Seasonally adjusted dwelling completions in the ACT were 992 in the September quarter, up by 5% on the June quarter and by around 3% on the previous 12 months. Commencements jumped significantly over the quarter, up from 573 in June to 1906 in September - the highest number of commencements since September 2018.
Property Council ACT and Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the results show the industry has capability and capacity to deliver homes when the feasibility settings are right.
"While these data are positive for the quarter we can't take our foot off the accelerator. We need to make sure we see these numbers quarter on quarter now to meet the Accord targets and deliver real homes for current and future Canberrans.
"The Accord target is useful because it forces delivery discipline at every stage of the pipeline. We need a stable, investable pipeline that translates into homes people can move into. We now have completions data for five out of 20 quarters across the Accord period. If we do not continue to lift performance in 2026, the catch-up task just gets harder," she said.
Ms Berry said feasibility remained the biggest constraint, particularly for higher-density housing that can add supply in well-located areas.
"If projects don't stack up, they don't start. If they don't start, completions don't lift," she said.
"A house takes more than a year to build, and apartment projects can take several years from commencement to completion. That's why delays and extra costs in the system now show up later as fewer keys in doors.
"The ACT will not deliver the homes it needs without long-term investment. Government's job is to create settings that attract capital and bring projects forward," she said.
Ms Berry said Lease Variation Charge reform remains the critical lever for unlocking more supply.
"Recognition that LVC is undermining feasibility is important. Now we need the reform delivered at pace, and in a way that genuinely brings projects forward," she said.
"Other reforms also need to be calibrated to lift standards without adding unnecessary cost and delay, including the proposed developer licensing scheme.
"The ACT has a real opportunity to turn reform into delivery. The priority is straightforward. Make more projects feasible, cut the time it takes to get them moving, and convert approvals into completions," Ms Berry said.
