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News Bulletin
22 December 2008
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Outline of the Housing and Land Survey
The Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) conducted the Housing and Land Survey as of 1 October 2008.
This survey aims to obtain basic data for various housing and land policy measures which are the actual situations of dwellings, other occupied buildings and the inhabiting households. This survey clarifies the present circumstances and trends for the whole country, major metropolitan areas, and prefectures.
The survey has been conducted every five years since 1948. The survey of this year places emphasis on obtaining data regarding quality of housing in response to the enactment of the Basic Act on Housing of 2006. The survey includes new items such as status of reforms to the dwelling unit for security, safety and earthquakes.
Sample Design
The survey employs a two-stage sampling method with the primary sampling unit being the enumeration area and the secondary sampling unit being dwelling unit.
The survey units enumerated are dwellings, other occupied buildings, and all households inhabiting those dwellings and buildings located in the enumeration districts (EDs) on the survey date.17 dwellings and buildings are selected in each ED. About 3.5 million dwellings and buildings are surveyed for the whole country.
Survey Method
This survey uses three kinds of questionnaires: long form questionnaires, short form questionnaires and questionnaires on the building.
Either long form or short form questionnaires are delivered to the respondents by each ED and filled in by them. And the questionnaires on the building are filled in by enumerators.
Survey Items
* Short form: (1)∼(5)
Long form: (1)∼(6)
(1) On buildings (4 items)
Number and area of dwelling rooms (in number of tatami units), Tenure of dwelling, etc.
(2) On dwellings (12 items)
Construction of dwelling, Type of dwelling, Year of construction, Situation of facilities, Extension, renovation, etc.
(3) On households (4 items)
Type of household, Annual income of household, etc.
(4) On main earner or head of household (5 items)
Employment status, Commuting time, Year of last move, etc.
(5) On dwelling environment (1 item)
(6) On housing and land other than the present residence (4 items)
Area, Use, etc.
Publication
The Preliminary Report will be published within a year from the reference date, and the Final Count Report will be published within two years.
Use of the survey results (Major examples)
(a) Basic data for regulation of tax on housing and land
(b) Basic data for administrative policies and measures, such as housing policies, land use plans and regional development plans
(c) Basic data for academic research, such as research on the mechanism of the housing market and urban planning focusing on earthquake resistance or disaster prevention
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