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, 73.4% of households in Lake Macquarie (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 23.2% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional NSW (31.2%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Lake Macquarie (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Lake Macquarie (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lake Macquarie (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Fully owned
2021 count
29,944
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
29,944
37.1%
-0.6pp
Mortgage
2021 count
29,304
% of total
36.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
29,304
36.3%
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
18,733
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18,733
23.2%
+0.2pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
3,661
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
3,661
4.5%
-0.5pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
14,970
% of total
18.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
14,970
18.6%
+0.9pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
97
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
97
0.1%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,697
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,697
2.1%
+1.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,001
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,001
1.2%
-1.2pp
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+2,375
-0.6pp
Mortgage
+3,118
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
+1,939
+0.2pp
Renting - Social housing
+32
-0.5pp
Renting - Private
+2,056
+0.9pp
Renting - Not stated
-147
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+899
+1.0pp
Not stated
-740
-1.2pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Lake Macquarie (C). 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 | 29,944 | 37.1% | 38.0% | 27,569 | 37.7% | 37.4% | +2,375 | -0.6pp |
| Mortgage | 29,304 | 36.3% | 31.2% | 26,186 | 35.8% | 30.6% | +3,118 | +0.5pp |
| Renting - Total | 18,733 | 23.2% | 26.8% | 16,794 | 23.0% | 27.9% | +1,939 | +0.2pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 3,661 | 4.5% | 4.0% | 3,629 | 5.0% | 4.5% | +32 | -0.5pp |
| Renting - Private | 14,970 | 18.6% | 22.6% | 12,914 | 17.7% | 22.7% | +2,056 | +0.9pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 97 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 244 | 0.3% | 0.7% | -147 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,697 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 798 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +899 | +1.0pp |
| Not stated | 1,001 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 1,741 | 2.4% | 3.0% | -740 | -1.2pp |
| Total households | 80,677 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 73,075 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,602 | 0.0pp |