1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> Housing >> Housing condition

Most Australian dwellings were reported to be in good condition in the 1999 Australian Housing Survey, with the majority of households (80%) reporting no major structural problems. For those with problems, cracks in walls or floors were the most often reported (by 473,300 or 7% of households). Other problems were sinking or moving foundations (5%), rising damp (4%) and walls or windows out of plumb (4%) (table 8.2).

Some 43% of households reported that repairs were required to the inside of their home and a similar proportion (45%) reported that repairs were required to the outside of the dwelling. However, of these, almost two-thirds reported the repair to be desirable but low need.


8.2 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, By dwelling structure and physical condition - 1999

Separate house
Semidetached
Flat
Total(a)
Physical condition
'000
'000
'000
'000

Major structural problems
Rising damp
218.5
42.5
46.2
308.3
Major cracks in walls/floors
345.6
51.0
74.1
473.3
Sinking/moving foundations
284.9
31.4
20.5
338.3
Sagging floors
200.2
23.2
*9.4
235.8
Walls/windows out of plumb
234.2
27.1
35.1
298.4
Wood rot/termite damage
186.1
13.0
23.4
224.8
Major electrical problems
73.4
*7.8
21.7
104.2
Major plumbing problems
168.5
25.0
55.2
249.3
Major roof defect
136.7
14.7
26.8
181.2
Other problems
84.7
*8.0
25.7
121.0
Not known
61.7
12.7
25.2
99.6
No major structural problems
4,649.6
494.5
569.3
5,747.9
Total(b)
5,735.4
641.4
798.5
7,216.9
Need for interior repairs
Essential and urgent need
67.0
*6.3
20.3
94.2
Essential need
172.2
26.8
37.6
239.6
Moderate need
642.8
66.3
111.8
825.3
Desirable but low need
1,611.4
153.2
205.8
1,980.1
No need
3,242.0
388.8
422.9
4,077.6
Total
5,735.4
641.4
798.5
7,216.9
Need for exterior repairs
Essential and urgent need
66.7
*5.6
*7.7
80.5
Essential need
206.5
17.1
27.2
253.3
Moderate need
721.3
59.3
102.6
888.6
Desirable but low need
1,657.1
144.9
185.3
1,993.7
No need
3,083.8
414.5
475.7
4,000.7
Total
5,735.4
641.4
798.5
7,216.9

(a) Includes other dwelling structure.
(b) Components do not add to total as more than one response is allowed.

Source: Australian Housing Survey - Housing Characteristics, Costs and Conditions, 1999 (4182.0).


Repairs and maintenance

Some 55% of households reported that repairs or maintenance had been carried out to their current dwelling within the last 12 months. The most commonly reported types of repair or maintenance were painting (31%), plumbing (24%) and electrical work (17%) (table 8.3).


8.3 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, By tenure and landlord type and repairs/maintenance - 1999

Owner
Renter


Without a
mortgage
With a
mortgage
State/territory housing authority
Private
landlord
Total
renters(a)
Rent
free
Other
tenure
Total
Type of repairs/maintenance in last 12 months
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000

Painting
835.7
912.9
93.2
327.7
452.0
31.5
27.0
2,259.1
Roof repair/maintenance
355.5
256.1
25.4
121.7
161.3
16.4
8.4
797.6
Tile repair/replacement
145.1
179.5
23.7
84.3
115.7
*6.6
5.8
452.7
Electrical work
399.0
500.6
55.2
243.2
321.8
20.8
12.4
1,254.7
Plumbing
529.6
568.6
96.6
424.4
569.9
24.9
11.0
1,704.0
Other
226.4
257.0
59.9
190.0
268.9
11.9
8.8
773.0
No repairs/maintenance(b)
1,374.4
897.3
155.1
632.6
842.6
61.0
36.8
3,212.2
Total(c)
2,800.3
2,256.1
368.8
1,463.2
1,966.6
120.9
73.0
7,216.9

(a) Includes other landlord type.
(b) Includes households which did not know whether repairs/maintenance had been done.
(c) Components do not add to total as more than one response is allowed.

Source: Australian Housing Survey - Housing Characteristics, Costs and Conditions, 1999 (4182.0).



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