The number of dwellings approved in Victoria increased by 5 per cent in September:

• Following a fall in August, multi-unit approvals increased in both Victoria and Australia.
• Although approvals of detached houses eased nationally, they increased in Victoria.

In the three months to September, total dwelling approvals fell by 8.1 per cent to a seasonally-adjusted 16,054:

• 7,497 multi-units
• 8,557 detached houses

House approvals in the three months to September were 2.9 per cent higher than in the previous three months and 8.6 per cent higher than in the same three months a year ago.  Approvals of multi-units fell by 18 per cent but were 16 per cent higher than a year earlier.

In the year to September, Victorian approvals, at 69,374, were ahead of the 63,631 approved in New South Wales and well ahead of Queensland’s 46,829.

Trends in the value of building approved were negative for housing and for non-residential building:

• The trend value of new housing approved in September fell by 1.8 per cent but was still 8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
• The trend in housing renovations was virtually unchanged but was only 1.5 per cent higher than a year ago.
• The trend in the value of non-residential building fell by one per cent and was 15 per cent lower than a year earlier.
• The trend in the value of all building approved fell by 1.5 per cent but was 0.3 per cent higher than a year ago.