Housing conditions, survey on living conditions, 2004

The percentage of owners is lowest among one-person households below 45 years -33 per cent, but there are also relatively few owners among younger couples without children and among single parents -approximately 67 per cent. Among one-person households 67 years and above 74 per cent are owners; among other types of households the percentage of owners is above 80 per cent. The percentage of owners is above 90 in most households with a couple.

For young one-person households the percentage of owners decreased from mid 1980^{t h} until mid 1990^{t h}. This decrease has halted; there has been no change in the percentage of owners since the survey in 1997.

Not surprisingly the percentage of freeholders is especially low among younger one-person households - 22 per cent. Among other one-person households, younger families without children and single parents approximately 50 per cent are freeholders. Among these groups we find the largest percentage of shareholders or part owners, almost one in four among one-person households below 45 years, and one in six among younger families without children. Since 1997 there has been a decrease in the percentage of freeholders among one-person households 45 years and above, and a corresponding increase in the percentage of shareholders and part owners. We also find more families with small children living in such dwellings. However, in this group there has been no decrease in the percentage of freeholders, meaning that the percentage of owners has increased. In 2004 almost nine in ten families with small children were owners.

Increase in spaciousness among those who live spacious

Fewer live in crowded dwellings (living alone in one room or with fewer rooms in the dwelling than the number of people in the household). The percentage of persons living in a crowded dwelling decreased from 8 per cent in 1997 to 6 per cent in 2004. The highest percentage living in crowded dwellings is still found among single persons 16-24 years -35 per cent, single persons 25-44 years -13 per cent -and couples with small children -15 per cent. We cannot demonstrate a decrease in crowdedness for these groups.

More people live in very spacious dwellings (at least three more rooms in the dwelling than persons in the household). In 1997 31 per cent of all adults lived in very spacious dwellings compared with 34 per cent in 2004. The lowest percentage of persons living in very spacious dwellings is found among couples with small children and single persons 25-44 years, one in eight. The highest percentage is found among couples without children, 45 years and over -55 per cent, and among single persons 45 years and over - approximately 45 per cent). It is primarily among couples without children, 45 years and older, that the percentage living in very spacious dwellings has increased.

Strong increase in housing expenditures for one-person households 45 years and above

The average rent for tenants (shareholders and part owners are not counted as tenants) increased from about NOK 30 000 in 1997 to NOK 41 000 in 2004. In 2004-NOK this is an increase of 20 per cent. The housing expenditure defined as the sum of rent, mortgage and instalment increased by 13 per cent in 2004 prices from 1997 to 2004. The increase has been largest for one-person households 45 years and above and for families with adult children. The largest housing expenditure is still found among couples with small children, NOK 69 000 in 2004. Housing expenditures for families with youngest child 7-19 years were 60 000, and for younger families without children and single parents appoximately NOK 55 000 in 2004. Elderly couples without children and elderly one-person households had the lowest housing expenditures - NOK 10 000 and NOK 16 000 respectively. The increase in housing expenditures was largest for couples with adult children (50 per cent in fixed prices), and for one-person households 45 years and over (40 per cent in fixed prices). For these groups, and especially for elderly one-person households, the increase is from a starting point of low housing expenditure.

We present a measure of how heavy a load the housing expenditure represent for the household. The housing expenditure (rent, mortgage and instalment) is related to income after tax. Non-taxable incomes are also considered as income. If housing expenditure amounts to at least 25 per cent of income after tax the load is considered as heavy. We have results only for 1997 and 2001 because there is now no information on income in 2004.

In 2001 housing expenditures was a heavy load for 24 per cent of all households. A heavy load of housing expenditures was most common among one-person households below 45 years, approx. 50 per cent. For one in three single parents and younger families without children housing expenditure represented a heavy load. The same was true for one in five one-person households 45 years and above and for families with small children. However, this was true for very few among families without children, 45 years and over and for families with adult children.

The average rate of interest was a little higher in 2001 than in 1997, but decreased sharply in 2004. In the groups where a change in the percentage with a heavy load of housing expenditures can be established there has been an increase between 1997 and 2001. This is the case for younger couples without children, families with small children and families with youngest child in school age. In these groups the percentage of owners is high and most pay mortgage. Therefore it can be anticipated that there will be fewer households with a heavy load of housing expenditure because of a lower rate of interest in 2004 than in 2001.

Tables:

• Table 1 Type and standard of dwelling for persons, by age. 2004. Per cent
• Table 2 Household environment for persons, by age. 2004. Per cent
• Table 3 Type of dwelling and tenure status for households, by type of household. 2004. Per cent
• Table 4 Size of dwelling for housholds, by type of houshold. 2004. Per cent
• Table 5 Household economy, by tye of household. 2004. NOK and per cent