Changing Patterns in Canadian Homeownership and Shelter Costs, 2006 Census: Housing life cycle

This section examines annual shelter costs for households in private occupied dwellings, excluding farms and Indian reserves.

For households that owned on Census Day, shelter costs include mortgage payments, property taxes, condominium fees and utilities. Utilities include electricity; fuels such as gas, oil or wood; and water and other municipal services. Mortgage payments include both principal and interest. Principal payments are considered to be a contribution to household equity or wealth.

For households that rented on Census Day, shelter costs include rental payments and utilities. Utilities include electricity; fuels such as gas, oil or wood; and water and other municipal services.

This report presents only total annual shelter costs. Components are not presented separately since certain payments may be combined with others so that it is impossible to separate them. For example, mortgage payments may include property taxes, and rental payments may include heating fuel.

Shelter payments are here expressed in current dollars. That is, they have not been adjusted for changes in consumer prices.

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