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Northern Territory

Housing tenure

In Northern Territory, 43% of households were purchasing or fully owned their home, 30.7% were renting privately, and 11.4% were in social housing in 2021.

Northern Territory's Housing Tenure data provides insights into its socio-economic status as well as the role it plays in the housing market. For example, a high concentration of private renters may indicate a transient area attractive to young singles and couples, while a concentration of home owners indicates a more settled area with mature families and empty-nesters (Household Summary). Tenure can also reflect built form (Dwelling Type), with a significantly higher share of renters in high density housing and a substantially larger proportion of home-owners in separate houses, although this is not always the case.

In conjunction with other socio-economic status indicators in Northern Territory, Tenure data is useful for analysing housing markets, housing affordability and identifying public housing areas.

Further reading: How can Councils influence affordable housing.

Derived from the Census questions:

'Is this dwelling (owned outright, owned with a mortgage etc.)', and 'If this dwelling is being rented, who is it rented from?'

Households

Housing tenure
Northern Territory - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Tenure typeNumber%Regional NSW %Number%Regional NSW %2016 to 2021
Fully owned15,09117.736.312,88616.335.5+2,205
Mortgage21,74925.529.419,59024.728.6+2,159
Renting - Total36,20742.425.731,65639.925.3+4,551
Renting - Social housing9,75511.43.88,91311.24.2+842
Renting - Private26,18430.721.722,47728.420.9+3,707
Renting - Not stated2680.30.22660.30.2+2
Other tenure type3,7054.32.33,5874.52.2+118
Not stated8,60910.16.411,53314.68.4-2,924

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Housing tenure, 2021
Housing tenure, 2021 Other tenure type, Regional NSW: 2.3% Renting - Private, Regional NSW: 21.7% Renting - Social housing, Regional NSW: 3.8% Renting - Total, Regional NSW: 25.7% Mortgage, Regional NSW: 29.4% Fully owned, Regional NSW: 36.3% Other tenure type, Northern Territory: 4.3% Renting - Private, Northern Territory: 30.7% Renting - Social housing, Northern Territory: 11.4% Renting - Total, Northern Territory: 42.4% Mortgage, Northern Territory: 25.5% Fully owned, Northern Territory: 17.7%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2021 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Change in housing tenure, 2016 to 2021
Change in housing tenure, 2016 to 2021 Other tenure type, Northern Territory: +118 Renting - Private, Northern Territory: +3,707 Renting - Social housing, Northern Territory: +842 Renting - Total, Northern Territory: +4,551 Mortgage, Northern Territory: +2,159 Fully owned, Northern Territory: +2,205
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2016 and 2021 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

Analysis of the housing tenure of households of Northern Territory in 2021 compared to Regional NSW shows that there was a smaller proportion of households who owned their dwelling; a smaller proportion purchasing their dwelling; and a larger proportion who were renters.

Overall, 17.7% of households owned their dwelling; 25.5% were purchasing, and 42.4% were renting, compared with 36.3%, 29.4% and 25.7% respectively for Regional NSW.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in housing tenure categories for the households in Northern Territory between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Renting - Private (+3,707 households)
  • Fully owned (+2,205 households)
  • Mortgage (+2,159 households)
  • Renting - Social housing (+842 households)

The total number of households in Northern Territory increased by 6,109 between 2016 and 2021.

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