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, 79.7% of households in Blue Mountains (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 17.8% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Greater Sydney (33.3%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Blue Mountains (C) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Blue Mountains (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Blue Mountains (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Blue Mountains (C)
Greater Sydney

Fully owned

2021 count

12,483

% of total

40.9%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Mortgage

2021 count

11,848

% of total

38.8%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

5,435

% of total

17.8%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

594

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

4,805

% of total

15.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

33

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

460

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

303

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Blue Mountains (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Housing tenure for Blue Mountains (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Housing tenure for Blue Mountains (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Fully owned12,48340.9%27.8%11,21839.2%29.1%+1,265+1.7pp
Mortgage11,84838.8%33.3%11,29539.5%33.2%+553-0.7pp
Renting - Total5,43517.8%35.9%5,26718.4%34.1%+168-0.6pp
Renting - Social housing5941.9%4.2%5942.1%4.8%0-0.2pp
Renting - Private4,80515.7%31.5%4,57216.0%28.8%+233-0.3pp
Renting - Not stated330.1%0.2%1000.3%0.4%-67-0.2pp
Other tenure type4601.5%1.7%2510.9%0.9%+209+0.6pp
Not stated3031.0%1.3%5952.1%2.7%-292-1.1pp
Total households30,528100.0%100.0%28,630100.0%100.0%+1,8980.0pp