Number of building permits granted in 2012 dramatically down

• Number of building permits granted last year down by 33 percent
• Most substantial decline in market sector 
• Increase share tenant-occupied houses

According to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands, more than 37 thousand building permits for new houses were issued last year, i.e. 33 percent down from 2011. The most substantial decline occurred in the market sector. Approximately 25 thousand permits were issued in the market sector last year, as against 40 thousand in 2011; 12 thousand construction permits were granted to the government and housing corporations in 2012.
The number of building permits for owner-occupied houses has fallen considerably by 16 thousand. The reduction for tenant-occupied houses was only 2 thousand relative to 2011. As a result, the share of tenant-occupied houses in the total number of houses with building permits rose to 41 percent. The largest decline in the number of construction permits for owner-occupied houses was recorded for builders for the market sector. The number of permits issued to this category of builders dropped by 46 percent in 2012.

The picture varies widely across the provinces. The number of building permits issued in 2012 fell by less than 20 percent in the provinces of Limburg and Overijssel, but by 60 percent in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. The situation remained fairly stable in Friesland, but shifted from building permits for owner-occupied homes towards building permits for tenant -occupied homes.