Prevalence of Housing Problems for 2023 (individuals, weighted %)

Affordability

We measure housing unaffordability in two ways: objective and subjective. The 'objective' measure is referred to as 'overburden', and a household is housing cost overburdened if it spends more than the threshold percentage of their income on housing costs. We use a variable threshold of 25% for the first income quintile, 30% for the second quintile, 40% for the third quintile, and 50% for the fourth and fifth quintiles. Housing costs are based on the monthly expenditure of households related to the dwelling including the costs of utilities, insurance, regular maintenance, compulsory charges (e.g. sewage), and taxes, following the EU definition. Rental payments (for tenants) and mortgage interest payments (for homeowners) are gross of housing benefits, i.e. the benefits are not deducted from the total housing costs, but are net of any tax relief (for homeowners). Household income is net and equivalised by number of household members and their age (modified OECD-scale).

The subjective measure is referred to as ‘subjective burden’. The variable is constructed based on the question: “Please consider your total housing costs including mortgage repayment (instalment and interest) or rent, insurance and service charges (sewage removal, refuse removal, regular maintenance, repairs and other charges). To what extent are these costs a financial burden to you?”. It is divided into three categories: 1) not a burden at all; 2) a slight burden; and 3) and a heavy burden.

Quality: Deprived Housing

Deprived housing occurs when a house has no or poor-quality facilities, such as a leaking roof, damp walls, floors or foundations, or rot in window frames or floors; no bath or shower; no flushing toilet; or too dark.

Quality: Overcrowding

Overcrowding occurs when the household does not have at its disposal a minimum number of rooms equal to: 1) one room for the household; 2) one room per couple in the household; 3) one room for each single person aged 18 or more; 4) one room per pair of single people of the same gender between 12 and 17 years of age; 5) one room for each single person between 12 and 17 years of age and not included in the previous category; or 6) one room per pair of children under 12 years of age.

Security: Rent/Mortgage Arrears

Rent/Mortgage Arrears is based on the question "In the past twelve months, has the household been in arrears, i.e. has been unable to pay on time due to financial difficulties for: (a) rent, (b) mortgage repayment for the main dwelling?".

Energy Poverty: Heating Unaffordability

Heating unaffordability refers to the inability to keep the dwelling warm. This is based on the question "can your household afford to keep its home adequately warm?".

Energy Poverty: Utility Arrears

Utility arrears refers to whether one has had utility arrears at least once in the last twelve months.