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, 65.7% of households in South Penrith were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 29.5% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Penrith (C) (37.6%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

South Penrith - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for South Penrith in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

South Penrith
Penrith (C)

Fully owned

2021 count

1,328

% of total

30.2%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

Mortgage

2021 count

1,560

% of total

35.5%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

1,296

% of total

29.5%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

142

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

1,148

% of total

26.1%

Change from 2016

+5.3pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

3

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

29

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Not stated

2021 count

177

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Data table

Housing tenure for South Penrith. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Housing tenure for South Penrith. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Housing tenure for South Penrith. Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Fully owned1,32830.2%23.6%1,36832.2%24.8%-40-2.0pp
Mortgage1,56035.5%37.6%1,57437.1%38.8%-14-1.6pp
Renting - Total1,29629.5%32.0%1,04224.6%28.8%+254+4.9pp
Renting - Social housing1423.2%4.1%1503.5%4.4%-8-0.3pp
Renting - Private1,14826.1%27.7%88120.8%24.0%+267+5.3pp
Renting - Not stated30.1%0.2%130.3%0.4%-10-0.2pp
Other tenure type290.7%1.2%200.5%0.5%+9+0.2pp
Not stated1774.0%5.7%2455.8%7.1%-68-1.8pp
Total households4,398100.0%100.0%4,244100.0%100.0%+1540.0pp