What is the Minimum Size of a Habitable House?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Did you know that there are regulations on the minimum size of a house to be declared habitable? “Every person has the right to live in a decent house, a shelter that is safe, healthy, and comfortable for growth and daily life. However, realising housing that meets all aspects of habitability is not easy, especially amid challenges of limited land, population growth, and increasing housing needs,” said the Director of Housing and Settlement Technical Development, Syamsiar Nurhayadi, quoted from the Habitable House Pocket Book, Thursday (07/05/2026). Adequacy of building area aims to ensure space for movement, air circulation, and basic functions of occupant activities such as sleeping, eating, and daily tasks. The minimum standard for residential area is set at 7.2 square metres per person, while the recommended ideal size is 9 square metres per person. This calculation also considers an average ceiling height of about 2.8 metres to support occupant comfort and health. In addition to the occupant space area criteria, there are four other criteria that make a house habitable. These include building durability and safety; access to decent drinking water; access to decent sanitation; and good lighting and ventilation. Here is the explanation: The building safety aspect relates to the reliability of the house structure to ensure safety for occupants. The building structure must consist of sturdy components, from foundations, columns, walls, to roof frames. A habitable house is not built in high-risk locations, such as flood-prone areas, landslide zones, or near dangerous routes. Electrical and water installations must also be safe and meet technical standards. Access to decent drinking water means the house has a safe water source for consumption or daily use without posing health risks. Indicators include households using a decent water source, the water source location being inside or near the house with a maximum travel time of 30 minutes, and water availability of at least 12 hours per day.