Building permits for new housing up in April

The number of building permits granted for housing increased by 12,5% in April compared to the previous month, although they still have not reached the cumulative level of permits reached over a year, according to data published on Wednesday, May 28, by the Ministry of Regional Planning.

In April, 34.500 housing units were authorized for construction, a growth that can be explained "by the dynamism of collective or residential housing," indicates the Ministry's Data and Statistical Studies Service (SDES).

Between May 2024 and April 2025, 341.800 housing units were authorized for construction, 17.500 fewer than in the previous twelve months (-4,9%) and 26% fewer than in the year preceding the health crisis.

The number of housing starts, which traditionally follows the number of building permits, stood at 24.100 in April, up 3,3% compared to March.

Over the past twelve months, 291.000 housing units have been started, 2,2% more than between May 2023 and April 2024, but 25% fewer than in the twelve months before the health crisis.

In detail, permits issued for single-family homes fell by 5,1% in April compared to March, to a level of 10.700 dwellings.

On the other hand, authorizations for collective and residential housing are up sharply by 22,7%, to 23.900 dwellings.

"I don't see any improvement. We have fewer reservations and we are filing fewer permits for so-called traditional projects, but this increase is undoubtedly linked to the permits we are filing for what was sold last year to social landlords," Pascal Boulanger, president of the Federation of Real Estate Developers (FPI), told AFP.

The ministry emphasizes that estimates of construction starts contain a significant amount of uncertainty due to disruptions in construction site start times since the health crisis.

New construction has been facing a serious crisis for the past two and a half years due to rising construction costs, rising interest rates that have blocked the property purchase plans of many households, and the end of measures to support rental investment.

To help the sector, the government launched financial aid in March for "building mayors."

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.