Housing and location choice survey, Sydney and Melbourne, 1991

The Housing and Location Choice Survey was conducted in response to an invitation from the National Housing Strategy to examine factors related to housing and location access and choice within the Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas and to complement a similar study being conducted in Adelaide. Its principal objectives were to: examine the relative importance of factors affecting household decisions about their dwelling including size of house and land, cost, location, and tenure; assess how these factors vary according to various demographic characteristics; explore the trade-offs for options of a range of household types; and identify constraints affecting housing choice. The questionnaire was made up of three parts: the household form; the household member information; and the main questionnaire. The household form recorded information on the number of persons in the household, their age, sex, marital status, country of birth, relationship to household head and school attendance. The household member information section extended this enquiry to cover information for household members aged 15 years and over on their educational and employment status, and how they travelled to work if they were in the paid workforce. The main questionnaire collected housing related information for a number of groups: home owners / buyers; renters; recent movers (within the last 5 years); and intending movers (for the following twelve months). This information encompassed topic areas such as: source of rental accommodation; dwelling type; dwelling sales price and purchase price; reasons for actual housing moves undertaken and intended moves; reasons for choosing the particular area and dwelling; lifestyle changes as a result of any housing moves; compromises made in dwelling choice; importance of home ownership; perceived advantages and disadvantages of home ownership; sources of financial assistance towards house purchase; details on home loans and mortgages; financial assistance to children for home purchase; additions and major repairs to the dwelling; emergency action taken to meet rental or mortgage payments; advantages and disadvantages of public and private rental; and other dwellings owned. A series of questions on the adequacy of the dwelling and its proximity to a range of local services and facilities was also asked. Detailed questions were also asked of all aged 15 or more in the household on annual income levels, and sources of income from a range of government pensions and benefits.