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, 35.2% of households in Christmas Island were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 42.7% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Other Territories (15.8%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Christmas Island - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Christmas Island in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Other Territories and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Christmas Island, with comparison markers for Other Territories.

Christmas Island
Other Territories

Fully owned

2021 count

113

% of total

22.6%

Change from 2016

-

Mortgage

2021 count

63

% of total

12.6%

Change from 2016

-

Renting - Total

2021 count

213

% of total

42.7%

Change from 2016

-

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

91

% of total

18.2%

Change from 2016

-

Renting - Private

2021 count

119

% of total

23.8%

Change from 2016

-

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-

Other tenure type

2021 count

53

% of total

10.6%

Change from 2016

-

Not stated

2021 count

59

% of total

11.8%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Housing tenure for Christmas Island. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.

Housing tenure for Christmas Island. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.
Housing tenure for Christmas Island. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Other Territories.
Category20212016Change
Count%Other Territories%Count%Other Territories%Countpp
Fully owned11322.6%27.9%--26.9%--
Mortgage6312.6%15.8%--19.4%--
Renting - Total21342.7%35.0%--39.3%--
Renting - Social housing9118.2%10.0%--9.4%--
Renting - Private11923.8%25.0%--27.2%--
Renting - Not stated00.0%0.0%--2.6%--
Other tenure type5310.6%6.6%--3.5%--
Not stated5911.8%14.3%--10.5%--
Total households499100.0%100.0%--100.0%--