Accommodation type variable: Census 2021

Definition of accommodation type, categories, and changes since the 2011 Census for use with research and analysis using Census 2021 data.

Last updated:
26 January 2024

Mnemonic: accommodation_type
Applicability: Household
Type: Standard variable

Definition

The type of building or structure used or available by an individual or household.

This could be:

  • the whole house or bungalow
  • a flat, maisonette or apartment
  • a temporary or mobile structure, such as a caravan

More information about accommodation types

Whole house or bungalow: This property type is not divided into flats or other living accommodation. There are three types of whole houses or bungalows.

Detached: None of the living accommodation is attached to another property but can be attached to a garage.

Semi-detached: The living accommodation is joined to another house or bungalow by a common wall that they share.

Terraced: A mid-terraced house is located between two other houses and shares two common walls. An end-of-terrace house is part of a terraced development but only shares one common wall.

Flats (Apartments) and maisonettes: An apartment is another word for a flat. A maisonette is a 2-storey flat.

Classification

Total number of categories: 8

Code Name
1 Detached
2 Semi-detached
3 Terraced
4 In a purpose-built block of flats or tenement
5 Part of a converted or shared house, including bedsits
6 Part of another converted building, for example, former school, church or warehouse
7 In a commercial building, for example, in an office building, hotel or over a shop
8 A caravan or other mobile or temporary structure

View all accommodation type classifications.

Quality information

We have made changes to housing definitions since the 2011 Census. Take care if you compare Census 2021 results for this topic with those from the 2011 Census.

Read more in our housing quality information for Census 2021 methodology.

Question asked

What type of accommodation is this?

A whole house or bungalow that is:

  • detached
  • semi-detached
  • terraced (including end-terrace)

A flat, maisonette or apartment that is:

  • in a purpose-built block of flats or tenement
  • part of a converted or shared house (including bedsits)
  • part of another converted building (for example, former school, church or warehouse)
  • in a commercial building (for example, in an office building, hotel, or over a shop)

A mobile or temporary structure:

  • a caravan or other mobile or temporary structure

In Census 2021 the option that that people could choose from that describes a flat, maisonette or apartment that is "in a tenement or purpose built block of flats" included 4 in-a-block.

Background

Read about how we developed and tested the questions for Census 2021.

Why we ask the question

The answer helps communities by allowing local authorities, planners and housing providers to understand the types of accommodation available in their area. They can use this information to work our what type of housing people will need in the future.

The census first asked this question in 1981.

Comparability with the 2011 Census

Broadly comparable

We have added a category called “part of another converted building (for example, former school, church or warehouse)”. This means that there are some changes to the way people who lived in flats answered the question when comparing this variable with the one in the 2011 Census.

What does broadly comparable mean?

A variable that is broadly comparable means that it can be generally compared with the same variable used in the 2011 Census. However, changes may have been made to the question or options that people could choose from or how write-in answers are classified.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland comparisons

Broadly comparable

The variable produced for England and Wales provides more detail on the type of accommodation compared to the variables produced by Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What does broadly comparable mean?

A variable that is broadly comparable means that outputs from Census 2021 in England and Wales can generally be compared with Scotland and Northern Ireland. Differences in how the data were collected or presented may reduce the ability to fully harmonise on outputs, but some harmonisation is still expected.

Find out more about variables produced for Census 2021 in Northern Ireland and Census 2022 in Scotland.

Census 2021 data that uses this variable

We use variables from Census 2021 data to show findings in different ways.

You can:

Alternatively, you can also create a custom dataset.

Other datasets that use this variable