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Tenure Type

Tenure Type (TEND)

This variable describes whether a dwelling is owned, being purchased or rented by a household, or being occupied under another arrangement.

The question relating to Tenure Type (TEND) was first asked for the 1911 Census. From 1976 to 1991, nature of occupancy data was derived from mortgage and rent questions. For all other Censuses a direct question on nature of occupancy was asked. The categories for this variable have been revised for the 2011 Census. Further information on Census Topics 1911-2011, can be found in How Australia Takes a Census (cat. no. 2903.0).

The non-response rate for this variable was 6.1% (7.1% in 2006). More information is available from the 2011 Census non-response quality statement.

Tenure Type (TEND) is derived from answers to two questions on the Census Form. Most of the data is captured automatically from question 56 (which asks if the dwelling is owned, being purchased or being rented), with a small proportion of the data derived from responses to the Landlord Type (LLDD) question (question 57).

This data was captured automatically from mark box responses on the form so the risk of processing error is minimal. Sample checks of the data are undertaken to ensure an acceptable level of quality. In a small proportion of cases (testing has indicated that this is around 1.0%), respondents provide an incorrect number of responses (for TEND respondents are asked to only mark one response). In these cases responses are accepted in the order they appear on the form and the extra responses are rejected.

A study was conducted of 2001 Census data to investigate the difference between the Census count for the LLDD category 'State or territory housing authority' and public housing counts from other data sources. The results of the study concluded that counts for 'State or territory housing authority' are affected by the incidence of non-responding and unoccupied dwellings. Refer to Appendix C of Census Paper 03/02 - Housing, 2001 (cat. no. 2934.0).

More information on TEND is available in the 2011 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0).

Questions 56 and 57 as they appeared on the 2011 Census Household Form

Data for this variable is mainly derived from questions 56 and 57 on the Census Household Form.

Image of question 56 and 57 from the 2011 Census
Text only versions of these questions are available.

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2011 Census Dictionary

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