Housing industry insights
Advocacy & policy
News & inspiration
Support & guidance
Member perks
Industry insurance
For your business
Apprentices
Building it right
Building materials & products
Managing your business
Managing your safety
Building your business
Other subjects
A rewarding career
Study with us
A job in the industry
Grow with us
Our podcasts
Our initiatives
Get involved
Awards
Awards winners
Industry events
Most popular products
Top categories
For your business
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationBuilding approvals rise 12 per cent in September
Building approvals rise 12 per cent in September
Member and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
Send me exclusive tips, early access to new launches, and special offers. I can change my mind at any time.
By clicking Get started now you agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for September 2025 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“New home building approvals strengthened in September, up by 12.0 per cent for the month to be 7.9 per cent higher in the quarter compared to the same three months the year prior. Both detached houses and multi-units saw an improvement in the month, up by 4.4 per cent and 23.7 per cent respectively,” added Mr Devitt.
“Home building in Sydney and Melbourne has been very slow to respond to the cuts to the cash rate this year. Recent new home sales data and now approvals data, suggest that this pickup in activity is finally emerging in the two biggest markets.
“In September, sales of new homes in New South Wales and Victoria increased by 34.4 per cent and 34.8 per cent respectively, and this should continue filtering into approvals data in the new year.
“Multi-unit approvals have also been trending up, from exceptionally low volumes, with the support of state government interventions to streamline approvals processes and purchase ‘off the plan apartments’. This could lead to an increase in apartment commencements in 2026.
“The biggest challenge in driving these home building volumes towards the government’s 1.2 million homes target is going to be the price of shovel-ready land.
“HIA’s recent Land Report has revealed that the price of residential land has re-accelerated across the country, increasing by 6.8 per cent in the 12 months to June 2025, more than three times faster than consumer price inflation over the same period.
“The largest price increases were seen in the smaller capitals, where relatively abundant and affordable shovel-ready land saw a surge in population growth and housing demand in recent years.
“A failure of policymakers to maintain a healthy pipeline of shovel ready land, with associated infrastructure, will limit improvement in home building volumes, threatening to undermine the affordability advantages in these smaller capitals and worsen the affordability challenges in the larger capitals.
“Lower interest rates alone will not be sufficient to produce 1.2 million new home builds over the Australian government’s target five-year period, especially with recent inflation data suggesting the RBA will be on hold until at least next year,” concluded Mr Devitt.
The volume of new home approvals in the three months September 2025, compared to the same quarter last year, in seasonally adjusted terms increased in New South Wales (+19.5 per cent), Queensland (+9.7 per cent), Tasmania (+9.0 per cent) and South Australia (+5.0 per cent), while declining in Western Australia (-2.5 per cent) and Victoria (-0.9 per cent). In original terms, new home approvals increased in both territories, up by 153.0 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory and 36.1 per cent in the Northern Territory.
Monthly Building Approvals - Australia
For more information please contact:
New rules add thousands to the cost of a new home as Tasmania falls years behind on housing
From today, every new home built in Tasmania must meet the full Livable Housing Design requirements. The Housing Industry Association says this adds thousands of dollars to the cost of building a home, at a time when Tasmanians can least afford it.
Rules for managing the risk of falls have changed - are you up to date?
Changes to Western Australia's requirements for managing the risks of falls will commence on 1 October 2026, introducing new expectations for builders, contractors and workers undertaking tasks where there is a risk of falling.
Livable Housing Design: final stage now in force
As of today, 1 October 2026, all new building work in Tasmania, unless exempt, must comply with all requirements of Part H8 Livable Housing Design of NCC Volume Two.
ACT housing approvals slump puts 2030 target under pressure
“The ACT’s housing supply pipeline is weakening, with building approvals in the three months to August halving compared with a year earlier,” said HIA Executive Director ACT and Southern NSW, Geordan Murray.