1044. This chapter focuses on housing topics and on the relationship between the population and their living quarters. Housing topics are the characteristics of housing units and buildings on which information is usually collected in a housing census (whether or not this is carried out at the same time as the population census). Some topics that can be related to the housing unit, such as the core topic “tenure status of household” and the non-core topics “sole or shared occupancy” and “rent”, have been included among the characteristics of private households in ‎Chapter 16 because the principal unit of enumeration for these topics is generally the household.

1045. For the housing topics presented in this chapter, the main unit of enumeration is the “conventional dwelling”, but some characteristics refer to other types of housing unit. An exception is the topic “housing arrangements”, which describes the relationship between the resident population and their living quarters, and which, therefore, refers to individuals. Table 6 shows the several types of housing unit to which one or more of the characteristics refer. These are defined in paragraphs ‎1050–‎1065 below.

1046. The “building” in which a dwelling is located is regarded as an indirect but important unit of enumeration for housing censuses, since the information concerning the building (such as building type, material of construction of external walls and certain other characteristics) is required to describe properly the living quarters located within the building. In a housing census, the questions on building characteristics are normally framed in terms of the building in which the (sets of) living quarters being enumerated are located, and the information is recorded for each of the housing units or other sets of living quarters located within it.

1047. Not all of the topics recommended in this chapter are relevant for all types of housing. Table 7 shows, for each type of housing, whether the topic is designated in these Recommendations as core or non-core, and whether information can be collected in the census for that type of housing. The reasons for not applying a particular topic to a particular housing type vary. For some types of housing the topic is not relevant. In other cases, the topic may be difficult or impracticable to include in a census. This is particularly likely to be the case for those dwellings that are vacant at the census reference time or during the period of census data collection. Finally, the topic may not be appropriate or necessary for particular types of housing arrangements, such as the collection of information on household amenities in collective living quarters.

Notes:

“Occupied conventional dwellings”, “other housing units” and “collective living quarters” together represent the sum of all “living quarters”, and to qualify must be used by at least one person as their usual residence at census reference time in order to be counted (see section ‎17.3.2).

2 The sum of “occupied conventional dwellings” and “other housing units” represents the subset of “housing units” (see section ‎17.3.3).

3 A dwelling can be deemed “vacant” for one of a number of reasons (see paragraphs ‎1082–‎1084).

4 “Persons not included in census” are those who are temporarily present in the dwelling at the census reference time but who are not considered part of the total usually-resident population (see paragraph ‎1057).

1048. A building is defined for the purposes of these Recommendations as any independent structure containing one or more dwellings, rooms, or other spaces, covered by a roof and enclosed within external walls or dividing walls which extend from the foundations to the roof, whether designed for residential or for agricultural, commercial, industrial or cultural purposes or for the provision of services. Thus a building may be, for example, a detached house, apartment building, factory, shop, warehouse, garage or barn.

1049. The building containing conventional dwellings as defined below is an important unit, since information on type of building and period of construction is required to describe the dwellings within the building and for formulating housing programmes.

Topic	Enumeration units2	Types of housing and housing arrangements
		Primary homeless1		Collective living quarters	Other housing units		Occupied conventional dwellings	Seasonal and secondary dwellings, vacant dwellings, dwellings with persons not included in census
						(CONVENTIONAL DWELLINGS)
					(HOUSING UNITS)
			(LIVING QUARTERS)
Type of living quarters	LQ	l		Core	Core		Core	l
Housing arrangements	I	Core		Core	Core		Core	l
Occupancy status of conventional dwellings	D	l		l	l		Core	Core
Characteristics of secondary, seasonal and vacant dwellings	D	l		l	l		l	Non-core
Type of ownership	D	l		l	l		Core	o
Occupancy by number of private households	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	l
Number of occupants	LQ	l		Core	Core		Core	l
Useful floor space and/or number of rooms	HU	l		l	Core		Core	o
Density standard	HU	l		l	Core		Core	l
Type of rooms	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Water supply system	HU	l		l	Core		Core	o
Toilet facilities	HU	l		l	Core		Core	o
Bathing facilities	HU	l		l	Core		Core	o
Hot water	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Sewage disposal	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Kitchen	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Type of heating	HU	l		l	Core		Core	o
Main type of energy used for heating	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Availability of electricity	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Availability of piped gas	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Availability of air-conditioning	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Accessibility to dwelling	HU	l		l	Non-core		Non-core	o
Position of dwellings within the building	HU	l		l	l		Non-core	o
Type of building	D	l		l	l		Core	o
Number of floors in building	D	l		l	l		Non-core	o
Lift	D	l		l	l		Non-core	o
Period of construction	D	l		l	l		Core	o
Materials of the building	D	l		l	l		Non-core	o
State of repair of building	D	l		l	l		Non-core	o

Notes:

l Not measured or not applicable in the census.

o May be difficult to measure in a census. Some countries may collect or have available this information. Information on seasonal and secondary dwellings and the information on vacant dwellings concerning all the characteristics should be shown separately.

1 Including all persons who are not usual residents in any category of living quarters (see para.‎1077)

2 Enumeration units: I=Individuals; LQ=Living Quarters; HU=Housing Units; D=Dwellings.

1050. Living quarters are those types of housing that are the usual residences of one or more persons. They are structurally separate and independent places of abode that:

(a) have been constructed, built, converted, or arranged for human habitation, provided that they are not, at the census reference time, being used for other purposes and that they are occupied at the census reference time; or

(b) though not intended for habitation, were in use for such a purpose at the census reference time.

1051. The concept of “living quarters” is qualified by the definitions of the main categories into which they are divided, namely:

(1.0)Occupied conventional dwellings;

(2.0)Other housing units: such as huts, cabins, shacks, caravans, houseboats, barns, mills, caves or other shelters used for human habitation at the census reference time;

(3.0)Collective living quarters, such as hotels, institutions and camps

1052. A housing unit is a separate and independent place of abode intended for habitation by a single household, or one not intended for habitation but used as a usual residence by a household at the census reference time. This includes “occupied conventional dwellings” and “other housing units” as defined below.

1053. For the purposes of international comparability, it is recommended that information should be collected and presented separately on “occupied conventional dwellings” and (where possible) “other housing units”.

1054. Conventional dwellings are structurally separate and independent premises, which are designed for permanent human habitation at a fixed location and are not used wholly for non-residential purposes (such as commercial purposes) at the census reference time. A conventional dwelling consists of a room or suite of rooms and its accessories (for example lobbies, corridors) in a permanent building or structurally separated part thereof. It need not necessarily have a bathroom or toilet available for the exclusive use of its occupants.

1055. A conventional dwelling is “separate” if it is surrounded by walls and covered by a roof so that a person, or a group of persons, can isolate themselves from other persons for the purposes of sleeping, preparing and taking meals, or protecting themselves from the hazards of climate and environment. It is independent when it has direct access from the street or from a public or communal staircase, passage, gallery or grounds: that is, when the occupants can enter and leave without passing through another household’s accommodation.

1056. A permanent building is a building that was constructed to be structurally stable for at least 15 years. Some countries may prefer to define permanence in terms of the method of construction or in terms of the building materials used. Detached rooms that are used for habitation and are clearly designed to be used as part of the conventional dwelling (for example a room or rooms above a detached garage) should be included as part of the building.

1057. Conventional dwellings can be classified as being occupied; of seasonal or secondary use; vacant; or having present only persons who are not included in the census:

(a) A conventional dwelling is classified as an occupied conventional dwelling if it is a usual residence of one or more persons regardless of temporary absences at the census reference time such as holidays or stay in a hospital. An “occupant” of a conventional dwelling is a person who has usual residence in the dwelling;

(b) A conventional dwelling which is reserved for secondary or seasonal use is classified as such even if the dwelling is temporarily occupied at the census reference time by persons who are usually resident in another dwelling (an example is given in paragraph ‎1085);

(c) A conventional dwelling is defined as being vacant if it is unoccupied because it is either for sale or rent, abandoned, due for demolition, or newly built and not yet occupied;

(d) A conventional dwelling is defined as a dwelling with persons not included in census if it is (temporarily) occupied only by persons who are not included in the census such as visitors, short-term migrants, foreign military, naval and diplomatic personnel and their families.

1058. All conventional dwellings should be counted for census purposes whether or not they are occupied (that is, have at least one usual resident) – although many of the topics apply only to occupied conventional dwellings.

1059. Because of their importance, conventional dwellings are further classified by occupancy and type of building. However, countries may also wish to sub-divide occupied conventional dwellings using the core housing infrastructure (presence of a kitchen, water supply, toilet, bathing and heating facilities).

1060. Other housing units are those that do not come fully within the category of a conventional dwelling either because they are mobile, semi-permanent or improvised, or are not designed for human habitation, but which are nevertheless used at the census reference time as the usual residence of one or more persons who are members of one or more private households.

1061. The definitions applicable to the several types of “other housing units” are set out below:

(a) A mobile housing unit is any type of living accommodation which has been made to be transported (such as a tent) or which is a moving unit (such as a ship, yacht, boat, barge or caravan) and which is both designed for human habitation and is occupied at the census reference time, that is, it is somebody's usual residence. Individual components of nomad or other travelling people encampments should be included in this category rather than being classified as collective living quarters (see paragraph ‎1065). Passenger quarters, such as in passenger ships, railroad cars and aircraft, should not be considered as “other housing units” and the persons who happen to be travelling in them at the census reference time should not be counted as living in such vehicles;

(b) A semi-permanent housing unit is an independent structure such as a hut or a cabin which has been constructed with locally available crude materials such as wooden planks, sun dried bricks, straw or any similar vegetable materials for the purpose of habitation by one private household and which is used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time. Such units are not expected to maintain their durability for as long a period of time as a conventional dwelling;

(c) Other housing units designed for habitation (sometimes referred to as “improvised housing units”) comprise independent, makeshift shelters or structures such as shacks and shanties, which have been built from unconventional or waste materials, which, though they may be regarded as being unfit for human habitation, are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time;

(d) Other housing units not designed for habitation comprise premises in permanent or semi-permanent buildings such as stables, barns, mills, garages, warehouses or offices, which have not been built, rebuilt, converted or arranged for human habitation but are, nevertheless, used by one or more private households as their usual residence at the census reference time. This category also includes natural shelters such as caves, which are used by one or more private households as their usual residence at the census reference time.

1062. “Improvised housing units” and “other housing units not designed for habitation” may also be summarised under the concept of “informal housing”.

1063. Premises not initially designed or constructed for human habitation, but which have been converted for the purpose of habitation by a private household and which fulfil the requirements of a conventional dwelling should not be included in this category, but, instead, classified as conventional dwellings.

1064. Collective living quarters comprise premises which are designed for habitation by large groups of individuals or several households and which are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time.

1065. The definitions applicable to the several types of “collective living quarters” are set out below:

(a) A hotel is a separate and independent set of premises comprising all or part of a permanent building or set of buildings which by the way it has been built, rebuilt or converted is designed to provide accommodation on a fee basis and which is used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time. Motels, inns, boarding houses, pensions, rooming houses and other lodging houses are included in this category. If the accommodation that is occupied by a private household residing in a hotel or similar establishment fulfils the requirements of a conventional dwelling, it should be classified as such. Otherwise it should be classified as part of the collective living quarters;

(b) An institution is a separate and independent set of premises comprising all or part of a permanent building or set of buildings which by the way it has been built, rebuilt or converted is designed for habitation by a large group of persons who are subject to a common authority or regime or bound by a common objective or personal interest, and which is used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time. Such collective living quarters usually have certain shared common facilities such as cooking and toilet facilities, baths, lounge rooms or dormitories. This category includes premises such as nurses' hostels, student residences, hospitals, sanatoria and convalescent homes, welfare institutions including residential alternative care facilities for children, monasteries, convents, military and police barracks, prisons and reformatories. Persons who have their place of usual residence at an institution, should be considered as part of an institutional household (see section ‎16.2.1.1.1);

(c) A camp is a separate and independent set of premises comprising all or part of a semi-permanent or temporary structure or set of structures which by the way it has been built, rebuilt or converted is designed for the temporary accommodation of groups of persons with common activities or interests, and which is used as the usual residence of at least one person at the census reference time. Such collective living quarters usually have certain common shared facilities such as cooking and toilet facilities, baths, lounge rooms or dormitories. This category includes military camps, refugee camps and camps for housing workers employed by agriculture, logging, mining, construction or other enterprises;

(d) Other types of collective living quarters may be identified as those that do not conveniently fall within any of the categories ‎(a)–‎(c) above. These may include traditional or urban kibbutzim, some old age communities, or other types of communal establishments that meet the broad definition of collective living quarters given above.

1066. Housing units located within the grounds or building containing a hotel, institution, or camp, and fulfilling the requirements of a conventional dwelling, should be identified and counted separately.

1067. The majority of topics in this chapter refer to characteristics and amenities of housing units, which include occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units. A few topics refer to characteristics of living quarters, which include housing units and collective living quarters, and one topic refers to the housing arrangements of both individuals and household.

1068. For some of the topics, countries may also wish to collect information on conventional dwellings that are reserved for seasonal and secondary use, but which, at the census reference time are vacant or which are occupied with residents not included in census, in addition to occupied conventional dwellings. It may be difficult to obtain information on these conventional dwellings as, in many cases, they may not appear on mailing lists of conventional dwellings or, as these conventional dwellings are not (permanently) occupied, there may be no one present at census time. Where information is collected, however, the same classifications described in this chapter, or simplified modifications, are recommended.

1069. Information on some of the characteristics of housing units could also be obtained for collective living quarters. However, given the nature of collective living quarters, in some cases the information may not be collected and presented in the same way as for housing units. For instance, with regard to toilet or bathing facilities, the relevant information may relate to how many people use on average the same facility.

1070. Priority should always be given to obtaining information on occupied conventional dwellings, which should be presented separately from other types of housing (including other housing units, seasonal and secondary dwellings, vacant dwellings, dwellings with residents not included in census and collective living quarters). In this way it would be possible to assess the quality of life associated with the different types of housing. If information is obtained on collective living quarters, where possible it should be presented separately for the different categories of collective living quarters described in paragraph ‎1065.

1071. Type of living quarters relate to occupied conventional dwellings, other housing units and collective living quarters. Living quarters are defined in paragraph ‎1050.

1072. It is recommended that living quarters be classified by type as follows:

(1.0)   Occupied conventional dwellings

(2.0)   Other housing units

(2.1)   Mobile housing units

(2.2)   Semi-permanent housing units

(2.3)   Informal housing units

(2.3.1)   Designed for habitation

(2.3.2)   Not designed for habitation

(3.0)   Collective living quarters

(3.1)   Hotels, rooming houses and other lodging houses

(3.2)   Institutions

(3.3)   Camps

(3.4)   Other collective living quarters.

1073. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level but optional at the two- and three-digit level.

1074. All occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units must be in use by at least one person as their usual residence at the census reference time in order to be counted as part of living quarters.

1075. Since institutions can be of several different types, countries may sub-divide category (3.2) in the above classification to present detailed data on different categories of institutions. Within this context, consideration could be given to the categories of institutional households presented in section ‎16.2.1.3 and the institutions listed in paragraph ‎1065‎(b) above. Countries may also wish to sub-divide category (2.3) in the above classification to present data on improvised housing units (“other units designed for habitation”) and other housing units not designed for habitation as is referred to in paragraphs ‎1061‎(c) and ‎(d).

1076. Housing arrangements cover the whole population and refers to the type of housing where a person is a usual resident at the census reference time. This covers all persons who are usual residents in different types of living quarters (including those who are primary homeless persons as defined in paragraph ‎781).

1077. The concept of “housing arrangement” ensures that the whole population is classified according to all the units counted in the housing census, including the consideration of those who are primary homeless persons (the “roofless”) living without any form of shelter.

1078. Based on the person’s place of usual residence (cross-reference to the definition of usual residence), the following classification by housing arrangement is recommended:

(1.0)   Occupants living in a conventional dwelling

(2.0)   Occupants (that is persons with a usual residence) living in another housing unit – such as a hut, cabin, shack, caravan, houseboat, or a barn, mill, cave or other shelter used for human habitation at the census reference time

(3.0)   Occupants living in collective living quarters such as a hotel, institution or camp

(4.0)   Primary homeless persons who are not usual residents in any living quarters category and cannot be assigned to any of the other categories.

1079. This classification is considered at the level of individuals.

1080. The number of occupants in the first three categories is the number of persons who usually reside in the living quarters, including persons who may be temporarily absent at the census reference time, but excluding people temporarily present at the census that usually live elsewhere (see paragraph ‎763 for the definition of “place of usual residence”). As the type of living arrangements under categories (2.0) and (3.0) may vary across the UNECE region, countries may wish to sub-divide these categories (see paragraphs ‎1071–‎1075).

1081. Occupancy status refers to whether or not a conventional dwelling is the place of usual residence of one or more persons.

1082. Dwellings which are the usual residence of one or more persons are classified as being occupied whether or not the occupants are present or temporarily absent at the census reference time. Conventional dwellings which are not the place of usual residence of any person can be classified as being vacant, in seasonal or secondary use (whether or not being temporarily occupied by persons who are usually resident in another dwelling at the census reference time, see also paragraph ‎1085), or temporarily occupied by persons not included in the census (see paragraph ‎775 in the chapter on population bases).

1083. The following classification is therefore recommended:

(1.0)   Conventional dwellings which are the usual residence of one or more persons at the census reference time (occupied conventional dwellings)

(2.0)   Conventional dwellings which are not the usual residence of any person at the census reference time

(2.1)   Conventional dwellings reserved for seasonal or secondary use

(2.2)   Dwellings without usual or seasonal or secondary residence

(2.2.1)   Vacant dwellings for sale

(2.2.2)   Vacant dwellings for rent

(2.2.3)   Vacant dwellings for demolition

(2.2.4)   Dwellings occupied by persons not included in the census

(2.2.5)   Other vacant or not known.

1084. The classification is recommended at the one- and two-digit level but optional at the three-digit level. Categories (2.2.1) and (2.2.2) may be further sub-divided to show the length of time the dwelling has remained unoccupied – as an indication of the situation in the housing market in the area concerned, though it is recognized that this information may be difficult to collect in a census. Information on category (2.2.3) and depending on the census mode in category (2.2.4) may also be difficult to collect.

1085. Conventional dwellings that are used during the working week only by persons who are usually resident in another conventional dwelling at their family home should be considered as part of (2.0) “Conventional dwellings which are not the usual residence of any person at the census reference time” because the persons using the conventional dwelling are not usual residents of the dwelling.

1086. This topic relates to those characteristics for which information might be collected on seasonal or secondary dwellings, vacant dwellings and dwellings with persons not included in the census (see paragraph ‎775). The range of characteristics to be included will depend on the individual requirements of countries and the enumeration methodology adopted.

1087. The majority of topics in this chapter relate to occupied conventional dwellings. However, there may be interest in collecting information on, at least, some of the main characteristics of all conventional dwellings. In the core topic “Occupancy status of conventional dwellings” (paragraphs ‎1081–‎1085 above) the number is obtained of all conventional dwellings, including seasonal, secondary and vacant dwellings, and those and with occupants that are not included in census. However, in addition to the total numbers, some countries may also wish to collect information on other characteristics in order to be able to produce more detail on the total housing stock. Such characteristics might include, for example:

(a) Number of rooms and/or useful floor space (see paragraphs ‎1100–‎1107 below);

(b) Amenities, such as water supply system (paragraph ‎1115), toilet facilities (paragraph ‎1120), bathing facilities (paragraph ‎1124), type of sewage disposal system (paragraph ‎1131) and kitchen (paragraph ‎1133); or

(c) Type of building (paragraph ‎1159), position of dwelling within the building (paragraph ‎1154) and number of floors in the building (paragraph ‎1163);

1088. These characteristics may be applied with the classifications in the corresponding paragraphs below or with their simplified modifications. This information should be reported separately from the information on occupied conventional dwellings.

1089. In addition to dwellings that are fit for habitation all year round, countries may also wish to collect similar information on premises that are not designed to be used throughout the year (such as mountain huts and primitive cabins). If countries collect such information, it should ensure that it is not included in the data on conventional dwellings as such premises are not considered to be part of the potentially available housing stock.

1090. The metadata must make the concepts underlying the collection of the information clear. The main approach should be that the information on secondary and seasonal dwellings covers those dwellings that are at the disposal of one household on at least an annual basis. For other circumstances, double counting, which may occur, for example, where there is joint ownership of a secondary dwelling by two or more households, should be avoided.

1091. This topic refers to the type of ownership of dwelling as distinct from the land on which the dwelling stands.

1092. The following classification of dwellings by type of ownership is recommended:

(1.0)   Owner occupied dwellings

(2.0)   In co-operative ownership

(3.0)   Rented dwellings

(3.1)   In private ownership

(3.2)   Owned by the local or central government or by non-profit organizations

(3.3)   Mixed ownership

(4.0)   Other types of ownership.

1093. This classification is recommended for occupied conventional dwelling at the one-digit level but optional at the two-digit level.

1094. The topic “type of ownership” should not be confused with the household characteristic of “tenure status of households” (see section ‎16.5.2) as it relates to status of the dwelling as distinct from that of the household. For example, in the topic “tenure status of household” the category (1.0) represents all households where a member is the owner of the housing unit, while in the topic “type of ownership” the category (1.0) represents all conventional dwellings occupied by their owner.

1095. If any sub-divisions of category (1.0) or (2.0) are distinguished for national purposes, the types of ownership included in each of the sub-divisions should be clearly described in the census report(s).

1096. This topic relates to the occupancy of all housing units in terms of the number of occupying households. It is only relevant for countries which use the “housekeeping unit” concept of the private household (see paragraphs ‎959-‎961).

1097. The following classification of housing units by single or shared occupancy is recommended:

(1.0)   Housing units occupied by a single household

(2.0)   Housing units occupied by two households

(3.0)   Housing units occupied by three or more households.

1098. The number of occupants of a living quarter is the number of people for whom the living quarter is the usual residence.

1099. A classification of the total number of living quarters according to the type (occupied conventional dwellings, other housing units and collective living quarters) and the number of occupants should be adopted (for example, dwellings with one person, two persons, etc.). The average number of occupants per each type of living quarter should also be derived.

1100. Useful floor space is defined as “the floor space measured inside the outer walls, excluding non-habitable cellars and attics and, in multi dwelling buildings, all common spaces”. Alternatively, countries may prefer to adopt another concept of living floor space, defined as "the total floor space of rooms within the dwelling” where the concept of a “room” is as defined in paragraph ‎1104 below. If this concept is used it should clearly be defined in the census report(s) and relevant metadata to avoid confusion in international comparisons.

1101. Information concerning useful floor space should be collected for all housing units, and particularly for occupied conventional dwellings, so that the density standard using this indicator can be calculated (see paragraphs ‎1108–‎1110 below). Countries should also report the average useful floor space per housing unit.

1102. The following classification of housing units by area of floor space is recommended:

(1.0)   Under 30 square metres

(2.0)   30 and less than 40 square metres

(3.0)   40 and less than 50 square metres

(4.0)   50 and less than 60 square metres

(5.0)   60 and less than 80 square metres

(6.0)   80 and less than 100 square metres

(7.0)   100 and less than 120 square metres

(8.0)   120 and less than 150 square metres

(9.0)   150 square metres and over.

1103. Alternatively, or in addition, countries should report the total number of rooms and the average number of rooms per housing unit.

1104. A room is defined as “a space in a housing unit enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof covering, at least to a height of two metres above the ground, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult (at least four square metres) and at least two metres high over the major area of the ceiling”. Thus, normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, habitable cellars and attics, servants’ rooms, kitchens and other separate spaces used or intended for habitation all count as rooms if they correspond to the definition above. For the specific definition of kitchen and handling of any deviation therefrom in the census, see paragraphs ‎1133-‎1135. A kitchenette (that is, a kitchen of less than 4 square metres), verandas, utility rooms (for example boiler rooms, laundry rooms) and lobbies do not count as rooms; nor do bathrooms and toilets (even if they are more than 4 square metres). Rooms without windows, for example cellars below ground – however large – should not generally be counted, unless they are functionally used for domestic purposes – which might include large lobbies with writing tables or internal bedrooms with no windows, for example.

1105. The following classification of number of rooms is recommended:

(1.0)   One room

(2.0)   Two rooms

(3.0)   Three rooms

(4.0)   Four rooms

(5.0)   Five rooms

(6.0)   Six rooms

(7.0)   Seven rooms

(8.0)   Eight rooms

(9.0)   Nine rooms or more.

1106. Classification by number of rooms – so that the density standard (as classified in paragraph ‎1110 below) can be calculated – is recommended for occupied conventional dwellings and optional for other housing units.

1107. Rooms used only for business and professional purposes should preferably be counted separately as it is desirable to include them when calculating the number of rooms in a housing unit but to exclude them when calculating, for instance, the number of persons per room. Each country should indicate in its census report(s) and relevant metadata how such rooms have been treated. At the lower quality end of dwellings, which constitute “other housing units”, there may be difficulties in defining rooms and useful floor space. Countries should then note the number of “other housing units” for which information could not be collected. These housing units are to be excluded from housing density standards. Information on useful floor space and number of rooms for conventional dwellings should always be reported separately.

1108. For the purpose of comparison, countries should collect both the number of rooms per occupant and the useful floor space in square metres per occupant where possible.

1109. The following classification of useful floor space per occupant is recommended:

(1.0)   Under 10 square metres per occupant

(2.0)   10 and less than 15 square metres per occupant

(3.0)   15 and less than 20 square metres per occupant

(4.0)   20 and less than 30 square metres per occupant

(5.0)   30 and less than 40 square metres per occupant

(6.0)   40 and less than 60 square metres per occupant

(7.0)   60 and less than 80 square metres per occupant

(8.0)   80 square metres and over per occupant.

1110. The following classification for number of rooms per occupant is recommended:

(1.0)   Less than 0.5 room per occupant

(2.0)   0.5 and less than 1.0 room per occupant

(3.0)   1.0 and less than 1.25 rooms per occupant

(4.0)   1.25 and less than 1.5 rooms per occupant

(5.0)   1.5 and less than 2 rooms per occupant

(6.0)   2 and less than 2.5 rooms per occupant

(7.0)   2.5 and less than 3 rooms per occupant

(8.0)   3 or more rooms per occupant.

1111. If the information is collected for other housing units or for collective living quarters, it should be shown separately from that for conventional dwellings.

1112. Some countries may wish to provide more specific information on overcrowding within housing units by providing information on the number of certain types of rooms within housing units.

1113. Some countries consider that the number of bedrooms provides a more accurate indicator of overcrowding, especially where overcrowding is defined by an algorithm derived from the number of bedrooms and the age, sex and relationships of members within the household. However, for such purposes, a room that is used as household living space should not be included as a bedroom.

1114. The count of the following categories of rooms for housing units is recommended:

(1.0)   Reception and living rooms

(2.0)   Bedrooms.

1115. Countries should collect information on water supply systems for all housing units but should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings.

1116. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units by type of water supply system is recommended:

(1.0)   Piped water in the housing unit

(1.1)   From a community scheme

(1.2)   From a private source

(2.0)   No piped water in the housing unit

(2.1)   Piped water available within the building but outside the housing unit

(2.1.1)   From a community scheme

(2.1.2)   From a private source

(2.2)   Piped water available outside the building

(2.2.1)   From a community scheme

(2.2.2)   From a private source

(2.3)   No piped water available.

1117. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level and optional at the two and three-digit levels.

1118. A community scheme is one, which is subject to inspection and control by public authorities. A public body generally operates such schemes but, in some cases, they are operated by a co-operative or a private enterprise.

1119. It is recognized that some countries, where the proportion of conventional dwellings equipped with piped water is very high, almost 100 per cent nationally, may not feel that the collection of such information at the one-digit level in the census is justified in comparison with other more relevant or discriminating topics. Nevertheless, these countries could consider collecting more information at the two-digit level. However, depending on the method of data collection, it may be difficult to obtain such information.

1120. Countries should collect information on toilet facilities for all housing units but should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings.

1121. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units by type of toilet facilities is recommended:

(1.0)   Flush toilet in the housing unit

(2.0)   No flush toilet in the housing unit

(2.1)   Toilet of other type in the housing unit

(2.2)   Flush toilet available within the building but outside the housing unit

(2.2.1)   Private (that is, for the exclusive use of the occupants of the housing unit)

(2.2.2)   Shared (that is, shared with occupants of another housing unit)

(2.3)   Flush toilet available outside the building

(2.3.1)   Private

(2.3.2)   Shared

(2.4)   Toilet of other type within the building but outside the housing unit

(2.4.1)   Private

(2.4.2)   Shared

(2.5)   Toilet of other type outside the building

(2.5.1)   Private

(2.5.2)   Shared

1122. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level and optional at the two and three-digit levels.

1123. As is the case with water supply system, it is recognized that some countries, where the proportion of dwellings equipped with a flush toilet is very high, almost 100 per cent nationally, may not feel that the collection of such information in the census is justified in comparison with other more relevant or discriminating topics.

1124. All countries should collect information report on bathing facilities for all housing units but should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings.

1125. It is recommended that the following classification of bathing facilities be used:

(1.0)   Fixed bath or shower in the housing unit

(2.0)   No fixed bath or shower in the housing unit

(2.1)   Fixed bath or shower available within the building but outside the housing unit

(2.1.1)   Private

(2.1.2)   Shared

(2.2)   Fixed bath or shower available outside the building

(2.2.1)   Private

(2.2.2)   Shared

(2.3)   No fixed bath or shower available.

1126. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level and optional at the two and three-digit levels. A fixed bath or shower is one, which has fixed connections to both a water supply and a waste pipe leading outside the building.

1127. Some countries in which the use of a sauna is commonplace may wish to identify such use, either inside or outside the housing unit, separately from other bathing facilities.

1128. Again, it is recognized that some countries, where the proportion of dwellings with bathing facilities is very high, almost 100 per cent nationally, may not feel that the collection of such information in the census is justified in comparison with other more relevant or discriminating topics.

1129. Information should be given separately on the availability of hot water within occupied conventional dwellings and, depending on the availability of information, within other housing units. Each country should define the concept of “hot water”.

1130. A classification similar to that given for the availability of bathing facilities would be appropriate.

(1.0)   Hot water tap in the housing unit

(2.0)   No hot water tap in the housing unit

(2.1)   Hot water tap available within the building but outside the housing unit

(2.2)   Hot water tap available outside the building

(2.3)   No hot water tap available.

1131. It is preferable that countries collect information on the type of sewage disposal system in all housing units but report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings. It is recommended that countries that use the building as a unit of data collection, should report on the type of sewage disposal system to which the building is connected, and to assign this information to the housing unit.

1132. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and of other housing units by type of sewage disposal system is recommended:

(1.0)   Wastewater empties into a piped system connected to a public sewage disposal plant

(2.0)   Wastewater empties into a piped system connected to a private sewage disposal plant (for example a septic tank built for a single housing unit or a small group of dwellings)

(3.0)   All other arrangements (for example, wastewater empties into an open ditch, a pit, a cesspool, a river, the sea)

(4.0)   No sewage disposal system.

1133. It is recommended that where occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units are classified by number of rooms they should also be classified by availability of a kitchen. A kitchen is defined as a room (or part of a room) of at least 4 square metres or two metres wide that has been designed and equipped for the preparation of the principal meals and is used for that purpose, irrespective of whether it is also used for eating, sleeping or living.

1134. The kitchen is counted as a “room” in these recommendations (see paragraph ‎1104). Since certain countries apply different practices in this respect, it is important to be able to count the number of rooms both with the kitchen included and with it excluded. This will make international comparisons possible.

1135. The definition of a kitchen adopted for the census should be given in detail in the relevant census report and metadata, and attention should be drawn to any deviations from the general definition given above. In particular, countries should indicate how they have classified dwellings in which meals are prepared in a room that is also used for other activities.

1136. The following classification of dwellings by availability of a kitchen is recommended:

(1.0)   With a kitchen

(2.0)   With a kitchenette (that is, a separate space of less than four square metres or two metres width of floor space)

(3.0)   Without a kitchen or kitchenette

(4.0)   Cooking facilities are provided in another type of room.

1137. Countries should report separately the type of heating in occupied conventional dwellings and other housing unit.

1138. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and of other housing units by type of heating is recommended:

(1.0)   Central heating

(1.1)   Central heating from an installation in the building or in the housing unit

(1.2)   District heating

(2.0)   No central heating

(2.1)   Heating facilities or equipment available in the occupied conventional dwelling or other housing unit

(2.1.1)   Stove

(2.1.2)   Fireplace

(2.1.3)   Portable electric heater

(2.1.4)   Other

(2.2)   No heating at all.

1139. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level and optional at the two-digit level.

1140. A housing unit is considered as centrally heated if heating is provided either from a community heating centre or from an installation built in the building or in the housing unit, established for heating purposes, without regard to the source of energy. Some countries may wish to include additional subcategories in this classification so as to obtain information that can be used for energy planning (see also the following non-core topic on “main type of energy used for heating”).

1141. In addition to the core topic type of heating, some countries may also wish to collect information on the main type of energy used for heating purposes. If this information is available, it should be reported separately for occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units.

1142. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and of other housing units by main type of energy used for heating purposes is recommended:

(1.0)   Solid fuels

(1.1)   Coal, lignite and products of coal and lignite

(1.2)   Wood and other renewable wood-based products

(1.3)   Other

(2.0)   Oil

(3.0)   Gaseous fuels

(3.1)   Natural gas

(3.2)   Other (including liquefied gases)

(4.0)   Grid electricity used for heating (excluding heating pump)

(5.0)   Ambient heat (heat pump)

(6.0)   Solar energy

(7.0)   District heating

(8.0)   Other types of energy.

1143. Ground heat falls under (5.0) Ambient heat (heat pump), except if coming from a centralised facility supplying multiple dwellings, in which case it falls under (7.0) District heating.

1144. Countries should indicate in the census report(s) and relevant metadata how the main type of energy was selected in a housing unit where two types of energy were used equally for heating purposes.

1145. Countries collecting information on the availability of electricity within the housing unit should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units.

1146. The following classification of occupied conventional dwellings and of other housing units by the availability of electricity is recommended:

(1.0)   Electricity available in the housing unit

(2.0)   No electricity available in the housing unit.

1147. Piped gas should be defined as natural or manufactured gas which is distributed by pipeline, and the consumption of which is recorded by gas meters. Countries collecting information on the availability of piped gas should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units.

1148. A classification similar to that recommended for availability of electricity would be appropriate.

(1.0)   Piped gas available in the housing unit

(1.1)   For both heating and cooking purposes

(1.2)   For heating purposes only

(1.3)   For cooking purposes only

(2.0)   No piped gas available in the housing unit.

1149. Some countries may wish to record air conditioning as a housing quality measure, but the use and importance of this topic as a housing measure may vary across countries. If this information is collected it should be reported separately for occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units.

1150. The following classification of air conditioning is recommended:

(1.0)   Air conditioning available in the housing unit

(1.1)   Central air conditioning from an installation in the building or in the housing unit

(1.2)   Independent air conditioning unit(s) available in the housing unit

(2.0)   No air conditioning available in the housing unit.

1151. Some countries may want to collect information on the accessibility to dwellings, in particular with reference to accessibility by persons with disabilities. Countries collecting this information should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units.

1152. The following classification of accessibility to the front door of the dwelling is recommended, based on the presence of steps/stairs, ramps and lifts/elevators:

(1.0)   Access to the dwelling is possible without steps/stairs

(1.1)   Access to the dwelling is possible without ramp or lift/elevator

(1.2)   Access to the dwelling requires using only a ramp

(1.3)   Access to the dwelling requires using only a lift/elevator

(1.4)   Access to the dwelling requires using a ramp and a lift/elevator

(2.0)   Access to the dwelling requires using steps/stairs

(2.1)   Access to the dwelling requires using only steps/stairs

(2.2)   Access to the dwelling requires using steps/stairs and a ramp

(2.3)   Access to the dwelling requires using steps/stairs and a lift/elevator

(2.4)   Access to the dwelling requires using steps/stairs, a ramp and a lift/elevator

1153. Note that if any number of steps/stairs are required to access the dwelling, it would fall under category 2.1-2.4. When selecting the category, the most accessible option available should be chosen, regardless of use.

1154. Some countries may want to collect information on the position of dwellings within the building. This information can be used as an indicator of accessibility to dwellings, possibly in conjunction with the non-core topic accessibility to dwelling. Countries collecting this information should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings.

1155. The following classification of dwellings by position in the building is recommended¹⁰¹:

(1.0)   Dwellings on one floor only

(1.1)   Dwelling on the ground floor of the building or lower (below ground level)

(1.2)   Dwelling on the first or second floor of the building

(1.3)   Dwelling on the third or fourth floor of the building

(1.4)   Dwelling on the fifth floor of the building or higher

(2.0)   Dwellings on two or more floors

(2.1)   Dwelling on the ground floor of the building or lower (below ground level)

(2.2)   Dwelling on the first or second floor of the building

(2.3)   Dwelling on the third or fourth floor of the building

(2.4)   Dwelling on the fifth floor of the building or higher.

1156. The sub-categories of (2.0) “Dwellings with two or more floors” each refer to the lowest floor of the dwelling with two or more floors.

1157. The building containing conventional dwellings is an important unit since information on building characteristics such as type of building and period of construction is required to describe the dwellings within the building and for formulating housing programmes. The definition of building is given in paragraph ‎1048. The topics included in this section refer to occupied conventional dwellings as primary unit of enumeration. The main interest is to report on the characteristics of occupied conventional dwellings. The idea is not to describe the characteristics of buildings per se, but instead to count the number of dwellings in buildings with different characteristics.

1158. Countries may wish to collect characteristics of buildings for other housing units than occupied conventional dwellings, such as collective living quarters, or for all conventional dwellings. If they do so, they should report the information separately for occupied conventional dwellings.

1159. Dwellings may be classified by type of building where they are placed.

1160. The following classification for dwellings by type of building is recommended at the one-, two- and three-digit level.

(1.0)   Residential buildings

(1.1)   Detached house (houses not attached to any other buildings)

(1.1.1)   Detached houses with one dwelling

(1.1.2)   Detached houses with two dwellings (with one above the other)

(1.2)   Semi-detached house (two attached dwellings)

(1.3)   Row (or terraced)   house (at least three attached or connected dwellings each with separate access to the outside)

(1.4)   Apartment buildings

(1.4.1)   Apartment buildings with three to nine dwellings

(1.4.2)   Apartment buildings with 10 or more dwellings

(1.5)   Other residential buildings

(2.0)   Non-residential buildings.

1161. For some purposes, it might be useful to classify the buildings by the number of dwellings that they contain. The following classification is recommended at the one- and two-digit level:

(1.0)   Conventional dwellings in residential buildings

(1.1)   Conventional dwellings in residential buildings with one dwelling

(1.2)   Conventional dwellings in residential buildings with two dwellings

(1.3)   Conventional dwellings in residential buildings with three or more dwellings

(2.0)   Conventional dwellings in non-residential buildings.

1162. If no information on the classification under paragraph ‎1160 is available, the breakdown of buildings by the number of dwellings a building contains might be obtained by direct enumeration.

1163. This topic refers to the number dwellings in a building analysed by the number of floors of the building, where the number of floors is counted from the ground floor of the building upwards (and is irrespective of the number of floors of the dwelling).

1164. The following classification of the number of floors in a building is recommended:

(1.0)   1 floor

(2.0)   2 floors

(3.0)   3 floors

(4.0)   4 floors

(5.0)   5–9 floors

(6.0)   10–19 floors

(7.0)   20 floors or more.

1165. It is suggested that information on the presence of a working lift/elevator in multi-storey buildings might be collected. Countries collecting this information for all housing units should report it separately for occupied conventional dwellings. The information should not be limited to just the presence of a lift, but it should report if the lift is operational for most of the time and is subject to regular maintenance. It could also be useful to collect information on the size of the lift (relevant for use, for example, by physically handicapped persons and ambulance services) and whether the lift goes to the ground floor.

1166. Some countries may also want to collect information on the availability of a working lift with reference to individual dwellings in a building. In this case, information should be collected on whether or not the lift stops on the same floor as the dwelling.

1167. Period of construction is measured in terms of the date when the building was completed.

1168. It should be noted that the date in which a particular dwelling was constructed may not necessarily be the same as that in which the construction of the building itself was completed. The following classification of dwellings by the period in which the construction of the building containing them was completed is recommended:

(1.0)   Before 1919

(2.0)   1919 – 1945

(3.0)   1946 – 1960

(4.0)   1961 – 1970

(5.0)   1971 – 1980

(6.0)   1981 – 1990

(7.0)   1991 – 2000

(8.0)   2001 – 2010

(9.0)   2011 – 2015

(10.0)   2016 – 2020

(10.1)   2016

(10.2)   2017

(10.3)   2018

(10.4)   2019

(10.5)   2020

(11.0)   2021 – 2025

(11.1)   2021

(11.2)   2022

(11.3)   2023

(11.4)   2024

(11.5)   2025

(12.0)   2026 – 2030

(12.1)   2026

(12.2)   2027

(12.3)   2028

(12.4)   2029

(12.5)   2030

(13.0)2031 – 2035

(13.1)2031

(13.2)2032

(13.3)2033

(13.4)2034

(13.5)2035

1169. This classification is recommended at the one-digit level and optional at the two-digit level.

1170. Dwellings in buildings, which have undergone thorough reconstruction since they were originally built, may be classified to the period in which the building was originally constructed or to the period of latest reconstruction according to national requirements. Each country should indicate in its census report(s) and metadata how such dwellings have been classified.

1171. Information on the materials of which specific parts of buildings containing dwellings are constructed may be used, in conjunction with data on other topics (such as period of construction) for assessing the quality of dwellings. Some countries may wish to collect data on the materials of which the outer walls, the roof, the floors, or other parts of the building are constructed.

1172. The following classification of dwellings by the main structural material of which the outer walls of the building containing them are constructed is recommended:

(1.0)   Wood

(2.0)   Unburnt clay (may be omitted by countries where this is not important)

(3.0)   Burnt clay (e.g. bricks, blocks, panels)

(4.0)   Stone

(5.0)   Concrete (including in situ cast concrete, reinforced concrete, blocks, panels)

(6.0)   Steel frame

(7.0)   Prefabricated units – generally factory-constructed and brought to the site and erected

(8.0)   Other material (to be specified)

(9.0)   Mixed materials (that is, a combination of building materials).

1173. Information on the thermal insulation of the building may be used for energy efficiency indicators of the building as well as an indicator for wellbeing. Some countries may wish to collect data on the thermal isolation of the external facade, the top storey ceiling, the basement ceiling, or the floor against the ground.

1174. Information on green roofs and walls may be used for climate indicators as well as an indicator for wellbeing. Some countries may wish to collect data on green roofs and walls of buildings.

1175. This topic refers to whether the building is in need of repair and the kind of repair needed.

1176. The recommended classification of dwellings according to the state of repair of the building is recommended:

(1.0)   Repair not needed

(2.0)   In need of repair

(2.1)   Minor repair

(2.2)   Moderate repair

(2.3)   Serious repair

(3.0)   Irreparable

1177. “Minor repair” refers mostly to the regular maintenance of the building and its components, such as fixing a cracked window or inoperative lock, or removing graffiti from the front wall and so forth.

1178. “Moderate repair” refers to correcting more substantial defects such as gutters missing on the roof (where they are normally used), large areas of broken plaster and stairways with no secure hand railing.

1179. “Serious repairs” are needed to remedy more serious structural defects of the building such as missing covering material (for example, shingles, tiles), cracks and holes in the exterior walls, and missing stairways.

“Irreparable” refers to buildings that are beyond repair, that is, because of the seriousness of the structural defects it is deemed more appropriate or necessary to demolish them rather than to undertake repairs. This usually refers to buildings with only the frame left standing, without complete external walls or roof, windows or doors