Who/what is surveyed: Private households, excluding households in the territories, Indian Reserves and crown lands, and those living institutions.

How the data is collected: Telephone interview

Geographic detail: Canada, provinces, size of area of residence (urban/rural)

Demographic detail: data linked to the demographic variables from the Labour Force Survey such as household type, age, sex and marital status

1. repairs and other maintenance expenditures (e.g., outdoor patios, fences and driveways, exterior walls, painting, wall papering, carpentry, wooden flooring, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, complete re-roofing, eavestroughing and other roof repair, hard surface flooring and carpeting, caulking and weather stripping)
2. replacement of equipment (e.g., electrical fixtures and equipment, plumbing fixtures, heating and air conditionning equipment, carpeting, built-in appliances)
3. additions (e.g., structural extensions, garages and car ports, inground swimming pools, fences, patios, driveways, landscaping)
4. renovations and alterations (interior and exterior)
5. new installations (e.g., electrical fixtures and equipment, plumbing fixtures, heating and air conditionning equipment, carpeting, built-in appliances)
6. type of dwelling
7. renter expenditures or costs (e.g., rent, parking, electricity, heating, water, repairs and maintenance, tenant's insurance)
8. homeowners' expenditures or costs (e.g., mortgage payments, property taxes, home-owner's insurance, condominium fees, taxes, fuel, heat, electricity, water and sewage)

Frequency: Occasional

Sample size: 45,000 households

Data availability: 1987 and 1990

Reference period: Calendar year

Release dates: 18 months after the reference calendar year

Response rates: 83.5%

What makes the data valuable: Comprehensive database of shelter expenditures for owners and renters

Related surveys or data:
1. Homeowner Repair and Renovation Survey
2. Family Expenditure Survey
3. Survey of Household Spending

Products and services:
Public-use Microdata File (data from the Shelter Cost Survey were added to the Household Income, Facilities and Equipment File)

Responsible division: Income Statistics