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, 31.3% of households in Sydney (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 60.7% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Sydney (31.9%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Sydney (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Fully owned
2021 count
13,936
% of total
13.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
13,936
13.3%
+0.8pp
Mortgage
2021 count
18,827
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
18,827
18.0%
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
63,620
% of total
60.7%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
63,620
60.7%
+4.9pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
7,112
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
7,112
6.8%
-1.2pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
56,290
% of total
53.7%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
56,290
53.7%
+6.4pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
216
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
216
0.2%
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,381
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,381
1.3%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
7,021
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-6.8pp
7,021
6.7%
-6.8pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+1,650
+0.8pp
Mortgage
+1,637
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
+8,934
+4.9pp
Renting - Social housing
-690
-1.2pp
Renting - Private
+9,894
+6.4pp
Renting - Not stated
-268
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
+768
+0.7pp
Not stated
-6,201
-6.8pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Sydney (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 13,936 | 13.3% | 26.7% | 12,286 | 12.5% | 27.7% | +1,650 | +0.8pp |
| Mortgage | 18,827 | 18.0% | 31.9% | 17,190 | 17.5% | 31.5% | +1,637 | +0.5pp |
| Renting - Total | 63,620 | 60.7% | 34.7% | 54,686 | 55.8% | 32.6% | +8,934 | +4.9pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 7,112 | 6.8% | 4.1% | 7,802 | 8.0% | 4.6% | -690 | -1.2pp |
| Renting - Private | 56,290 | 53.7% | 30.4% | 46,396 | 47.3% | 27.6% | +9,894 | +6.4pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 216 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 484 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -268 | -0.3pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,381 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 613 | 0.6% | 0.8% | +768 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 7,021 | 6.7% | 5.0% | 13,222 | 13.5% | 7.4% | -6,201 | -6.8pp |
| Total households | 104,787 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 98,001 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,786 | 0.0pp |