Home consents down in July
30 August 2017
Building consents for new homes fell slightly in July, Stats NZ said today.
The seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented fell 0.7 percent in July 2017, following a 1.3 percent fall in
June 2017.
“July’s fall was driven by the number of consented apartments, townhouses, and retirement units, which fluctuates from
month to month,” construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. “The fall for multi-unit dwellings was partly
offset by an increase for stand-alone houses.”
The seasonally adjusted number of stand-alone houses consented rose 8.5 percent in July 2017, more than reversing a 4.0
percent fall in June.
The actual number of new homes consented was 2,762 in July 2017 (down 1.7 percent from July 2016), comprising:
• 1,900 houses (up 7.9 percent from July 2016)
• 367 apartments (down 14 percent)
• 350 townhouses, flats, and units (down 20 percent)
• 145 retirement village units (down 23 percent).
Auckland region had the largest fall in July 2017, with 313 fewer new homes consented compared with July 2016 (down 29
percent to 774 new homes consented). The fall was driven by decreases in the volatile apartment and townhouse
categories. Auckland’s numbers are quite volatile because almost half the homes consented are in multi-unit projects. On
average, the region currently consents over 800 new homes a month.
Otago region had the largest rise from July 2016, with 114 more homes consented – up 68 percent to 282 in July 2017,
driven by a spike for apartments in Queenstown.
In the year ended July 2017, 30,404 new homes were consented across New Zealand, including 10,051 in Auckland.
See also Interactive map of new dwellings consented (for the year ended June 2017, not July 2017).
ENDS