Housing construction - 1. quarter of 2007

Construction of 9 165 dwellings was started in the first quarter of 2007, i.e. up by 0.5% on the first quarter of 2006; 8 337 dwellings were completed, which was by 20.3% more than in the first quarter of 2006. There were 169 653 dwellings under construction, i.e. by 7.8% more year-on-year.
The volume of work on dwelling construction continued growing in the first quarter of 2007, which was affected by the following factors in particular:

• constantly favourable situation in the saving-in-building-society market and mortgage market (according to the Ministry for Regional Development, 17.8 thousand mortgage loans were signed totalling CZK 35.0 billion which was by 33% mortgage contracts more and increase in volume by 35% against the first quarter of 2006);
• changes in the VAT rate for housing construction to be effective from 1 January 2008;
• exceptionally warm winter which allowed fuller use of technical and labour capacity.

Dwellings started
9 165 dwellings were started in the first quarter of 2007, which was by 0.5% (+48 dwellings) more year-on-year. The highest percentage increases were registered for dwellings in family houses (by 27.4%, i.e. +969 dwellings) and dwellings in extensions to family houses (by 1.6%, +8 dwellings). Decrease in the number of dwellings started occurred in all the remaining construction categories. This applies most to dwellings in converted non-residential spaces (by 42.2%, i.e. -135 dwellings), in community care service homes and boarding houses (by 36.5%, -114 dwellings) and in residential buildings (by 17.5%, -606 dwellings).

Dwellings completed
8 337 dwellings were completed in the first quarter of 2007, which is the highest number of completed dwellings in the first quarter of a year since 1996 and translates into a 20.3% increase (+1 408 dwellings) year-on-year. The highest growth (43.4%, i.e. +49 dwellings) was recorded for dwellings in community care service homes and boarding houses. Dwellings completed in residential buildings rose by 30.8% (+788 dwellings) and in family houses by 27.2% (+788 dwellings). Decreases were reported only for dwellings in converted non-residential spaces (49.2%, -184 dwellings) and dwellings in extensions (8.0%, -69 dwellings).


Dwellings under construction
The total number of 169 653 dwellings under construction on 31 March 2007 was by 7.8% (+12 263 dwellings) higher year-on-year. The highest share in dwellings under construction was recorded for family houses (48.6%), the lowest for dwellings in community care service homes and boarding houses (1.5%).
Dwellings under construction are on the increase in the long term because the number of dwellings started grows faster than the number of dwellings completed and because they also include dwellings whose construction has been suspended.

Dwelling modernisations (building permit-based)
Modernisation of 5 312 dwellings was completed in the first quarter of 2007, which was by 2.6% more year-on-year.

Analysis - Analysis of housing construction in 2006

---

Note
Contact: Vladimír Zikmund, phone (+420) 274 054 252, e-mail: vladimir.zikmund@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in planning and building control authorities
End of data collection: 30 April 2007
End of data processing: 11 May 2007
The data published are final; data on dwellings completed are preliminary.
Related publications: /1-ep-8
8205-07 Housing Construction, Q1 2007