Housing Loan Repayments
Description
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released information about housing loan repayments as revealed through the last Census. The information is based on the count of dwellings and shows the monthly cost of housing loans for a range of dwelling types (e.g. separate house, semi-detached dwelling, and flat/unit/apartment) in a given area. The information is derived from specific questions on the Census form that ask about the housing cost and tenure type (renting, buying or owned) of dwellings counted on Census night.
Quality and Applicability
Housing loan repayment data rely on respondents providing details of the monthly cost of their housing loans, with many electing not to provide such information. Data compiled are therefore only broadly indicative of housing loan repayments within a given area.
Housing loan repayment data are indicative of the residential characteristics of an area, especially the value of its residential property. Such data can be considered alongside household income data to gain a sense of housing stress particularly in ‘mortgage belt’ areas. Households are considered to be in financial stress if they pay more than 30.0% of their gross (i.e. before tax) income on housing loan repayments and are in the lowest 40.0% of the income distribution range. Financial stress can also be experienced by other household types – most notably those with high rental costs relative to gross household income.
Coverage
Information about housing loan repayments is available for local government areas, statistical local areas, suburbs, and collector districts.
Collector districts are the smallest spatial units under the Australian Standard Geographical Classification system used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Collector districts enable the collection and dissemination of Census data. Statistical local areas fit into the boundaries of incorporated bodies of local government (i.e. local government areas) when aggregated.
Reference Date
Information about housing loan repayments refers to 8 August 2006, the most recent Census.
Release Date
The Australian Bureau of Statistics progressively released all standard data sets based on the 2006 Census during 2007.
Access
Information about housing loan repayments is contained in the Expanded Community Profile Cat. No. 2005.0 2006 Table X24.
Select the ‘Community Profiles’ function to search for an area by name then open its Expanded Community Profile.
Cost and Format
Australian Bureau of Statistics data sets are downloadable free of charge in excel spreadsheet format.
More Information
Stay informed about all Census products by regularly visiting the Australian Bureau of Statistics and checking product release news/dates. Or subscribe to the free email notification service by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and typing ‘add to Census email’ in the subject field. Or call the National Information and Referral Service 1300 135 070. This service can also provide assistance in navigating the Census website.
Additional Data Source(s)
Information about housing loan repayments is available through profile.id, an online product designed to support local government planning and accessible through council websites. Go to your council website, search for community profiles, and click on ‘How Do We Live/How Much Do We Pay on Our Housing Loan’ to generate reports based on the last Census. Reports are available for local government areas and smaller areas (e.g. suburbs). More on profile.id.
The Spatial Analysis and Research Branch, Department of Planning and Community Development, is currently preparing statistical information derived from the most recent Census. Statistical information will be available in a number of products including Know Your Area and Suburbs in Time. For updates, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , telephone (03) 9637 9441, write to PO Box 500 East Melbourne Vic 3002, or visit Spatial Analysis Research Branch and view product and release dates.