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The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for February for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“As expected, detached building approvals increased by 15.6 per cent and multi-units by 104.8 per cent,” added Mr Devitt.
“Approvals were held back in January by the Omicron outbreak and a higher than usual uptake of holiday leave. The absence of Council workers, private certifiers and building business staff weighed on the ability to process approvals.
“February’s data illustrates that the approvals for detached homes remain above pre-pandemic levels.
“Approvals of multi-units in February represented the second strongest month since June 2018. Affordability issues, land constraints and a return to the city is seeing increased demand for units, townhouses and apartments.
“It is also an encouraging sign that apartment construction will return prior to the return of overseas migration.
“The value of renovations approved also remains elevated. The last 12 months has seen the value of renovations approved increase by 44.4 per cent on the year before the pandemic.
“This elevated level housing demand will keep builders busy this year and well into next year, limited by the availability of land, labour and materials,” concluded Mr Devitt.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total residential building approvals decreased in the last three months compared to the previous quarter in Western Australia (-20.8 per cent), Queensland (-9.4 per cent), South Australia (-3.6 per cent), and New South Wales (-0.1 per cent), while increasing in Victoria (+1.0 per cent). In original terms, approvals increased in the Northern Territory (+18.7 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (+8.1 per cent) and decreased in Tasmania (-3.7 per cent).
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is calling on the Victorian Government to immediately halt plans for any new laws affecting home building, including yet more changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Buyer Protection laws, including minimum financial requirements (MFR), that currently are expected to start on 1 July 2026.
New figures from the HIA Tasmania Outlook Summer 2026 Report reveal a market where buyer demand is still strong, commencements are gradually rising, and lending has begun to strengthen. However, the state continues to face significant barriers around the availability of serviced land, and project feasibility.
Analysis by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) shows that there can be immediate financial benefits for young people taking up a trade in comparison to tertiary education.
The following is a joint statement from the Housing Industry Association, Master Builders Australia, Property Council and the Real Estate Institute of Australia.