4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 1996  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/06/1996   
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Contents >> Housing >> Definitions and references

Definitions and references

Affordability index - the ratio of average household income to the average income needed to meet the repayments for an average established dwelling purchased by a first home buyer. A value of 100 indicates that a household with average income would meet the average income requirements to service the average mortgage. An increase in the index represents an improvement in affordability.

    Reference: Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Housing Industry Association Housing Report

Alterations and additions - all approved structural and non-structural changes to a dwelling of a value of not less than $10,000 which are integral to the functional and structural design of the dwelling, e.g garages, carports, pergolas, reroofing, recladding etc., but excluding swimming pools, ongoing repairs, landscaping, and maintenance and home improvements not involving building work.
    Reference: Housing Finance for Owner Occupation, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0)

Applicants accommodated - the total number of public rental applicants accommodated in a year.
    Reference: Department of Housing and Regional Development, Housing Assistance Act 1989 Annual Report

Average weekly earnings index - the total weekly ordinary time (before tax) earnings of full-time adult employees divided by the total number of full-time adult employees and expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100.
    Reference: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0)

Being purchased - a dwelling that is currently being purchased for accommodation by the occupant(s) by means of a mortgagor or other form of finance.
    Reference: Income and Housing Surveys; Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Established house price index - the price of detached residential dwellings on their own block of land, regardless of age (i.e including new houses sold as a house/land package as well as older houses) expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100.
    Reference: House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0)

Finance commitments - firm offers to provide finance for owner-occupation or alterations and additions which have been, or are normally expected to be, accepted. Commitments to provide housing finance to employees and commitments accepted and cancelled in the same month are included.
    Reference: Housing Finance for Owner Occupation, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0)

Flats and apartments - dwellings contained in blocks having two or more storeys of dwelling units.
    Reference: Income and Housing Surveys; Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Household - a person living alone or a group of related or unrelated people who usually reside and eat together.
    Reference: Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Houses - dwellings separated from other dwellings, buildings or structures by space of at least half a metre to allow access on all sides. This category also includes houses which have an attached flat.
    Reference: Income and Housing Surveys; Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Housing interest rate - the financial year annual average of the interest rate applicable on the last working day of each month to standard variable rate loans for owner-occupation of large bank housing lenders. It is the predominant or representative rate (or range of rates) of major banks, although some banks may quote rates outside the ranges.
    Reference: Reserve Bank of Australia Monthly Bulletin

Housing waiting list - the number of applicants (households) waiting for public rental accommodation on 30 June.
    Reference: Department of Housing and Regional Development, Housing Assistance Act 1989 Annual Report

Materials used in house building price index - prices of selected materials used in the construction of dwellings expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100. Data for national total is a weighted average of six state capital cities.
    Reference: Price Index of Materials Used in House Building (cat. no. 6408.0)

Mean weekly rent
    Reference: Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4182.0)

Occupied private dwellings - the premises occupied by a household.
    Reference: Household Estimates, Australia (cat. no. 3229.0)

Owned - a dwelling owned outright by one or more of the occupants.
    Reference: Income and Housing Surveys; Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Private/public sector dwellings completed - when building activity has progressed to the stage where the building can fulfil its intended function. The ABS regards buildings as completed when notified as such by the respondents (builders) to the survey.
    Reference: Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0.40.001)

Private rental index - the average rent of privately owned dwellings (rented through real estate agents in each capital city) expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100.
    Reference: Consumer Price Index, Quarterly (cat. no. 6401.0)

Project home price index - the price of dwellings available for construction on a client's block of land expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100.
    Reference: House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0)

Public rental - dwellings rented from a State Housing Department, Trust or Commission, the ACT Housing Trust or the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Housing and Local Government.
    Reference: Income and Housing Surveys; Australian Housing Survey, 1994 (cat. no. 4181.0)

Public rental index - the average rent of government authority dwellings in metropolitan areas expressed as an index with base year 1989-90=100.
    Reference: Consumer Price Index, Quarterly (cat. no. 6401.0)

Public sector dwelling stock - those rental dwellings held by state housing authorities.
    Reference: Department of Housing and Regional Development, Housing Assistance Act 1989 Annual Report

Size of new private/public sector houses - average floor area of houses intended for private/public ownership at building completion.
    Reference: Building Activity Microfiche Service, Australia (cat. no. 8753.0)





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