Multi-unit consents continue to climb

The number of new multi-unit homes consented in the year ended April 2022 increased 33% compared to the same period in 2021, surpassing stand-alone home in the same period for the second time ever

Of the 50,583 new homes consented in the year ended April 2022, there were more multi-unit than stand-alone homes consented – including 25,687 and 24,896 respectively. Flats, retirement village units, apartments and townhouses fall into the multi-unit home category.

“The year ended April 2022 marked the second time ever that there have been more multi-unit homes consented than stand-alone houses in a 12-month period [in New Zealand],” Construction and Property Statistics Manager Michael Heslop said. 

This milestone reflects a gradual shift in the type of homes New Zealanders are planning to build. In five years, the annual number of multi-unit homes has nearly tripled – from 9,191 in the year ended April 2017 to 25,687 in the year ended April 2022.

“At the same time, the annual number of stand-alone houses consented has remained relatively flat, rising from 21,179 in the year ended 2017 to 24,896 in the year ended April 2022,” added Heslop. The trend was consistent in the monthly consent figures as well. For the month of April 2022, there were 3,719 new homes consented, comprising 1,653 stand-alone houses and 2,066 multi-unit homes (1,625 townhouses, flats and units, 264 apartments and 177 retirement village units).

Regional record breaking

Two regions, Wellington and Waikato, broke records for the highest number of new dwellings consented in the year ended April 2022 compared to the year ended April 2021 – with 3,839 and 5,157 homes consented.

There were also big gains for Canterbury (8,489 or 34% more new homes) and Auckland (21,468 or 18% more new homes).

Despite the records, the seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented in April 2022 fell 8.5% compared with March 2022. This increase followed a seasonally adjusted rise of 6.2% in March 2022. The seasonally adjusted number of stand-alone houses consented also fell 5.6% in April 2022.

Canterbury boom

New homes consented per 1,000 residents across New Zealand was 9.9, up from 8.4 in the year ended April 2021.

Among the biggest increases were Canterbury, which rose from 9.7 homes consented per 1,000 residents to 13.1 and Auckland (10.6 to 12.5). Conversely, Hawke’s Bay (6 to 5.4) and Taranaki (6.4 to 6.1) suffered drops.

Non-residential building consents also climb

In the year ended April 2022, non-residential building consents totalled $8.5bn, up 11% from the year ended April 2021. The building types with the highest value were:

• Education buildings – $1.5bn (up 0.7%).
• Factories – $1.3bn (up 21%).
• Storage buildings – $1.2bn (up 22%).