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, 54.5% of households in Balmain were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 40.4% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Inner West (A) (28%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Balmain - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Balmain in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balmain, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Fully owned
2021 count
1,281
% of total
27.5%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
1,281
27.5%
+2.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
1,259
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
1,259
27.0%
+0.9pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
1,882
% of total
40.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,882
40.4%
+1.4pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
273
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
273
5.9%
+0.2pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
1,607
% of total
34.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,607
34.5%
+1.8pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
3
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3
0.1%
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
55
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
55
1.2%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
179
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-5.8pp
179
3.8%
-5.8pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+147
+2.9pp
Mortgage
+56
+0.9pp
Renting - Total
+82
+1.4pp
Renting - Social housing
+11
+0.2pp
Renting - Private
+99
+1.8pp
Renting - Not stated
-21
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
+30
+0.7pp
Not stated
-264
-5.8pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Balmain. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 1,281 | 27.5% | 24.2% | 1,134 | 24.6% | 23.1% | +147 | +2.9pp |
| Mortgage | 1,259 | 27.0% | 28.0% | 1,203 | 26.1% | 26.5% | +56 | +0.9pp |
| Renting - Total | 1,882 | 40.4% | 42.6% | 1,800 | 39.0% | 40.9% | +82 | +1.4pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 273 | 5.9% | 3.3% | 262 | 5.7% | 3.5% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Renting - Private | 1,607 | 34.5% | 39.1% | 1,508 | 32.7% | 36.9% | +99 | +1.8pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 3 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 24 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -21 | -0.4pp |
| Other tenure type | 55 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 25 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +30 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 179 | 3.8% | 4.0% | 443 | 9.6% | 9.1% | -264 | -5.8pp |
| Total households | 4,662 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,612 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +50 | 0.0pp |