Fewer houses authorised in September

The seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, fell 2.6 percent in September 2010, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the third consecutive decrease.

In September 2010, without adjusting for seasonal effects, consents were issued for:

• 1,202 new housing units, excluding apartments
• 60 new apartments, including 50 retirement village units. 

In the September 2010 year, 15,450 new housing units, excluding apartments, were authorised, a 28 percent increase from the September 2009 year. However, the latest result is the second lowest annual total for a September year since the series began in 1991. The September 2009 year was the lowest annual total.

When the volatile apartment category is included, 16,292 new housing units were authorised, a 20 percent increase from the September 2009 year. In the September 2010 year, 842 new apartment units were authorised, which is the lowest total for a September year since 1994.

Data for building consents is obtained each month from all territorial authorities. The earthquake on 4 September 2010 has had an impact on building consents issued in Canterbury. The most affected territorial authority offices were closed temporarily, and the number of consents they authorised was lower than average. Only a handful of consents authorised in September were earthquake-related, and none were for new dwellings.