Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Household maintainer

Definition

Refers to whether or not a person residing in the household is responsible for paying the rent, or the mortgage, or the taxes, or the electricity or other services or utilities. Where a number of people may contribute to the payments, more than one person in the household may be identified as a household maintainer. If no person in the household is identified as making such payments, the reference person is identified by default.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986^{Footnote 2} and 1981^{Footnote 2} (20% sample).

Reported for

Population in private households

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 58

Responses

Person is not a household maintainer; Person is a household maintainer

Remarks

In order for a person identified as being responsible for the household payments to be considered as a household maintainer, that person must be 15 years of age or older and be related to Person 1 in terms other than as an employee (or as an employee's census family).

See also the primary household maintainer definition.

Note(s)