NCC Pause Explained: Will House Prices Actually Fall?
· 5–7 min read
Who’s affected: Volume builders and buyers in states with 2022 NCC uplift timelines.
What’s paused: Enforcement dates (not the entire standard).
Price impact: Most existing quotes won’t drop by default.
Timing risk: Supplier lead times and approvals can offset savings.
What was paused?
- Energy efficiency uplift (7‑star) staging in some states.
- Accessibility provisions (LHA‑style) rollouts in certain jurisdictions.
- Compliance dates — pushing out enforcement rather than repealing standards.
Key insight
Most existing quotes are rarely repriced down unless specifications change. Ask your builder to re‑price with exact energy assumptions.
Specs matter
Windows, insulation, and slab/roof choices drive most cost deltas. Orientation and glazing ratio often change the energy model more than headline “stars”.
Buyer checklist
- Get a line‑item cost breakdown for energy features.
- Request the energy model PDF and assumptions (orientation, glazing ratio, climate zone).
- Confirm the compliance pathway during/after the pause.
- Lock contract clauses on delays, LDs, and variation triggers.
FAQ
- Will my build be cheaper now?
- Not automatically — the pause mainly prevents further short‑term increases.
- Is 7‑star gone?
- No — most states are deferring timing, not cancelling the uplift.