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Victoria

Housing tenure

In Victoria, 66% of households were purchasing or fully owned their home, 24.9% were renting privately, and 2.5% were in social housing in 2021.

Victoria'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 Victoria, 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
Victoria - Households (Enumerated)20212011Change
Tenure typeNumber%Regional VIC %Number%Regional VIC %2011 to 2021
Fully owned777,17631.037.6671,07833.037.4+106,098
Mortgage866,57534.631.5700,58334.532.1+165,992
Renting - Total689,93127.522.6506,29824.922.7+183,633
Renting - Social housing61,5892.53.063,9263.14.0-2,337
Renting - Private624,67124.919.5438,42421.618.6+186,247
Renting - Not stated3,6710.10.23,9480.20.2-277
Other tenure type43,2621.72.034,6151.72.2+8,647
Not stated130,6885.26.4118,6495.85.6+12,039

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Housing tenure, 2021
Housing tenure, 2021 Other tenure type, Regional VIC: 2.0% Renting - Private, Regional VIC: 19.5% Renting - Social housing, Regional VIC: 3.0% Renting - Total, Regional VIC: 22.6% Mortgage, Regional VIC: 31.5% Fully owned, Regional VIC: 37.6% Other tenure type, Victoria: 1.7% Renting - Private, Victoria: 24.9% Renting - Social housing, Victoria: 2.5% Renting - Total, Victoria: 27.5% Mortgage, Victoria: 34.6% Fully owned, Victoria: 31.0%
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, 2011 to 2021
Change in housing tenure, 2011 to 2021 Other tenure type, Victoria: +8,647 Renting - Private, Victoria: +186,247 Renting - Social housing, Victoria: -2,337 Renting - Total, Victoria: +183,633 Mortgage, Victoria: +165,992 Fully owned, Victoria: +106,098
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2011 and 2021 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

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

Overall, 31.0% of households owned their dwelling; 34.6% were purchasing, and 27.5% were renting, compared with 37.6%, 31.5% and 22.6% respectively for Regional VIC.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in housing tenure categories for the households in Victoria between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • Renting - Private (+186,247 households)
  • Mortgage (+165,992 households)
  • Fully owned (+106,098 households)
  • Other tenure type (+8,647 households)

The total number of households in Victoria increased by 476,409 between 2011 and 2021.

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