Housing Variables

Tenure Type is the nature of a person, income unit or household's legal right to occupy the dwelling in which they usually reside.

Tenure is determined according to whether the person/income unit/household owns the dwelling without a mortgage, owns the dwelling but has a mortgage or loan secured against it, is paying rent to live in the dwelling or has some other arrangement to occupy the dwelling.

Operationally Tenure Type is determined by responses to questions about ownership, secured loans or mortgages, rental or other arrangements.

The Tenure Type of persons/income units/households in caravans, manufactured homes and houseboats is determined according to the tenure of the dwelling structure and not the land. Thus, a person who owns a caravan and rents a site in a caravan park is regarded as an owner. The status of the land is indicated by the location of dwelling.

The tenure type of the household can be collected by asking the question directly of the household or of a single reference person. It is inferred that all people/income units in the household have the same tenure type unless person/income unit level tenure is collected.

If person level tenure is collected then this can be used to infer the income unit level tenure using the order of preference specified in 'Input classification' and 'Coding indexes' (i.e. the category with the lowest code has the highest tenure type).

Collection and output classification can be at the person, income unit and household level in the revised standard. A range of unit levels may be required for understanding intra-household transfers and to inform on security of tenure where it differs for the individuals within the household, eg. respondents living within an owner occupier household who pay rent or board to the owner of the household to reside within the dwelling. The collection and output of person level tenure already exists in the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) and the Survey of Disability Aging and Carers (SDAC).

Person level and income unit collection can use the same question modules. They are to be asked in addition to the Household level tenure questions and are to be asked of each person/income unit in the household that has indicated they are not a primary tenure person.

For person level tenure it is possible for a landlord to be a person (whether related or not) in the same dwelling. For example, a non-dependent child living in the home of his or her parents and paying rent, is considered a renter. If rent were not paid, the non-dependent child would be classified to the 'rent-free' category. Generally, the distinction will be made by the individuals themselves.

In this version of the standard, the input and output classification category 'Participant of rent/buy (or shared equity) scheme' has been renamed 'Participant of shared equity scheme'. The change in title has been made to reflect current practice and improve accuracy of reporting against this category.

A shortened question module has been included for surveys that do not or can not output data for the full tenure type classification. Surveys should determine which module they use based on the data requirements, sample size and time constraints for the survey.

Tenure Type can be collected at the person, income unit or household level.

Household level tenure (Households are sequenced into Landlord Type questions based on Tenure Type answers below).

To be used for face to face interviewer methods. This question module should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

To be used for telephone interviewer methods. This question module should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

Person/Income Unit level tenure (gathered from persons who are not primary tenure persons)

To be used for telephone/face to face interviewer methods where household tenure has already been collected. These question modules should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household. This question needs to be asked prior to the below person level tenure being collected.

Incoming Population - Households that are not lone person, couple only or couple only with children aged under 15

Incoming Population - Households where there are persons aged 15+ who are not Primary Tenure persons. All non-Primary tenure persons aged 15+ should be included in the loop.

To be used for face to face interviewer methods (household level). These question modules should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

To be used for phone interviewer methods (household level). These question modules should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

Q1 – Owned or partly owned
Q2 – Rented
Q3 – Being purchased under a shared equity scheme
Q4 – Occupied under a life tenure scheme
Q5 – Occupied rent free
Q6 – Does anyone in household currently have any mortgages or secured loans against this dwelling
Q9 – Being purchased under a shared equity scheme

1 = Y 5 = N

For primary tenure persons: person level tenure = household level tenure (as specified above). Where person is not a primary tenure person see below
Person Tenure Q1 – Boarder
Person Tenure Q2 – Renter
Person Tenure Q3 – Rent Free

1 = Y 5 = N

Q1 – Owned or partly owned
Q2 – Rented
Q3 – Does anyone in household currently have any mortgages or secured loans against this dwelling
Q4 – Being purchased under a shared equity scheme

1 = Y 5 = N

Tenure Type is applicable only to people/income units/households in private dwellings therefore the dwelling type needs to be established. Household type is required to implement the [you/anyone in this household] word substitution.

Landlord type can be used in conjunction with tenure type to output a combined tenure and landlord type. Recommended standard output for this item is listed below.

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Life tenure scheme
4 Participant of shared equity scheme
5 Renter
6 Rent-free
7 Other

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Renter
4 Other (including rent-free, life tenure scheme, shared equity arrangement, other)

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Life tenure scheme
4 Participant of shared equity scheme
5 Renter
6 Rent-free
7 Boarder
8 Other

Tenure type is 'Other' if the tenure does not fit any of the above categories. Further definitions can be found in the glossary.

Tenure type is a single level classification therefore input classifications equal output classifications.

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Life tenure scheme
4 Participant of shared equity scheme
5 Renter
6 Rent-free
7 Other

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Renter
4 Other (including rent-free, life tenure scheme, shared equity arrangement, other)

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Life tenure scheme
4 Participant of shared equity scheme
5 Renter
6 Rent-free
7 Boarder
8 Other

Tenure type is Other if the tenure does not fit any of the above categories. Further definitions can be found in the glossary.

Tenure type is a single level classification therefore input classifications equal output classifications.

Landlord Type is the type of legal entity from which a person/income unit/household's right to occupy a dwelling derives. It relates to the entity with which the person/income unit/household obtains the contractual right to occupy dwelling space as a home.

There is, in most cases, a chain or hierarchy of tenant-landlord relationships between the occupants of the dwelling and ultimately to an external landlord. The landlord type for the counting unit therefore relies on the contractual relationship one or more members of the counting unit have with the most immediate external landlord.

A landlord is the person or organisation that allows a person/income unit/household to occupy a dwelling (usually by paying rent). These persons/income units/households can be further classified according to type of landlord. The landlord may be a relative or unrelated person, or can be a real estate agent, a state or territory housing authority, a community organisation, a trust or an employer.

Landlord Type is the legal entity to which rent is paid or with whom the tenure contract or arrangement is made. It is measured by asking persons/income units/households who reside in private dwellings and whose Tenure Type is Renter, Rent Free or Boarder who they pay rent/board to or who provides the dwelling rent free.

The landlord type of the household can be collected by asking the question directly of the household or of a single reference person. In this method it is inferred that all people/income units in the household have the same landlord type unless person/income unit level tenure is collected.

Alternatively, if person level tenure and landlord type is collected of all units in the dwelling, then this can be used to infer the income unit landlord type if applicable. The inferred Landlord Type of the counting units 'income unit' are based on the landlord type of the reference person. This derives from the assumption that the reference person will have a direct relationship with a landlord outside the counting unit, with all other persons either sharing that tenure relationship or having a subordinate landlord.

For more information on Tenure Type refer to the Tenure Type standard variable.

The Landlord Type of persons in caravans, houseboats and manufactured homes will be determined by the landlord of the dwelling structure and not the land.

Collection and output classification can be at the person, income unit and household level. A range of unit levels may be required for understanding intra-household transfers and to inform on security of tenure where it differs for the individuals within the household, eg. respondents living within an owner occupier household who pay rent or board to the owner of the household to reside within the dwelling. The collection and output of person level tenure already exists in the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) and the Survey of Disability Aging and Carers (SDAC).

Person level and income unit collection can use the same question modules. They are to be asked in addition to the Household level tenure questions and are to be asked of each person/income unit in the household that has indicated they do not share the primary tenure of the household.

This standard includes modules for face to face and telephone interviews.

The classification applies to all households/income units/persons in private dwellings whose tenure is renting, boarding or living rent free.

If person and/or income unit landlord type is not collected separately the inferred Landlord Type of the counting units, income unit or person is based on the landlord type household. This derives from the assumption that the household will have a direct relationship with a landlord outside the counting unit, with all other persons/income units either sharing that tenure relationship or having a subordinate landlord.

To be used for face to face interviewer methods. This question module should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household. Options can be included on a prompt card.

Incoming population Tenure Type = Households who are renting (Tenure type Q2 =1) or rent free (Tenure Type Q5 =1).

To be used for telephone interviewer methods. This question module should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

Incoming population Tenure Type = Households who are renting or rent free.

To be used for telephone/face to face interviewer methods. This question module should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.
Options can be included on a prompt card.

Incoming population - Person/Income Level Tenure Type = People/Income units who do not share the primary tenure of the household and whose person level tenure is renting (Person level tenure Q2=1), rent free (Person level tenure Q3=1) or boarding (Person level tenure Q1=1) (see tenure type standard for further details on establishing this population).

The main supporting variable needed for Landlord Type is Tenure Type. The tenure type variable is used for sequencing respondents to the landlord type question. Household type is also required to implement the [you/members of this household] and [you(name of person)] word substitutions.

Landlord type can be used in conjunction with tenure type to output a combined tenure and landlord type. Recommended standard output for this item is listed below.

1 Owner without a mortgage
2 Owner with a mortgage
3 Renter - State/territory housing authority
4 Renter - Private landlord
5 Renter - Other Landlord
6 Other tenure type

1 Real estate agent
2 State or Territory housing authority
3 Person not in the same household - Parent/Other relative
4 Person not in the same household - Other person
5 Owner/Manager of caravan park
6 Employer - Defence Housing Authority
7 Employer - Government
8 Employer - Other employer
9 Housing co-operative/Community/Church group
10 Other (Specify)

1 Real estate agent
2 State or Territory housing authority
3 Person in the same household - Parent/Other relative
4 Person in the same household - Other person
5 Person not in the same household - Parent/Other relative
6 Person not in the same household - Other person
7 Owner/Manager of caravan park
8 Employer - Defence Housing Authority
9 Employer - Government
10 Employer - Other employer
11 Housing co-operative/Community/Church group
12 Other (Specify)

Landlord type is a single level classification therefore input classifications equal output classifications. However categories can be collapsed for output if required.

Response categories for this question are listed in hierarchical order. If within a household or Income unit there is more than one landlord type situation, choose the lowest code in the classification (i.e. the highest category in the classification structure). For example, for household tenure, in a group house, if one person pays rent to another member of the household who then pays it to a third party outside the household (e.g. real estate agent), record the appropriate category for the third party: Code 1 Real Estate Agent.

1 Real estate agent
2 State or Territory housing authority
3 Person not in the same household - Parent/Other relative
4 Person not in the same household - Other person
5 Owner/Manager of caravan park
6 Employer - Defence Housing Authority
7 Employer - Government
8 Employer - Other employer
9 Housing co-operative/Community/Church group
10 Other (Specify)

1 Real estate agent
2 State or Territory housing authority
3 Person in the same household - Parent/Other relative
4 Person in the same household - Other person
5 Person not in the same household - Parent/Other relative
6 Person not in the same household - Other person
7 Owner/Manager of caravan park
8 Employer - Defence Housing Authority
9 Employer - Government
10 Employer - Other employer
11 Housing co-operative/Community/Church group
12 Other (Specify)

Dwelling Structure is the variable which classifies private dwellings according to the structure of the building that contains the dwelling.

A 'building' is defined as a rigid, fixed and permanent structure which has a roof. Its intended purpose is primarily to house people, plant, machinery, vehicles, goods or livestock. An integral feature of a building’s design is the provision for regular access by persons in order to satisfy its intended use.

A 'dwelling' is a suite of rooms contained within a building or structure in which people can live. A ' private dwelling' is defined as a suite of rooms contained within a building which are self-contained and intended for long-term residential use. To be self-contained the suite of rooms must possess cooking and bathing facilities as building fixtures.

The dwelling structure classification refers only to private dwellings. Accommodation provided in other premises, eg. hotels/motels, boarding schools, nursing homes, hostels etc. is excluded, unless the dwelling is self-contained and intended for long term residential use.

A dwelling is identified in household surveys if it is included in the 'private dwelling' sample. It is any dwelling which satisfies the nominal definition of a dwelling and private dwelling. Excluded are Non-private dwellings, which include hostels for the homeless, night shelters and refuges; hotels and motels; hospitals and homes; religious and educational institutions; prisons and reformatories; boarding houses and others: guest houses, private hotels, hostels, staff quarters, large construction camps.

Once a private dwelling is identified, the Dwelling Structure is then measured by establishing the type of building that contains the dwelling structure.

'Other Dwellings' are also included in the Dwelling structure standard. Other dwellings include caravans, cabins, houseboats, tents, improvised homes and campers out and houses or flats attached to shop/s or office/s etc. The 'Other Dwellings' category captures the accommodation arrangements for households that may not fit the definition of dwelling as defined in the nominal definition. Other Dwellings may be located within a predominately non-residential building or not be intended for long term residential use and in some cases not be self-contained.

The criteria used to classify Dwelling Structure are:

• Whether the building is attached to another building or dwelling;
• For those dwellings which are attached to another building or dwelling, the nature of the attachment;
   
• The number of storeys comprising the building which contains the dwelling;
   
• Whether the dwelling is permanent or mobile; and
• Whether the dwelling is intended for long term residential use.
   

For surveys which have limited time allocations and do not output detailed breakdowns of dwelling structure, a shortened question module has been included.

This standard includes question modules for face to face interviews. Self enumeration, e-form and telephone modules will be included in the future.

The classification covers all private dwellings including 'other dwellings' that are occupied.

For use in face to face Interview based collections. Interviewer to code dwelling structure based upon their observations of the dwelling prior to commencing interview:

The Other dwelling category 'Caravan, Cabin, Houseboat' can be collected in greater detail and where possible, caravans should be collected separately from Cabin and Houseboats. This can be done either through collecting them separately initially or by asking an additional question. Most sample surveys will not be able to support output for further breakdowns of 'Caravan, Cabin, Houseboat' and as such, these surveys should use the standard breakdowns shown above.

For collections which have limited time allocations and do not output detailed breakdowns of dwelling structure, the shortened question module can be used.

For use in face to face Interview based collections. Interviewer to code dwelling structure based upon their observations of the dwelling prior to commencing interview:

A supporting variable to dwelling structure is dwelling location. Dwelling Location applies to private dwellings, and describes the location of dwellings other than 'typical' private dwellings. It is used to identify whether dwellings of a specific structure, such as caravans, are located in communal locations, such as in a caravan park.

Dwelling location is collected as a separate item by both the Census and the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH). The SIH asks the following question for dwelling location.

Code best description of location of selected dwelling.
1. Caravan park
2. Marina
3. Manufactured home estate
4. Accommodation for the retired or aged (self-care)
5. Other (including residential dwelling blocks, farms, etc.)

The standard input classification comprises the following input classification categories.
1 Separate house
2 Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc. with one storey
3 Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse etc. with two or more storeys
4 Flat or apartment in a 1 or 2 storey block
5 Flat or apartment in a 3 storey block
6 Flat or apartment in a 4 or more storey block
7 Flat or apartment attached to a house
8 Other dwelling: Caravan, Cabin, Houseboat
9 Other dwelling: Improvised home, Tent, Sleepers out
10 Other dwelling: House or flat attached to a shop, office, etc.

1 Separate house
2 Semi-detached, row or terrace house, townhouse
3 Flat or apartment
4 Other dwelling

The Dwelling Structure output classification is a 2 level classification with 4 categories at level one and 10 at level two.

The short dwelling structure classification has a flat structure with 4 categories.

The standard comprises the following output classification categories:

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Functional Classification of Buildings (BLD), Canberra.

Number of Bedrooms is the number of rooms within a dwelling that are defined as bedrooms on the dwelling plans or approval documents (i.e. they relate to the intent at the time of construction, not necessarily current use).

A dwelling is defined (according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics) as:

A suite of rooms within a building which is self-contained and intended for long-term residential use. To be self-contained, the suite of rooms must possess cooking and bathing facilities as part of the building.

A room is deemed to be an enclosed space within a dwelling which is separated from other rooms.

Number of Bedrooms is an attribute of the counting unit Dwelling.

Number of Bedrooms is the number of rooms within a dwelling that are defined as bedrooms on the dwelling plans. This includes bedrooms which have been created or removed as a result of alterations and additions to the dwelling (such as built in verandas, extensions, sunrooms, cabins, etc.) which the occupants of a dwelling consider to be bedrooms. Other rooms on the plans such as lounge, family or dining rooms which are used as bedrooms should be excluded.

Because of methodological constraints, what constitutes a bedroom is left to the perception of the occupants in household-based collections.

A studio apartment/bedsitter is considered to have no bedrooms, as there is no separate room in which to sleep and is classified as 0 bedrooms.

This item is to be collected and output as a continuous item.

The Number of Bedrooms Classification is applicable to all private dwellings in Australia.

These question modules should be asked of one member of the household, the Household spokesperson, who answers on behalf of the household.

Continuous - (0 to 99).

The input classification for Number of Bedrooms is a flat classification and has the code structure range or 0 to 99 where None (including studio apartments/bedsitters) equals 0.

Number of bedrooms is collected as a continuous item (0 to 99). However the categories used in final output should be determined based on the specifications for the collection, required level of detail, data quality, standard errors and confidentiality. Below is an example of a common acceptable output.

0 None (includes studio apartments/bedsitters)
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6 or more

Not stated
Not applicable

A bedroom is a room within a dwelling that is defined as a bedroom on the dwelling plans. This includes bedrooms which have been created as a result of alterations and additions to the dwelling (such as built in verandas, extensions, sunrooms, cabins, etc.) which the occupants of a dwelling consider to be bedrooms. Other rooms on the plans such as lounge, family or dining rooms which are used as bedrooms should be excluded.

A boarder is a person aged 15 years or over or an income unit that is provided with meals and lodging in return for payment. Boarders are considered household members (due to the interaction with others at mealtimes) but may or may not be related to any other household members.

A building is a rigid, fixed and permanent structure which has a roof. Its intended purpose is primarily to house people, plant, machinery, vehicles, goods or livestock. An integral feature of a building’s design is the provision for regular access by persons in order to satisfy its intended use.

A suite of rooms contained within a building or structure in which people can live.

• Defence Housing Authority
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with the Defence Housing Authority.
   
• Government
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with a government employer.
   
• Other employer
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with an employer who is not the Defence Housing Authority or another government organisation.
   

This category covers all dwellings in blocks of flats or apartments. These dwellings do not have their own private grounds and usually share a common entrance foyer or stairwell. This category includes houses converted into flats, and flats attached to houses such as granny flats.

A person living alone or a group of related or unrelated people who usually live in the same private dwelling.

An income unit is a single person or group of related persons within a household, whose command over income is assumed to be shared. Income sharing is assumed to take place within married (registered or de facto) couples, and between parents and dependent children.

Landlord Type is the type of legal entity from which a persons/income units/household's right to occupy a dwelling derives. It relates to the entity with which the person obtains the contractual right to occupy dwelling space as a home.

Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with a community or co-operative group (e.g. community housing groups, church owned housing, etc.). This includes payments to retirement villages that are owned or administered by community or co-operative groups.

All other arrangements not included in other input classification categories. Including student housing provided by the institutions they are attending.

Persons/income units/households have a lease arrangement in which the tenant/s has/have the right to occupy the dwelling for an indefinite or unspecified period but without the full rights of ownership and usually with limited or no equity in the dwelling. This is a common arrangement in retirement villages and can also be referred to as leasehold or loan and licence agreements.

Dwellings or establishments that provide a communal or transitory type of accommodation or care, such as hotels, hostels and nursing homes, prisons, religious and charitable institutions, boarding schools, defence establishments, hospitals and other communal dwellings.

• Cabin
  An occupied private dwelling that is self-contained but not intended for long term residential use (although it could be currently used on a permanent or semi-permanent basis).
  
  Includes: Occupied cabins located in tourist/residential parks or set up as temporary housing
  Excludes: Separate dwellings that are permanent and intended for long term residential use, even if the resident/owner views them as a cabin like dwelling due to their size, structure, materials or current use.
   
• Caravan
  An occupied mobile dwelling (intended for use on land) that may or may not be self-contained but not intended for long term residential use (although it could be currently used on a permanent or semi-permanent basis).
   
• Houseboat
  An occupied mobile dwelling (intended for use on water). It is not typically intended for long term use (although it could be currently used on a permanent or semi-permanent basis).
   
• House or flat attached to a shop, office, etc.
  All houses or flats that are attached to a non-residential building. Examples of these dwellings are manses attached to a church, a flat or apartment over a shop, and a caretaker's house or flat attached to a school, factory or storage facility where the primary purpose of the main building is for non-residential use.
   
• Improvised home, tent, sleepers out
  All structures not elsewhere classified that are occupied by people on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. This category typically includes garages, sheds, tents, shacks, etc.
   

Owned includes only cases where no money is owed on any type of loan secured against the dwelling. Partly owned includes all households that currently have any type of mortgage or loan secured against the dwelling and households who own the dwelling in partnership with someone outside the household.

Include:

• Households with loans or mortgages (for any purpose) which are secured against the dwelling
• Households with reverse mortgages or bridging loans secured against the dwelling.
   

Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with the Owner or Manager of a caravan park.

Persons/income units/households who own the property in which they usually reside and have any outstanding mortgages or loans secured against the dwelling.

Include:

• Households with dwellings which are jointly owned with someone who is not a member of the household
• All households that currently have any type of mortgage or loan secured against the dwelling that was partially or wholly used to purchase the land or dwelling, or to build the dwelling
• Those cases where the loan is in the form of bridging finance, until such time as a loan or mortgage can be obtained or outright purchase is made.
   

Persons/income units/households who own the property in which they usually reside and have no outstanding mortgage or loan secured against the dwelling.

Persons/income units/households in the household who have a formal arrangement to purchase less than 100% equity in the dwelling, they may or may not be paying rent for the remainder. The remaining proportion of equity in the dwelling would be paid for and owned by another party in a shared equity arrangement. Most shared equity schemes will allow the participant to purchase greater equity from the other partner(s) over time. This means that ultimately, they may become full owners.

• Parent/Other relative
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangement is made with a parent or relative who lives within the same household.
   
• Other person
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangement is made with an unrelated individual who lives within the same household.
   

• Parent/Other relative
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangement is made with a parent or relative who does not live within the same household.
   
• Other person
  Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangement is made with an unrelated individual who does not live within the same household. This includes payments to retirement villages if they are not administered by community or co-operative groups.
   

Primary tenure persons are persons within the household who hold the tenure of the dwelling. These people (primary tenure persons) have the legal relationship with the landlord (in the case of renters) or loan provider (in the case of owners with a mortgage), and bear the obligation to make any contracted payments.

A self-contained dwelling intended for long-term residential use. To be self-contained the suite of rooms must possess cooking and bathing facilities as building fixtures. Private Dwellings can include houses, flats (including flats with communal laundries), semi-detached terrace houses, townhouses, apartments and self-contained retirement village units. To allow for full coverage of all households, private dwellings also includes 'Other dwellings'. Other dwellings can include dwellings attached to non-residential buildings and occupied caravans, cabins, houseboats, improvised dwellings and tents. Please note that 'other dwellings' are included even though the dwelling may not be intended for long term residential use or be self-contained.

Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangement is made with a real estate agent, another person not in the same household, or for person level landlord type, another person in the same household.

A renter is a person/income unit/household who pays rent to reside in the dwelling, even if this rent is subsidised or partly refunded.

Tenure type is Rent-free if no money is exchanged for lodgement but the person/income unit/household is not an owner of the dwelling.

A room is defined as an enclosed space within a dwelling which is separated from other rooms.

A secured loan/mortgage is a loan or mortgage where the lender has control over an asset (in this case the dwelling) as a guarantee of payment.

Dwellings with their own private grounds and no dwellings above or below. A key feature of these dwellings is that they are either attached in some structural way to one or more dwellings or are separate from neighbouring dwellings by less than half a metre. Examples include semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses, and villa units. Multi-storey townhouses are separately identified from those which are single storey.

A house separated from other dwellings by space to allow access on all sides (at least half a metre). This category also includes houses which have an attached flat (eg. a granny flat). The attached flat will be included in the 'Flat or apartment' category.

Where rent is paid to or the tenure contract/arrangements is made with a state or territory housing authority or trust.

A storey is a level on which people live or cars are garaged. The number of storeys includes the ground floor and those floors that are directly on top of each other (split levels are not separate storeys). Basement garages with a portion above ground level and capable of holding four or more cars are counted as a storey. Buildings with lifts are almost always four or more storeys.

Tenure Type is the nature of a person/income unit or household's legal right to occupy the dwelling in which they usually reside.