The Future Homes & Buildings Standards (FHS) are a major update to the UK Building Regulations (specifically Part L and Part F) that ensures all new-build homes produce 75–80% lower carbon emissions than those built to 2013 standards. Officially published by the government in March 2026, these regulations will come into full force on March 24, 2027.The primary takeaway for householders is that the FHS only applies to brand-new dwellings. If you are looking to buy a new-build home or are building your own house, the standard fundamentally alters how these properties are heated, powered, and ventilated to ensure they are “zero-carbon ready”. The main summary and implications of the FHS are:

No Gas Boilers (Low-Carbon Heating)
Traditional fossil-fuel gas boilers are effectively banned in new builds. Your new home will need to rely on low-carbon heating technologies, most commonly Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) or Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs), or be connected to a local low-carbon heat network.

Mandated Solar Panels (Renewable Energy)
The regulations introduce a strict functional requirement (L3) for on-site renewable electricity generation. New houses must feature solar photovoltaic (PV) panels typically sized to cover an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor area.

“Fabric First” Efficiency (Thicker Insulation & Glazing)
Homes must achieve exceptional thermal performance to prevent heat from escaping.This requires significantly thicker high-performance insulation in walls, floors, and roofs. Triple glazing is expected to become the standard over double glazing to achieve lower U-values.

Airtightness and Controlled Ventilation
To prevent draughts, buildings will be sealed much tighter than before. Because the building envelope is so airtight, natural airflow is restricted. To maintain indoor air quality, homes will feature advanced ventilation, typically Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) or decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV).

Mandatory EV Charging Infrastructure
New homes must promote the transition to electric vehicles. Properties will come standard with an active EV charging point installed or, at minimum, the necessary electrical cabling pre-installed to make future installation seamless.

The Home User Guide
Because heat pumps and MVHR systems operate differently than traditional radiator systems, householders must be taught how to use them. Developers are legally required to hand over a comprehensive, easy-to-understand Home User Guide. This contains direct control settings, maintenance schedules, and efficiency tips to close the “performance gap” between design and everyday use.

Summary Timeline for Householders

March 24, 2026: The final Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) approved documents were published.

March 24, 2027: The rules legally come into force.

March 24, 2028: The absolute cut off for the transitional period. Any individual housing plot that has not achieved a “meaningful start” (built up to ground floor level) by this date must be completely redesigned to comply with the full FHS, even if the wider site began under older 2021 rules.

What Energy Grants are Currently Available?

Check out the guide on Money Saving Expert updated 20 April 2026.