'Straight up demanded access': What Census rules mean for apartment residents in 2026

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is reaching out to strata and building managers across the country ahead of the 2026 Census on 11 August, seeking to arrange access to secure apartment complexes so field staff can deliver materials and follow up with residents who do not complete the Census online.

With around 30,000 field officers hired to ensure every person in Australia is counted, coordinating entry to locked residential buildings has emerged as one of the more complex logistical challenges of the national count. Census-related visits are expected to continue until the end of September.

Why the ABS needs access to secure apartment buildings

Most residents in secure apartment buildings can expect to receive Census instructions by mail, with one person typically completing the form online on behalf of their household. However, ABS field staff may still need physical access to buildings — both before Census night to deliver materials in some areas, and afterwards to follow up with households that have not completed the Census.

According to the ABS, access arrangements allow staff to carry out these activities "efficiently and with minimal disruption to residents." Entry requests have been made for weekdays between 8am and 8pm, and weekends from 9am to 8pm.

In situations where Census staff cannot meet with onsite management, the ABS may request temporary access arrangements — including apartment keys, fob cards or passcodes for secure areas. Any keys obtained are managed under strict protocols and returned once Census activities conclude, the ABS has confirmed.

For a full breakdown of who must complete the Census, key dates and what happens if you don't participate, see our guide to the 2026 Census and our Census explainer covering key dates and how to fill it out.

A 'logistical nightmare' — and reports of officers demanding access

Joshua Baldwin, president of the Strata Community Association of Australasia, has been briefing building managers about the Census process and says the access question is generating significant concern among strata communities.

"We get a lot of questions as to why they need access onto our property and who is going to be there," Baldwin said.

While he described the majority of access arrangements as "quite fluid and quite easy," Baldwin acknowledged there had been isolated incidents where things did not go smoothly.

"Some Census officers have … just straight up demanded access" to keys, he said — adding that strata managers are not in a position to hand over keys without the explicit permission of the strata corporation.

He stressed these cases were rare, but the association has been proactive in helping managers navigate their obligations and rights.

How strata managers are adapting

To manage security concerns while still facilitating Census activities, some strata managers have introduced creative workarounds. Baldwin said a number of buildings have set up temporary key box systems outside their premises, allowing authorised Census staff to gain access without keys being handed over directly.

In other cases, strata managers have worked directly with the ABS to identify residents who may need additional assistance completing the Census — helping target follow-up visits more precisely and reducing the need for broad building access.

Coordinating access to secure-building apartments can nonetheless become a "logistical nightmare," Baldwin said, particularly in larger complexes with multiple entry points and varied resident circumstances.

What this means for residents

The Census collects data on Australian residents, international visitors and people on temporary visas, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the nation's population, housing and communities — a process the ABS has conducted for more than a century.

Residents in secure apartment buildings who have not completed the Census by 11 August should expect a follow-up visit from ABS field staff before the end of September. Those with questions about the process are encouraged to speak with their building or strata manager in the first instance.