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, 23.9% of households in Melbourne (part) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 65.6% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Melbourne (C) (15%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Melbourne (part) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Melbourne (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (part), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Fully owned
2021 count
3,572
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,572
11.8%
-0.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
3,674
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
3,674
12.1%
-1.2pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
19,905
% of total
65.6%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
19,905
65.6%
+5.0pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
194
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
194
0.6%
-1.0pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
19,651
% of total
64.8%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
19,651
64.8%
+6.4pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
61
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
61
0.2%
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
579
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
579
1.9%
+1.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
2,599
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
2,599
8.6%
-3.9pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+454
-0.9pp
Mortgage
+395
-1.2pp
Renting - Total
+5,018
+5.0pp
Renting - Social housing
-194
-1.0pp
Renting - Private
+5,304
+6.4pp
Renting - Not stated
-94
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
+369
+1.0pp
Not stated
-477
-3.9pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Melbourne (part). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 3,572 | 11.8% | 12.8% | 3,118 | 12.7% | 12.7% | +454 | -0.9pp |
| Mortgage | 3,674 | 12.1% | 15.0% | 3,279 | 13.3% | 14.5% | +395 | -1.2pp |
| Renting - Total | 19,905 | 65.6% | 62.9% | 14,887 | 60.6% | 59.8% | +5,018 | +5.0pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 194 | 0.6% | 3.3% | 388 | 1.6% | 4.9% | -194 | -1.0pp |
| Renting - Private | 19,651 | 64.8% | 59.5% | 14,347 | 58.4% | 54.2% | +5,304 | +6.4pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 61 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 155 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -94 | -0.4pp |
| Other tenure type | 579 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 210 | 0.9% | 0.8% | +369 | +1.0pp |
| Not stated | 2,599 | 8.6% | 7.4% | 3,076 | 12.5% | 12.2% | -477 | -3.9pp |
| Total households | 30,332 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,565 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,767 | 0.0pp |