Housing suitability (HOSD)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Cite
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable is a measure of housing utilisation based on a comparison of the number of bedrooms in a dwelling with a series of household demographics, such as:

  • the number of usual residents
  • their relationship to each other
  • age
  • sex.

The criteria are based on the Canadian National Occupancy Standard. It can be used to identify if a dwelling is either under or over utilised.

Scope

Occupied private dwellings

Categories

CodeCategory
01Four or more extra bedrooms needed
02Three extra bedrooms needed
03Two extra bedrooms needed
04One extra bedroom needed
05No bedrooms needed or spare
06One bedroom spare
07Two bedrooms spare
08Three bedrooms spare
09Four or more bedrooms spare
10Unable to determine
&&Not stated
@@Not applicable

Number of categories: 12

Not applicable (@@) category comprises:

  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s
  • Visitor only and Non-classifiable households

Question(s) from the Census form

Is the person: Male, Female, Non-binary sex

Is the person: Male or Female
Is Person 1: If these options do not describe the person, they can Select something other than male or female. Male Female

What is the person’s date of birth and age?

What is the person’s date of birth and age?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information Day Month Year OR Don't know date of birth Age

Example

Housing suitability example - 18 March 1993, 28 years response given
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information Day Month Year 18 March 1993 OR Don't know date of birth Age 28 years

Example

Housing suitability example - Don't know date of birth response selected
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information Day Month Year OR Don't know date of birth (selected response) Age years

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 1's date of birth?
What is Person 1's date of birth? If date of birth is not known, please select 'Don't know date of birth' and provide Person 1's age. More information It is important to note: •Date of birth is the date that the person was born. •Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information Husband or wife of Person 1 De facto partner of Person 1 Child of Person 1 Stepchild of Person 1 Brother or sister of Person 1 Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1 Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1? Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder. More information If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

How many bedrooms are there in this dwelling?

How many bedrooms are there in this dwelling?
How many bedrooms are there at 1 Smith Street? If the dwelling is a bedsitter or studio, enter '0'. More information Number of bedrooms

More information

Additional instructions relating to the question on: How many bedrooms are there at 1 Smith Street?
How many bedrooms are there at 1 Smith Street? If the dwelling is a bedsitter or studio, enter '0'. More information Include any room that is defined as a bedroom, even if it is used for a different purpose, for example, as a study, office, computer room or sewing room. Include any bedrooms created as a result of alterations and additions to the house (such as built-in verandas, extensions or cabins).

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from responses to housing and household demographic questions from the Census form. The criteria used to derive the variable are based on the Canadian National Occupancy Standard for housing appropriateness and are sensitive to both household size and composition. The measure assesses the bedroom requirements of a household by specifying that: 

  • there should be no more than two people per bedroom
  • children less than five years of age of different sexes may reasonably share a bedroom
  • children less than 18 years of age and of the same sex may reasonably share a bedroom
  • single household members 18 years and over and parents or couples should have a separate bedroom
  • a lone person household may reasonably occupy a bedsitter or studio.

The Housing suitability variable compares the number of bedrooms required with the actual number of bedrooms in the dwelling. It can be used to analyse the under or over utilisation of dwellings and the dwelling's suitability for the resident household.

History and changes

The data has been available through customised data requests prior to the 2016 Census. In 2016, this variable was first reported.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

There is no single standard measure for Housing suitability. However, the Canadian National Occupancy Standard is widely used in Australia and internationally.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form. 

Related variables and glossary terms

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