4130.0 - Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2009-10  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/11/2011   
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MEDIA RELEASE
16 November 2011
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
145/2011

Housing costs for owners with a mortgage up 42% over past decade

Over the past decade, average housing costs for households with a mortgage increased by $120 per week or 42% (CPI adjusted), according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Between 1999-2000 and 2009-10, average weekly housing costs for private renters increased by $78 per week or 34% (CPI adjusted) and average weekly housing cost for owners without a mortgage increased by $5 per week or 17% (CPI adjusted).

Over the same period, the proportion of households that owned their home without a mortgage fell from 39% to 33%. The proportion of households with a mortgage increased from 32% to 36% and the proportion of private renter households increased from 20% to 24%.

In 2009-10, households with a mortgage had the highest housing costs, averaging $408 per week or 18% of their gross household income. Over the past decade the proportion of gross income that households with a mortgage spend on housing costs has been stable, at about 18%.

Private renters spent an average of $305 per week on rent payments in 2009–10, or 20% of their gross household income. The proportion that private renters spend on housing costs has also remained stable over the past decade, representing about 19% of gross income.

More information can be found in Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia, 2009–10, available free from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.

Media Notes:

  • Housing costs comprise rent payments, rates payments and mortgage or unsecured loan payments, if the initial purpose was primarily to buy, add to or alter the dwelling.
  • Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.