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, 58.5% of households in Fairfield (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 38.1% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Sydney (33.3%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Fairfield (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Fairfield (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Fully owned
2021 count
19,160
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
19,160
31.5%
-0.6pp
Mortgage
2021 count
16,454
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
16,454
27.0%
-1.8pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
23,182
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
23,182
38.1%
+3.2pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
4,917
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4,917
8.1%
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
18,063
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
18,063
29.7%
+3.7pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
205
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
205
0.3%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
945
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
945
1.6%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,181
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,181
1.9%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+779
-0.6pp
Mortgage
-34
-1.8pp
Renting - Total
+3,206
+3.2pp
Renting - Social housing
+122
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
+3,186
+3.7pp
Renting - Not stated
-93
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+566
+0.9pp
Not stated
-782
-1.5pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Fairfield (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 19,160 | 31.5% | 27.8% | 18,381 | 32.1% | 29.1% | +779 | -0.6pp |
| Mortgage | 16,454 | 27.0% | 33.3% | 16,488 | 28.8% | 33.2% | -34 | -1.8pp |
| Renting - Total | 23,182 | 38.1% | 35.9% | 19,976 | 34.9% | 34.1% | +3,206 | +3.2pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 4,917 | 8.1% | 4.2% | 4,795 | 8.4% | 4.8% | +122 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 18,063 | 29.7% | 31.5% | 14,877 | 26.0% | 28.8% | +3,186 | +3.7pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 205 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 298 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -93 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 945 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 379 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +566 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 1,181 | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1,963 | 3.4% | 2.7% | -782 | -1.5pp |
| Total households | 60,918 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 57,190 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,728 | 0.0pp |