Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Thu 30 Sept 2021)
Residential consents
46,453
In the year to August 2021
Consents up 42%pa in August
4,490 consents in August – a new monthly record
The key numbers...
- Residential consents totalled 4,490 in August 2021. This figure is a new high for the most dwelling consents in a single month, breaking the record from June this year.
- The strong monthly result in August brings the annual consent figure to a new record high of 46,453, up 24% from the year to August 2020.
- Townhouses continue to dominate growth, with 1,869 townhouses approved in August. This figure was 78% higher than a year ago and the highest number ever consented in a single month.
- Residential consents were particularly strong in Auckland, with over half of nationwide consents being approved in Auckland, and sitting up 55%pa from August 2020.
Attached dwelling consents
Annual running total
...and our reaction
- Record consents are not surprising, given current house price growth and the housing shortage highlighting the need for more housing. Additionally, incentives from the government to encourage new builds are helping support consent growth.
- However, the industry faces major capacity constraints translating these building intentions into actual activity. Building cost pressures have been strong recently, with supply chain disruptions, difficulty sourcing materials, and an incredibly tight labour market.
- Townhouses remain an attractive option for new builds, particularly as the smaller land requirements help make the new build generally more affordable than a standalone house.
Latest updates
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Residential building consents
Residential consents fall 3.6% in June
Mon 3 Aug 2026
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40,581 Annual consents over the June 2026 year
19% June 2026 consents over the June 2026 year
3.6% June 2026 consents from May on a seas. adj. basisPremium
Residential building consents
Residential consents fall 4.0% in May
Thu 2 Jul 2026
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39,737 Annual consents over May 2026 year4.0% May 2026 consents from April on a seas. adj. basis22%pa Townhouse consents over May 2026 yearResidential building consents
Residential consents jump up 11% in April
Wed 3 Jun 2026
Monthly
39,087 Annual consents over April 2026 year11% April 2026 consents from March on a seas. adj. basis19%pa Multi-unit consents over April 2026 yearResidential building consents
Residential consent momentum trends sideways
Fri 1 May 2026
Monthly
37,813 Annual consents over March 2026 year
3,300pm Consents trend sideways on a seas. adj. basis14%pa Townhouse consents over March 2026 year