Hausstands

Hausstand is a German term that refers to the complete set of goods and belongings that belong to a household, i.e., the household inventory or home furnishings. In a broader sense, it can also denote the household as a social and economic unit, especially in statistical or sociological contexts. The plural form is typically Hausstände.

Derivation and synonyms: The word combines Haus (house) and Stand (state, stock, property). It is closely related to, but distinct from, Hausrat (household contents) and Haushalt (household in the sense of managerial or administrative unit, or the people and resources living in a home). While Hausstand emphasizes the collection of items and furnishings, Hausrat focuses more specifically on movable goods inside the dwelling, and Haushalt on the organizational or economic aspects of managing a home.

Usage in practice: In everyday language, Hausstand is more common in formal or written contexts than in casual speech. In statistical and economic writing, der Hausstand is used to describe the material wealth or the inventory of a household, serving as a basis for surveys on consumption, living standards, or housing conditions. An example sentence could be: Der Hausstand umfasst Möbel, Elektrogeräte und Haushaltswaren.

Related concepts and contexts: In probate or estate matters, lists of the Hausstand may be prepared to inventory assets. The term is largely complementary to but distinct from Haushalt (which also covers income, expenses, and family structure) and Hausrat (the physical movable goods). The usage varies by region and discipline, with statistical texts favoring the term Hausstand to denote the household’s material endowment.