Situations where a certified measurement agency is required
- When selling your home: An official NEN 2580 report offers buyers clarity and confidence. They know exactly what to expect, with no surprises.
- For mortgage applications: Banks and lenders often require an official measurement report as part of the financing application. A certified measurement company will provide a report that meets all requirements.
- When renting out your property: Tenants want to know what they're getting. An official report provides an accurate account of the space available.
- In legal or financial disputes: Whether dealing with inheritance issues or insurance claims, a certified measurement report provides reliable data recognized by all parties involved.
Why choose a certified measurement agency?
A certified measurement agency offers more than just measurements. It gives you security and an officially recognized report that you can use in important transactions. From a certified measurement agency, you can expect the following:
- Official recognition: The report is accepted by banks, notaries and other agencies.
- Accuracy: Thanks to professional equipment and methodologies, measurements are completely reliable.
- Complete overview: Includes living area, other indoor space, building-related outdoor space and external storage space.
Employing a certified measuring agency prevents mistakes and provides certainty. Measuring yourself can give you an idea of the dimensions, but for sale, rental or valuation, an official NEN 2580 report is a must.
Official measurements according to the NEN 2580 standard
The NEN 2580 standard is the official standard for accurately measuring the usable area and gross volume of dwellings and buildings in the Netherlands. This standard ensures a standardized and reliable way of measuring, which is essential when selling, renting or valuing a property.
An official NEN 2580 measurement report can only be prepared by a certified measurement agency. This report contains the exact floor area, layout of the rooms and other relevant data, such as the measurement of outdoor spaces. The steps described here are intended to provide an indicative picture of the dimensions of your home. However, they are not suitable for official purposes. Want an official measurement report? Then engage a certified measuring agency.
Below you can read step by step how a house is measured according to the NEN 2580 standard. These steps will help you make an indicative measurement:
1. Measurement of each room according to the NEN 2580 standard
The first step in measuring instructions is to accurately measure the length and width of each room. This forms the basis for calculating the total usable area of your home. Use a tape measure or laser rangefinder to measure from wall to wall. Be sure to ignore small obstacles, such as pipes or radiators, during the measurement, as they do not count towards the surface area according to the NEN 2580 standard.
- Measure the length and width of each room.
- Record the results to calculate the floor area later.
- Add up any different shapes separately to accurately capture the total space.
2. Measure height of each room according to the NEN 2580 standard.
After measuring the length and width, it is time to determine the height of the rooms. This is important for determining the content of the room. Measure from floor to ceiling and don't forget to include height differences in rooms such as attics. Measuring height correctly is an essential step in the measurement instruction to calculate the gross contents of your home.
- Measure the height from floor to ceiling.
- For pitched roofs, measure both the lowest and highest points.
- Note any differences in elevation.
3. Measuring outdoor spaces according to the NEN 2580 standard
Outdoor areas, such as balconies and terraces, must be measured separately. These fall under the category of building-related outdoor space and are listed separately in the NEN 2580 measurement report. For covered outdoor areas, you measure up to where the roof ends. For uncovered areas, you measure up to the edge of the floor or fence.
- Measure the length and width of the outdoor spaces.
- Distinguish between covered and uncovered areas.
- Add the total area of outdoor spaces to the measurement report.
4. Add up all the use area
When you finish measuring each room and outdoor space, add up the measured areas. This gives you the total usable area of your home. Make sure you distinguish between living areas, other indoor areas and outdoor areas so that you have a clear overview for the NEN 2580 measurement report.
- Add up the areas of all the rooms.
- List outdoor spaces separately.
- Calculate the total use area of the house.
5. Making an overview of the NEN 2580 measurement
Finally, make sure that all your measurements are neatly recorded in a statement of measurements. Make a table in which you list the length, width, height and calculated floor area for each room. This summary is useful when you want to have an official NEN 2580 measurement report prepared by a professional.
- Make a survey of all spaces.
- Indicate length, width, height and area.
- Make sure you classify all rooms correctly according to the NEN 2580 measurement guidelines.
By carefully following these steps, you ensure that the measurements of your home comply with the official NEN 2580 standard. This ensures transparency and certainty when preparing a measurement report, which is essential for a correct valuation of your home.
Digital tools and measurement reports
Although you can measure a lot manually, there are also handy digital tools available that can do the measurement calculation automatically for you. These tools often also generate a visual floor plan and a NEN 2580 measurement report that you can share with interested parties. These tools are particularly useful for creating digital floor plans and for calculating space in more complicated structures.
