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, 45.9% of households in North Sydney (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 51.9% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Sydney (33.3%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

North Sydney (A) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for North Sydney (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for North Sydney (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

North Sydney (A)
Greater Sydney

Fully owned

2021 count

8,275

% of total

25.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Mortgage

2021 count

6,597

% of total

20.4%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

16,824

% of total

51.9%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

540

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

16,232

% of total

50.1%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

43

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

476

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

240

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Data table

Housing tenure for North Sydney (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Housing tenure for North Sydney (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Housing tenure for North Sydney (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Fully owned8,27525.5%27.8%7,52725.0%29.1%+748+0.5pp
Mortgage6,59720.4%33.3%6,47521.5%33.2%+122-1.1pp
Renting - Total16,82451.9%35.9%15,28650.8%34.1%+1,538+1.1pp
Renting - Social housing5401.7%4.2%5381.8%4.8%+2-0.1pp
Renting - Private16,23250.1%31.5%14,61848.6%28.8%+1,614+1.5pp
Renting - Not stated430.1%0.2%1390.5%0.4%-96-0.4pp
Other tenure type4761.5%1.7%1780.6%0.9%+298+0.9pp
Not stated2400.7%1.3%6012.0%2.7%-361-1.3pp
Total households32,395100.0%100.0%30,068100.0%100.0%+2,3270.0pp