Japan's housing starts in the April-September period of fiscal 2009 dived 33.9 percent from a year earlier to a record low of 384,175 units amid the recession, with condominium construction starts falling notably, the government said Friday.

The figure was the lowest for a fiscal first-half period since 1965 when comparable data became available and the margin of fall also hit a record high, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

A ministry official said, "A severe environment is likely to continue for the time being" in terms of housing starts, as developers are having a difficult time obtaining funds amid a slump in home sales resulting from the recession.

By housing category, starts on condos in the six-month period plunged 68.3 percent to 31,059 units.

Starts on houses for sale also dropped 24.0 percent to 45,171 units, while those on rental homes declined 37.0 percent to 151,947 units.

In September alone, housing starts fell 37.0 percent from a year earlier to 61,181 units for the 10th straight month of declines and a record low for the month of September.

Starts on condos plunged 72.3 percent to 4,681 units for the ninth consecutive month of falls and those on homes for sale declined 17.4 percent to 7,869 units for the 12th straight monthly drop.

Starts on rental homes also fell 39.0 percent to 23,179 units for the 10th straight month of declines.