More apartments approved in latest Australian housing figures

A lift in apartment numbers helped push September’s total higher, but industry leaders warn that approvals are only the first step. The total number of dwellings approved rose 5.1% to 17,948, according to the latest seasonally adjusted Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. Approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses — including apartments and townhouses — rose 16.6% to 6579. For September 2026, the total number of dwellings approved rose 5.1% to 17,948. Picture: GettyDetached houses went the other way, with private sector approvals falling 5.3% to 10,432. Released monthly, the figures offer an early look at Australia’s future housing supply. They track approvals, rather than homes that have started construction or are ready to move into. Apartments give approvals a lift The September rise was helped by a stronger month for apartments, particularly in NSW. In original terms, which are not adjusted for seasonal patterns, 4129 apartments were approved nationally — up 25.6% on August and slightly above the monthly average of 4106 over the past year. NSW accounted for 1995 apartment approvals, compared with 901 a month earlier. Townhouses also had a better month. Appro...