German authorities approved the construction of 20,600 homes in August 2026, an increase of 6.8% from the same month a year earlier. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported the figures on Friday, October 16.

Approvals for homes in newly constructed buildings advanced 4.2% to 16,500. Permits covering dwellings created through alterations to existing properties climbed 18.2% to 4,200.

Across January to August, permits were issued for 169,400 homes in new and existing buildings, up 12.1% year on year. The total for new residential buildings reached 137,500, including 31,500 homes in single-family houses, 10,000 in two-family properties and 90,600 in apartment buildings.

Destatis noted that the monthly data can include permits submitted late by building authorities, while some approvals issued during the reporting period may not enter the statistics until a later month.