Published on: 5 November 2020

Increasing dwelling construction, fewer building permits

In the first three quarters of 2020, 12,876 new dwellings were built, 25% more than a year earlier. Based on issued dwelling construction permits and simple declarations, the number of homes to be built decreased by 37% to 17,278 compared to the same period of 2019.

2,420 new homes were put to use in Budapest, 4.1% less than in the first three quarters of 2019. Housing construction increased in all other settlement categories: by 34% in towns of country rank, by 48% in other towns, and by 19% in villages.

The proportion of dwellings built by individuals was 44%, while that of dwellings built by enterprises was 55%.

49% of dwellings put to use in new residential buildings were in detached houses, 43% in multi-dwelling buildings and 3.5% in residents’ parks.

The average floor-area of homes put to use decreased by 1.5 m2 to 95.6 m2 compared to the first three quarters of 2019.

The number of dwellings to be built on the basis of dwelling construction permits and declarations was 17,278, 37% fewer than in the same period of 2019. Different processes characterized the different categories of settlements: the number of dwellings to be built in large cities was just over half of last year's value (55% in Budapest, 54% in towns with county rank). In smaller settlements, the decrease was more moderate, the number of dwellings to be built in towns was 70% of the previous year's value, and in villages it was 83%. Builders used the simple reporting option in 55% of cases.

Compared to the first three quarters of 2019, the number of dwellings to be built on the basis of permits and declarations decreased in most counties, but increased by 77% in Fejér County, by 8.8% in Veszprém County and by 12% in Nógrád County.

Based on new construction permits, 22% less, i.e. a total of 8,452 residential buildings are planned to be built compared to the first three quarters of 2019. The number of permits issued for non-residential buildings was 2,814, 11% less than a year earlier.

New dwelling construction permits and simple declarations, dwellings put to use and ceased

Territorial unit New dwelling construction permits issued (declarations) Number of dwellings put to use Number of dwellings ceased to exist
number first three quarters of 2020 as a percentage of the first three quarters of 2019 quarters 1-3 2019 quarters 1-3 2020 first three quarters of 2020 as a percentage of the first three quarters of 2019 quarters 1-3 2019 quarters 1-3 2020
quarters 1-3 2019 quarters 1-3 2020 of which: simple declarations
Budapest10 0315 47053054.52 5232 42095.918451
Towns of county rank5 7713 1241 75954.12 8713 851134.1236134
Other towns6 8354 7513 49569.52 6083 864148.2374366
Villages4 7513 9333 72782.82 3002 741119.2241181
Total27 38817 2789 51163.110 30212 876125.01 035732

Methodological note: in accordance with Government Decree 456/2015. (XII. 29.) statistical data contain construction permits, simple declarations, put to use permits and official certificates concerning the put to use of buildings constructed on the basis of simple declaration.