Housing consent trend increases but level still low

Building Consents Issued: July 2009  –  Media Release

The trend for the number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartment units, has been increasing in recent months, although it remains at a low level, Statistics New Zealand said today. When apartments are included, the trend for the number of new housing units has increased for the last six months. 

In July 2009, the seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, rose 11.2 percent, following a 3.8 percent rise in June 2009.  Although the level is still low, it is at its highest since September 2008. Including apartments, the seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised rose 5.0 percent, following a fall of 9.6 percent in June 2009.

Consents were authorised for 1,214 new housing units in July 2009, including 55 apartments. This is the lowest number of apartments since October 2008.

For July 2009, the value of residential buildings was $442 million, while the value for non-residential buildings was $371 million.

For the July 2009 year, the value of consents issued for residential buildings fell 30 percent, while the value for non-residential buildings rose 7 percent, compared with the July 2008 year.

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