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, 44.7% of households in Darwin (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 45.8% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Darwin (31.9%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Darwin (C) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Housing tenure change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Fully owned

+691

+1.2pp

Mortgage

+677

+0.6pp

Renting - Total

+1,623

+2.6pp

Renting - Social housing

+183

+0.2pp

Renting - Private

+1,521

+2.7pp

Renting - Not stated

-79

-0.3pp

Other tenure type

+284

+0.9pp

Not stated

-1,428

-5.3pp

Data table

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

Housing tenure for Darwin (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
Housing tenure for Darwin (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Darwin%Count%Greater Darwin%Countpp
Fully owned5,71118.0%17.2%5,02016.8%16.2%+691+1.2pp
Mortgage8,48326.7%31.9%7,80626.1%30.7%+677+0.6pp
Renting - Total14,51945.8%40.5%12,89643.2%39.6%+1,623+2.6pp
Renting - Social housing1,9666.2%5.5%1,7836.0%5.5%+183+0.2pp
Renting - Private12,45739.3%34.7%10,93636.6%33.4%+1,521+2.7pp
Renting - Not stated910.3%0.3%1700.6%0.6%-79-0.3pp
Other tenure type4721.5%1.5%1880.6%0.6%+284+0.9pp
Not stated2,5358.0%8.9%3,96313.3%12.9%-1,428-5.3pp
Total households31,716100.0%100.0%29,877100.0%100.0%+1,8390.0pp