The Census Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

Persons who must make returns

5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a dwelling referred to in column (1) of Group A is occupied by a household consisting of one usual resident, that person must make a return.

(2) A return need not be made under paragraph (1) where the person is away from the dwelling on census day and is outside the United Kingdom and does not return during the period of 12 months beginning on that day.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where a dwelling referred to in column (1) of Group A is occupied by a household consisting of more than one person—

(a) the householder or joint householders; or

(b) in the absence of any such person capable of making a return, any person authorised to act on their behalf,

must make a return with respect to person specified in column (2) of Group A but, where the obligation falls on more than one person, any one of their number may make the return on their behalf.

(4) A return need not be made under paragraph (3)–

(a) in respect of any person—

(i) whom the person required to make the return under paragraph (3) reasonably believes has elected to make an individual return under paragraph 5(a); or

(ii) who has elected to make an individual return under paragraph (5)(b);

(b) where all members of the household are away from the dwelling on census day and are outside the United Kingdom continuously for at least the period of 12 months beginning on that day.

(5) Any usual resident with respect to whom a return falls to be made in accordance with paragraph (3) who is capable of making a return may elect to make an individual return by either—

(a) making a request for an individual return themselves; or

(b) giving consent to a person making a household return under paragraph (3) to request an individual return on their behalf.

(6) Where a person has elected to make an individual return under paragraph (5)(a) or (b) that person must—

(a) make the individual return; or

(b) authorise someone else to make the return on that person’s behalf.

(7) Where the person who elected to make an individual return is for any reason incapable of making a return, it may be made on their behalf by anyone else capable of doing so.

(8) Every usual resident specified in column (2) of Group B, C, D, E or F must make an individual return, but where any such person is, for any reason, incapable of making a return then, on behalf of that person—

(a) in a case specified in column (2) of Group B or C, the manager or other person for the time being in charge of the premises must either make the return or arrange for it to be made by a relative or companion of that person; or

(b) in a case specified in column (2) of Group D, E, or F, the return must be made by the person for the time being in charge of the premises or vessel.

(9) Every person specified in column (2) of Group G must make an individual return but–

(a) the return may be made on behalf of the person specified by anyone else authorised by that person; and

(b) where the person specified is incapable for any reason of making a return, it may be made on that person’s behalf by anyone else capable of doing so.

(10) Where a dwelling referred to in column (1) of Group A is occupied only by one or more reckonable visitors a return in respect of that dwelling must be made by–

(a) the person or persons who would be the householders if they were usual residents at the address; or

(b) if there is no such person capable of making a return, anyone else authorised to act on their behalf,

but where the obligation falls on more than one person, any one of those persons may make the return on behalf of the other persons on whom the obligation falls.

(11) In the case of any premises or vessel specified in Group B, C, D, E or F, the person for the time being in charge of the premises or vessel must make a return stating the particulars specified in Schedule 3.