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 locationStrong rebound in ACT apartment starts
Strong rebound in ACT apartment starts
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.
In the September quarter 2025, projects comprising 1,719 multi-unit dwellings commenced construction across the Territory, marking the third-strongest quarter on record for multi-unit dwelling starts in the ACT.
Geordan Murray, HIA Executive Director ACT & Southern NSW, said the result was encouraging but should be interpreted with caution.
“This is a very strong result for multi-unit construction in the ACT, and on the face of it, it’s a welcome sign that larger projects are finally moving through the pipeline.”
Mr Murray said the timing of the uplift suggested it may not reflect a sustained improvement in market conditions.
“It’s quite possible that some developers have brought projects forward to get ahead of the commencement of the Government’s Developer Licensing Scheme. If that’s the case, this spike may be more about timing than a genuine recovery in confidence.”
The data also highlights a stark divergence between apartment construction and detached housing.
“What’s particularly concerning is that there has been no comparable pickup in detached house starts. Commencements in the quarter were only fractionally above the very low levels recorded a year earlier, which shows how weak conditions remain in the detached housing market.
“Apartments and townhouses will play a vital role in meeting housing demand, especially as Canberra pursues infill and density targets. But the disconnect between multi-unit and detached housing activity shows just how fragile the broader supply pipeline still is.
“The real test will be whether this rebound can be sustained once new regulatory settings are in place, or whether we see activity fall away again,” Mr Murray concluded.
For more information please contact:
Implementing carpentry registration and licensing Consultation Paper
Imposing registration and licensing on trades represents a significant impost, further degrading the capacity to deliver homes and other domestic building work. This submission, therefore, is not limited to responding to the Consultation Paper, rather, it addresses more broadly the significant risks that imposing registration and licensing on trades will have on the sector.
Government delays ATO credit card payment changes
The Federal Government has announced that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will continue to accept credit card payments for tax liabilities until the end of the 2026-27 financial year, delaying changes that were previously due to take effect on 1 December.
Government provides breathing space for builders and tradies on ATO credit card ban
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Federal Government's stepping in and agreeing to delay the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) proposed ban on credit card payments, providing builders, tradies and suppliers with much-needed breathing space while a longer-term solution is developed.
HIA Victoria not failing housing targets as badly as others is not success
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) says the Victorian results in the HIA National Housing Accord Update released yesterday, while not as poor as some other states, highlight the urgent need for a reset in housing policy after the upcoming state election.