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, 69.5% of households in Dorset (M) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 19.2% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Regional Tas. (30.4%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Dorset (M) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises tenure for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Fully owned
Mortgage
Renting - Total
Renting - Social housing
Renting - Private
Renting - Not stated
Other tenure type
Not stated
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+61
-0.1pp
Mortgage
+85
+1.6pp
Renting - Total
-67
-3.3pp
Renting - Social housing
+21
+0.6pp
Renting - Private
-58
-2.9pp
Renting - Not stated
-42
-1.5pp
Other tenure type
+86
+2.9pp
Not stated
-7
-0.7pp
Data table
Tenure for Dorset (M). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 1,253 | 42.0% | 38.0% | 1,192 | 42.1% | 35.9% | +61 | -0.1pp |
| Mortgage | 820 | 27.5% | 30.4% | 735 | 25.9% | 30.4% | +85 | +1.6pp |
| Renting - Total | 572 | 19.2% | 23.9% | 639 | 22.5% | 25.3% | -67 | -3.3pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 93 | 3.1% | 4.6% | 72 | 2.5% | 5.0% | +21 | +0.6pp |
| Renting - Private | 466 | 15.6% | 19.1% | 524 | 18.5% | 19.6% | -58 | -2.9pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 6 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 48 | 1.7% | 0.8% | -42 | -1.5pp |
| Other tenure type | 121 | 4.1% | 2.1% | 35 | 1.2% | 0.8% | +86 | +2.9pp |
| Not stated | 222 | 7.4% | 5.6% | 229 | 8.1% | 7.5% | -7 | -0.7pp |
| Total households | 2,985 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,834 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |