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, 70.6% of households in Shellharbour (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 26.7% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional NSW (31.2%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Shellharbour (C) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Shellharbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Shellharbour (C)
Regional NSW

Fully owned

2021 count

9,337

% of total

33.9%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Mortgage

2021 count

10,105

% of total

36.7%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

7,363

% of total

26.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

1,777

% of total

6.5%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

5,552

% of total

20.2%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

29

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

370

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

360

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Shellharbour (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Housing tenure for Shellharbour (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Housing tenure for Shellharbour (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Fully owned9,33733.9%38.0%8,10234.3%37.4%+1,235-0.4pp
Mortgage10,10536.7%31.2%8,49835.9%30.6%+1,607+0.8pp
Renting - Total7,36326.7%26.8%6,28626.6%27.9%+1,077+0.1pp
Renting - Social housing1,7776.5%4.0%1,7027.2%4.5%+75-0.7pp
Renting - Private5,55220.2%22.6%4,50419.1%22.7%+1,048+1.1pp
Renting - Not stated290.1%0.2%750.3%0.7%-46-0.2pp
Other tenure type3701.3%2.3%1560.7%1.0%+214+0.6pp
Not stated3601.3%1.7%5992.5%3.0%-239-1.2pp
Total households27,543100.0%100.0%23,643100.0%100.0%+3,9000.0pp