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, 77.9% of households in Kiama (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 17.8% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Regional NSW (31.2%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Kiama (A) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Kiama (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kiama (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Fully owned
2021 count
4,089
% of total
47.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
4,089
47.5%
+1.2pp
Mortgage
2021 count
2,617
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,617
30.4%
-0.6pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
1,532
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,532
17.8%
-1.2pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
107
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
107
1.2%
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
1,421
% of total
16.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,421
16.5%
-0.5pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
11
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
11
0.1%
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
277
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
277
3.2%
+1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
107
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
107
1.2%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+518
+1.2pp
Mortgage
+226
-0.6pp
Renting - Total
+66
-1.2pp
Renting - Social housing
-8
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
+108
-0.5pp
Renting - Not stated
-24
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
+138
+1.4pp
Not stated
-49
-0.8pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Kiama (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 4,089 | 47.5% | 38.0% | 3,571 | 46.3% | 37.4% | +518 | +1.2pp |
| Mortgage | 2,617 | 30.4% | 31.2% | 2,391 | 31.0% | 30.6% | +226 | -0.6pp |
| Renting - Total | 1,532 | 17.8% | 26.8% | 1,466 | 19.0% | 27.9% | +66 | -1.2pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 107 | 1.2% | 4.0% | 115 | 1.5% | 4.5% | -8 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 1,421 | 16.5% | 22.6% | 1,313 | 17.0% | 22.7% | +108 | -0.5pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 11 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 35 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -24 | -0.4pp |
| Other tenure type | 277 | 3.2% | 2.3% | 139 | 1.8% | 1.0% | +138 | +1.4pp |
| Not stated | 107 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 156 | 2.0% | 3.0% | -49 | -0.8pp |
| Total households | 8,612 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,719 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +893 | 0.0pp |