Definition
A private household consists of one or more persons living together (i.e. sleeping most nights of a week 4 out of 7) and sharing at least one daily meal. It is important to note that a member of a household need not be a relative of the main family. For example, a boarder or a domestic servant who sleeps in most nights of the week is a member of the household. It is possible for a household to consist of just one person, or of more than one family, as long as they share living arrangements.
A group of unrelated persons living together can also comprise a household. Many types of living arrangements may be found in the field, and some examples are given below for your guidance:-
(a) If a person has recently moved in with a group of persons, as long as he/she intends to make his/her home with them, that person is to be considered a member of the household.
(b) A boarding house, which caters for less than six boarders or lodgers, is to be classified as a private household.
(c) If a house is divided into flats or other separate dwellings, each such separate dwelling accommodates at least one separate household. A tenant or subtenant, if he makes his own arrangements for eating, also forms a separate household.
(d) A servant who sleeps in the house or in an outbuilding on the premises is to be listed as a member of the household. A servant who does not sleep on his/her employer’s premises is not to be counted as a member of the household where he/she works.
(e) A boarder or lodger, (i.e. a person who eats and sleeps with the household during most nights of the week), is to be considered a member of the household.
(f) If within the institution (non-private dwelling) there are separate quarters for all or any member of the staff, with separate housekeeping arrangements, such persons constitute separate households. However, the Supervisor will give special
instructions for enumeration of large institutions.
(g) A person who rents a room but does not share any meals with his/her landlord or landlady constitutes a separate single-person household.
(h) Persons living, working and sleeping away from their families most nights of the week are to be enumerated where they sleep most nights. They may be boarders or lodgers in a household or may constitute separate households.
(i) A visitor or guest intending to spend Census Night in the household must be counted as a member of the household.
(j) Persons who because of the nature of their jobs (i.e. watchmen, shift-workers, medical and health personnel etc.), spend most nights away from their home MUST be enumerated at the same place as the other members of their households (i.e. at their place of usual residence).
