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% of households in Inner West (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 43.8% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Sydney (33.3%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Inner West (A) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Fully owned
2021 count
18,517
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
18,517
25.0%
+0.3pp
Mortgage
2021 count
21,456
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
21,456
29.0%
+0.6pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
32,485
% of total
43.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
32,485
43.8%
+0.2pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
2,549
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,549
3.4%
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
29,831
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
29,831
40.3%
+0.9pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
92
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
92
0.1%
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
949
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
949
1.3%
+0.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
683
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
683
0.9%
-1.9pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+1,527
+0.3pp
Mortgage
+1,891
+0.6pp
Renting - Total
+2,482
+0.2pp
Renting - Social housing
-24
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
+2,712
+0.9pp
Renting - Not stated
-222
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
+630
+0.8pp
Not stated
-1,236
-1.9pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Inner West (A). 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 | 18,517 | 25.0% | 27.8% | 16,990 | 24.7% | 29.1% | +1,527 | +0.3pp |
| Mortgage | 21,456 | 29.0% | 33.3% | 19,565 | 28.4% | 33.2% | +1,891 | +0.6pp |
| Renting - Total | 32,485 | 43.8% | 35.9% | 30,003 | 43.6% | 34.1% | +2,482 | +0.2pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 2,549 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2,573 | 3.7% | 4.8% | -24 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 29,831 | 40.3% | 31.5% | 27,119 | 39.4% | 28.8% | +2,712 | +0.9pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 92 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 314 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -222 | -0.4pp |
| Other tenure type | 949 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 319 | 0.5% | 0.9% | +630 | +0.8pp |
| Not stated | 683 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1,919 | 2.8% | 2.7% | -1,236 | -1.9pp |
| Total households | 74,091 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 68,796 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,295 | 0.0pp |