OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- The six-month trend in housing starts was flat in September, with a slight increase of 0.6 to 250,411 units, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend measure is a six-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.

Actual monthly housing starts were down 11% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or more, with 19,984 units recorded in September 2026, compared to 22,375 units in September 2025. The year-to-date total of actual housing starts in centres with a population of 10,000 or more was 170,964 units from January to September 2026, down 4% from the same period in 2025.

The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was up 3% in September (248,896 units) compared to August (242,223 units).

The number of units under construction in centres with a population of 50,000 or more in September was flat month-over-month at 371,617 units compared to August. Completions decreased with construction finishing on 17,398 units, down 0.9% compared to August. The number of units with approved building permits but not yet started increased 1.1% month-to-month to 143,929 units in September.

Quote:

"As outlined in CMHC's latest Housing Supply Report (HSR), a key risk for Canada now is not building enough during this period of softening housing markets across the country. Of Canada's four most populous provinces, only Quebec has seen modest gains in housing starts for 2026 and each of the seven major centres covered in the HSR are behind 2025's pace for new home construction. Canada still faces a long-term housing supply gap and unless housing construction levels increase, improvements in housing affordability since 2023 will be difficult to sustain." 

- Aled ab Iorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC

Key Facts:

• The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 18,094 units.
• Among Canada's three largest CMAs, Montreal posted an 8% month-to-month decrease in the six-month trend, driven by lower multi-unit starts. Vancouver recorded a 6% increase due to higher multi-unit starts while the trend measure in Toronto was flat, as the trends for both single-detached and multi-unit starts offset each other.
• Read more about what housing starts measure and why they matter on CMHC's Housing Observer.
• Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data are accessible in English and French on our website and the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.
• Housing starts data is available on the eleventh business day each month. We will release the October housing starts data on November 17 at 8:15 AM ET.
• CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and to obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading, as the multi-unit segment largely drives the market and can vary significantly from one month to the next.
• Read about CMHC's definitions and methodology to better understand the foundations of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys.

Housing starts data facilitates the analysis of monthly, quarterly, and year-over-year construction activity in the new home market. The data CMHC collects as part of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys helps us obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply and is used as part of our various housing reports.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a federal Crown corporation and the foundation of Canada's housing system. For over 80 years, CMHC has supported the functioning of housing markets across the country through housing finance solutions — including mortgage loan insurance and securitization — while providing trusted, unbiased data, research and market intelligence to inform policy and decision making. Through its national presence, deep expertise in housing economics and finance, and a system-wide perspective, CMHC helps foster a more stable, well-functioning housing market that supports households, communities and the broader economy.

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Related Links:

• Housing starts for August 2026
• Slowing home construction threatens recent affordability gains: CMHC | CMHC
• Canada Housing Market Outlook: Summer 2026 | CMHC
• 2026 Mid-Year Rental Market Update | CMHC
• Supplying smarter: Learning to make housing supply more responsive | CMHC

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)