The scope of the survey covered only ordinary dwellings, excluding collective dwellings such as hostels, boarding schools or barracks, and mobile homes.

The 2006 questionnaire involved close collaboration between researchers, partners who had taken part in the 2002 survey (Housing Ministry, National Housing Agency, Centre for Economic Study and Research on Energy) and other actors in the world of housing (Low-cost housing Union, National Agency for Housing Information).

The 2006 survey included a new section on people's episodes of homelessness.

Some new questions were also added in 2006 on the quality of dwelling usage, tax exemption measures, the use of clean energy, performance of the heating installation, the existence of recovery procedures in cases of unpaid rent and the sale of low-cost housing to occupants.