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, 72.1% of households in Whittlesea (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 24.9% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Greater Melbourne (37.1%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Whittlesea (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Whittlesea (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Fully owned
2021 count
21,148
% of total
27.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
21,148
27.8%
-0.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
33,632
% of total
44.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
33,632
44.3%
+0.7pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
18,936
% of total
24.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
18,936
24.9%
+0.6pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
873
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
873
1.1%
-0.2pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
17,965
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
17,965
23.6%
+1.0pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
95
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
95
0.1%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,054
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,054
1.4%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,201
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,201
1.6%
-1.0pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+2,860
-0.9pp
Mortgage
+5,845
+0.7pp
Renting - Total
+3,494
+0.6pp
Renting - Social housing
+48
-0.2pp
Renting - Private
+3,553
+1.0pp
Renting - Not stated
-119
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+581
+0.7pp
Not stated
-481
-1.0pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Whittlesea (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 | 21,148 | 27.8% | 29.7% | 18,288 | 28.7% | 30.4% | +2,860 | -0.9pp |
| Mortgage | 33,632 | 44.3% | 37.1% | 27,787 | 43.6% | 36.0% | +5,845 | +0.7pp |
| Renting - Total | 18,936 | 24.9% | 30.2% | 15,442 | 24.3% | 30.0% | +3,494 | +0.6pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 873 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 825 | 1.3% | 2.7% | +48 | -0.2pp |
| Renting - Private | 17,965 | 23.6% | 27.7% | 14,412 | 22.6% | 26.9% | +3,553 | +1.0pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 95 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 214 | 0.3% | 0.4% | -119 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,054 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 473 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +581 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 1,201 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1,682 | 2.6% | 2.7% | -481 | -1.0pp |
| Total households | 75,971 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 63,678 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,293 | 0.0pp |