At the request of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), researchers from the Center for Behavioral Science Methods (CBSM) at the U.S. Census Bureau cognitively pretested new and revised survey questions for the interviewer-administered 2025 American Housing Survey (AHS). Tested questions included new topical modules on accessory dwelling units and climate risk and insurance. Other questions focused on updates to existing modules, which included topics such as reasons for doubling-up in residential units, household finances (such as taxes and fees), utilities, home purchasing, energy efficiency, and moving residences.

Participants in 23 cognitive interviews, conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams from June 2024 to August 2024, generally understood most of the questions. Some of the more complex topics included why adults “double up” in residences, and whether customers have the option of choosing energy from renewable resources from their utility companies.  In the former case, the questions produced inconsistent responses, and in the latter, respondents misunderstood the general meaning of the question, even after several revisions.  These topics will be deferred from the 2025 AHS.