One-off house starts are up 23% in 2026, Department of Housing figures show
Commencement notices for 3,501 single homes were lodged in January to September 2026, against 2,853 in 2025. A rush before the waiver ended inflated 2024.
In brief
- Commencement notices covered 3,501 one-off houses from January to September 2026, up 22.7% from 2,853 in the same months of 2025.
- That is still below 2023 (3,573) and well below 2024 (4,508).
- 2024 was distorted. Starts jumped to 1,528 in April and 1,009 in December 2024, as builders rushed to start before the waiver closed on 31 December 2024.
- A commencement notice records an intended start. It does not show that the house was finished.
Local authorities received commencement notices for 3,501 one-off houses from January to September 2026, according to the Department of Housing’s monthly data. That is 22.7% more than the 2,853 notices in the same months of 2025.
What do the numbers show?
| January to September | One-off house notices |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,573 |
| 2024 | 4,508 |
| 2025 | 2,853 |
| 2026 | 3,501 |
2026 has recovered most of the drop in 2025, and sits just below 2023. The department counts “one-off” units in its monthly data, drawn from notices lodged through the Building Control Management System.
Why was 2024 so high?
The temporary development contribution waiver needed works to commence by 31 December 2024. Notices for one-off houses spiked to 1,528 in April 2024 and 1,009 in December 2024, against a typical 300 to 500 a month. Some of 2025’s fall reflects those starts being pulled forward, so the comparison with 2025 flatters 2026 a little. Starts from the 2024 rush are the houses that now face the waiver completion deadline on 31 December 2026.
What this does and doesn’t tell you
- A notice states the date work is due to start. Some notices are for projects that begin later or not at all.
- Figures for the latest month can be revised as councils process notices.
- The data does not show whether a house is a self-build for the owner or built to sell, so it cannot be read as a count of self-builders.
Check how a notice works in the commencement notice guide. If you are still waiting on a decision, read planning permission for a one-off house.
This article reports published statistics. It is not a forecast.
Sources
Last reviewed 16 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so confirm anything important with the source before you rely on it.
- Residential Commencement Notices, monthly commencements by local authorityDepartment of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
News articles describe what was announced or published on the date shown. They are general information, not financial, tax or legal advice, and measures announced in a Budget may change before they become law.