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, 69.7% of households in Northern Beaches (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 26.9% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Greater Sydney (33.3%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Northern Beaches (A) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Housing tenure change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Fully owned

+2,527

+0.3pp

Mortgage

+1,754

-0.6pp

Renting - Total

+2,580

+1.0pp

Renting - Social housing

+25

-0.1pp

Renting - Private

+2,739

+1.2pp

Renting - Not stated

-184

-0.2pp

Other tenure type

+863

+0.8pp

Not stated

-1,276

-1.5pp

Data table

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

Housing tenure for Northern Beaches (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Housing tenure for Northern Beaches (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Fully owned32,84134.8%27.8%30,31434.5%29.1%+2,527+0.3pp
Mortgage32,97634.9%33.3%31,22235.5%33.2%+1,754-0.6pp
Renting - Total25,36526.9%35.9%22,78525.9%34.1%+2,580+1.0pp
Renting - Social housing1,5701.7%4.2%1,5451.8%4.8%+25-0.1pp
Renting - Private23,63925.0%31.5%20,90023.8%28.8%+2,739+1.2pp
Renting - Not stated1540.2%0.2%3380.4%0.4%-184-0.2pp
Other tenure type2,2622.4%1.7%1,3991.6%0.9%+863+0.8pp
Not stated9381.0%1.3%2,2142.5%2.7%-1,276-1.5pp
Total households94,377100.0%100.0%87,940100.0%100.0%+6,4370.0pp