Census reminders will start to arrive next week and the field officers will begin their work on Tuesday, following up with households that have not returned their questionnaire.
We would like to clarify our guidance on what a member of the public should do if they are concerned that the person on their doorstep is not a genuine census official:
• Census officers will carry an ID card with their photograph and name
• Census officers will work through the day to make contact with residents but will not call before 09:00 or after 20:00
• Census officers will never ask for money or bank details
• Census officers will never need to enter someone’s home
• Census officers will have census leaflets and paper questionnaires with them
• If the householder is still concerned, they can ring the contact centre for further advice:
o England 0800 141 2021
o Wales 0800 169 2021
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Second Homes
As you are only too aware, the census is a count of population and housing and it is crucial everyone is counted in Census 2021 – that includes people who might be living in a holiday or second home during the pandemic.
It is important that we have a separate census return for both someone’s usual and second residence (used for whatever purpose) as local services will still be required at both addresses.
If the pandemic has changed where a person is currently living, for example if they are staying at what they might have classed as a second address prior to lockdown restrictions, they will still need to complete a census form for both households.
Whichever address you regard as your usual residence, you will be asked to complete a full set of census questions. For the other address you will be asked questions about the household as well as basic visitor questions, if someone is staying there on 21 March 2021.
For more information about completing the census for holiday homes or second homes, and how you can request online access codes, head to census.gov.uk.
