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According to the provisional results of the latest Census of Population and Dwellings there were 116,111 occupied dwellings in Christchurch in 1996 an increase of around 8,400 or 7.8 percent since 1991. This compares with an increase of 6,006 or 5.9 percent between the 1986 and 1991 Censuses.
Over the next fifteen years the number of households within the City is expected to grow steadily. The City Council estimates that there will be around 140,000 households in the City by 2016.
In 1991, nearly 74 percent of dwellings in the City were separate houses or units, while 25 percent of dwellings comprised two or more flats or houses joined together within blocks (Table 1.13).
| Table 1.13 Type of Dwelling (Private and Non Private ), 1991 | ||||
Christchurch City |
% |
New Zealand |
% |
|
| Separate House | 79,128 |
73.5 |
950,646 |
80.2 |
| Two Flats or Houses Joined Together | 15,276 |
14.2 |
110,100 |
9.3 |
| Three or More Flats or Houses Joined Together | 11,820 |
11.0 |
91,179 |
7.7 |
| Flat or House Joined to a Business or Shop | 615 |
0.6 |
9,282 |
0.8 |
| Bach; Crib or Hut (not in work camp) | 126 |
0.1 |
6,876 |
0.6 |
| Caravan; Cabin or Tent in a Motor Camp | 201 |
0.2 |
4,728 |
0.4 |
| Other (private) | 39 |
0.0 |
2,466 |
0.2 |
| Not Specified Private Dwelling | 12 |
0.0 |
2,388 |
0.2 |
| Hotel; Motel or Guest House | 174 |
0.2 |
3,006 |
0.3 |
| Boarding House | 54 |
0.1 |
615 |
0.1 |
| Home for the Elderly | 87 |
0.1 |
735 |
0.1 |
| Other (non-private) | 165 |
0.2 |
3,375 |
0.3 |
| Total | 107,697 |
100.0 |
1,185,396 |
100.0 |
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1991
Home ownership is a common aspiration for many Christchurch residents. In 1991, 39 percent of private dwellings were owned with a mortgage, while just over 35 percent were freehold. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of private dwellings in the City were rented at the 1991 Census. In addition, a small number (1.5 percent) of dwellings were provided rent free.
The average number of people living in private households has been declining for many years and this trend is expected to continue in the future. In 1981, the occupancy rate in Christchurch was 2.9 persons per household. This declined to 2.7 by 1991 and is expected to fall to around 2.5 people per household early next century.
The decreasing trend in household size is a result of the rate of household formation exceeding the rate of population growth. There are a number of social and economic factors which have contributed to the accelerating rate of household formation in recent years. These include:
• The increase in single person households. As the population ages and life expectancy increases, more people (particularly women) are living for longer periods on their own.
• The increase in non family households. Young people in particular are now more likely to set up households with others before starting families. They may also spend longer periods of time in flatting situations. In previous decades the norm was for young adults to stay in the family home until marriage and generally marry at earlier ages.
• The rise in divorce and separation which has the tendency to split households.
The expectation that household numbers will increase at a higher rate than population growth has implications for the overall growth and form of the City. It also suggests that the existing housing stock may not necessarily meet the demands of residents in the future who may be looking for smaller properties with less bedrooms. This may be particularly relevant for the growing number of elderly in the City. Recent building consent information suggests the market is already moving to meet these changing needs.