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, 67.5% of households in Whitehorse (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 29% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Greater Melbourne (37.1%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Whitehorse (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Whitehorse (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whitehorse (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Fully owned
2021 count
22,558
% of total
35.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
22,558
35.8%
-0.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
19,987
% of total
31.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
19,987
31.7%
-0.3pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
18,291
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
18,291
29.0%
+1.4pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
1,403
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,403
2.2%
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
16,798
% of total
26.6%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
16,798
26.6%
+1.9pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
102
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
102
0.2%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,505
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,505
2.4%
+1.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
756
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
756
1.2%
-1.1pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+1,145
-0.9pp
Mortgage
+1,345
-0.3pp
Renting - Total
+2,171
+1.4pp
Renting - Social housing
-50
-0.3pp
Renting - Private
+2,389
+1.9pp
Renting - Not stated
-156
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+723
+1.1pp
Not stated
-591
-1.1pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Whitehorse (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 22,558 | 35.8% | 29.7% | 21,413 | 36.7% | 30.4% | +1,145 | -0.9pp |
| Mortgage | 19,987 | 31.7% | 37.1% | 18,642 | 32.0% | 36.0% | +1,345 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Total | 18,291 | 29.0% | 30.2% | 16,120 | 27.6% | 30.0% | +2,171 | +1.4pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 1,403 | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1,453 | 2.5% | 2.7% | -50 | -0.3pp |
| Renting - Private | 16,798 | 26.6% | 27.7% | 14,409 | 24.7% | 26.9% | +2,389 | +1.9pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 102 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 258 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -156 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,505 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 782 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +723 | +1.1pp |
| Not stated | 756 | 1.2% | 1.4% | 1,347 | 2.3% | 2.7% | -591 | -1.1pp |
| Total households | 63,094 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 58,308 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,786 | 0.0pp |