In Australia, Building Permits show the seasonally adjusted total number of approved new dwelling units. A dwelling unit is defined as a self-contained suite of rooms, including cooking and bathing facilities and intended for long-term residential use. Regardless of whether they are self-contained or not, units within buildings offering institutional care (e.g. hospitals) or temporary accommodation (e.g. motels, hostels and holiday apartments) are not defined as dwelling units. Such units are included in the appropriate category of non-residential building approvals. Dwelling units can be created in one of four ways: through new work to create a residential building. through alteration/addition work to an existing residential building. through either new or alteration/addition work on non-residential building or through conversion of a non-residential building to a residential building.