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, 72.7% of households in Northam (S) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 23.2% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional WA (31.7%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Northam (S) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Northam (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Northam (S)
Regional WA

Fully owned

2021 count

1,469

% of total

36.1%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

Mortgage

2021 count

1,489

% of total

36.6%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

944

% of total

23.2%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

226

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

707

% of total

17.4%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

6

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

69

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

99

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Northam (S). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Housing tenure for Northam (S). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Housing tenure for Northam (S). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Fully owned1,46936.1%32.1%1,32034.1%30.3%+149+2.0pp
Mortgage1,48936.6%31.7%1,41536.5%31.0%+74+0.1pp
Renting - Total94423.2%30.3%1,01026.1%34.7%-66-2.9pp
Renting - Social housing2265.6%6.8%2737.0%7.4%-47-1.4pp
Renting - Private70717.4%23.2%72318.7%26.2%-16-1.3pp
Renting - Not stated60.1%0.2%220.6%1.2%-16-0.5pp
Other tenure type691.7%3.8%300.8%1.1%+39+0.9pp
Not stated992.4%2.1%952.5%2.9%+4-0.1pp
Total households4,070100.0%100.0%3,876100.0%100.0%+1940.0pp