Kolkata: The Kolkata Metropolitan Area recorded 4,741 apartment registrations in Aug 2026, reflecting a 23% year-on-year decline from 6,196 registrations in August 2025 and a 14% month-on-month moderation from 5,516 registrations in July 2026, according to Knight Frank India.The annual decline was largely the result of an exceptionally strong base in Aug 2025, when registrations had risen 15% year on year and 33% month on month. TOn a sequential basis, the August 2026 dip followed a sharp 50% month-on-month jump in July, indicating a normalisation in activity rather than a structural slowdown. Importantly, Aug 2026 registrations remained broadly aligned with the trailing 12-month average of 4,779 units, underscoring steady underlying demand in the market.Developers said another reason for the decline in registrations was the freeze on project launches in the city and its periphery since April 2026 as the Kolkata Metropolitan Building Committee that usually meets two times a month to approve pending projects has not convened in five months.Between Jan and Aug 2026, KMA registered 36,464 apartments, down 12% from 41,440 units in the corresponding period of 2025. While the aggregate number moderated, the composition of demand showed a healthier shift towards larger homes. Apartments in the 501-1,000 sq ft category accounted for 58% of total registrations during Jan-Aug 2026, up from 45% a year earlier. This category recorded 21,263 registrations, compared with 18,560 in the same period last year.Larger apartments also gained traction. Homes above 1,000 sq ft registered a 69% year-on-year rise, increasing to 3,819 units from 2,253 units, and their share expanded to 11% from 5%. In contrast, homes below 500 sq ft saw registrations decline 45% to 11,382 units, with their share falling to 31% from 50%. This shift suggests that buyers are increasingly prioritising space, functionality and long-term utility, even as headline registrations have moderated.The decline in overall registrations was therefore driven more by a reduction in smaller-format apartment transactions and the high base of last year than by a weakening of residential demand. The stronger share of mid-sized and larger apartments points to improving buyer confidence and an upgrade-led housing preference across the city.South and north Kolkata continued to anchor market activity. Together, the two zones contributed 76% of total registrations in Aug 2026, reinforcing the dominance of established residential catchments. South Kolkata remained the largest contributor, while North Kolkata retained a strong share. Locations such as Sonarpur, Thakurpukur, Kasba, Behala, Jadavpur, Maheshtala, Baranagar and Shibpur recorded healthy activity, supported by mid-segment housing supply, connectivity and established social infrastructure.The top 10 locations accounted for 2,459 registrations, representing 52% of KMA’s total apartment registrations in August 2026. Sonarpur led with 385 registrations, followed by Thakurpukur with 325, Kasba with 313 and Behala with 275. The concentration of activity across these markets indicates that demand remains resilient in well-connected, infrastructure-backed residential pockets.Overall, while August 2026 saw a moderation in registrations compared with both July 2026 and August 2025, the market remained close to its recent average and continued to show positive structural indicators. The rising preference for 501-1,000 sq ft and larger homes signals a maturing residential market in Kolkata, with homebuyers increasingly seeking better-sized apartments suited to evolving lifestyle and family needs.Aug month property registrationsYear | No of units registered2022 | 6,2382023 | 3,6052024 | 5,4102025 | 6,1962026 | 4,741
