Private sector house approvals in Australia rose 3.7% month-on-month to 10,885 units in August 2026, according to preliminary estimates, recovering from a revised 1.9% fall in July. This was the strongest monthly gain since July 2025 and signals a renewed pickup in housing approval activity across most states.
South Australia saw the biggest rise, with approvals surging 27.7%, followed by Western Australia (8.6%), Queensland (6.5%), and Victoria (0.5%). New South Wales (-4.5%) was the only major state to record a decline.
In contrast, approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 21.4% to 5,674 units.
On an annual basis, private house approvals increased 18.4%, accelerating from an 8.2% rise in July.
