Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 32.5% of households in Adelaide were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 63.8% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Adelaide (C) (15.6%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Adelaide - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
Fully owned
2021 count
1,445
% of total
17.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
1,445
17.5%
+1.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
1,234
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,234
15.0%
-1.8pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
5,266
% of total
63.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
5,266
63.8%
+0.8pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
715
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
715
8.7%
-2.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
4,533
% of total
54.9%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
4,533
54.9%
+3.4pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
18
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
18
0.2%
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
187
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
187
2.3%
+1.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
117
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
117
1.4%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+506
+1.9pp
Mortgage
+224
-1.8pp
Renting - Total
+1,476
+0.8pp
Renting - Social housing
+56
-2.3pp
Renting - Private
+1,433
+3.4pp
Renting - Not stated
-13
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
+124
+1.3pp
Not stated
-88
-2.0pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Adelaide. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 1,445 | 17.5% | 21.6% | 939 | 15.6% | 20.4% | +506 | +1.9pp |
| Mortgage | 1,234 | 15.0% | 15.6% | 1,010 | 16.8% | 17.1% | +224 | -1.8pp |
| Renting - Total | 5,266 | 63.8% | 59.5% | 3,790 | 63.0% | 58.2% | +1,476 | +0.8pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 715 | 8.7% | 7.0% | 659 | 11.0% | 8.6% | +56 | -2.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 4,533 | 54.9% | 52.5% | 3,100 | 51.5% | 49.1% | +1,433 | +3.4pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 18 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 31 | 0.5% | 0.5% | -13 | -0.3pp |
| Other tenure type | 187 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 63 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +124 | +1.3pp |
| Not stated | 117 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 205 | 3.4% | 3.2% | -88 | -2.0pp |
| Total households | 8,254 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,014 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,240 | 0.0pp |