UK Building Regulations 2025-2026: The Future Homes Standard and Beyond

The construction industry in the UK is at a very important point right now. As we get closer to the end of 2025, new building rules are completely changing how homes are designed, built, and kept up. The Future Homes Standard and Buildings Standard (FHS) is at the centre of these changes. It is the most ambitious step yet towards making the UK's buildings less carbon-intensive.

The Road to Net Zero: Why Buildings Matter

Buildings use about 40% of the UK's energy each year, and homes alone are responsible for about 20% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Change Committee has made it clear that the UK can't reach its goal of net zero by 2050 without almost completely getting rid of carbon in the housing stock. The government's final answer to this problem is the Future Homes Standard.

What is the Future Homes Standard?

The Future Homes Standard aims to ensure that new homes built from the mid-2020s onwards produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than those constructed under the 2013 regulations. This represents a dramatic leap forward from the 2021 uplift to Part L, which required a 30% reduction. The goal is "Zero Carbon Ready"—meaning as the electricity grid decarbonises, these homes will eventually reach net zero without further retrofitting.

Current Status and Timeline

As of November 2025, the industry finally has the clarity it requires. Following extensive consultations, the final technical specifications were published in Autumn 2024, and the secondary legislation was laid before Parliament in early 2025.

The Home Energy Model (HEM) was available for testing in the middle of 2025, but the full legal requirement for all new homes to meet the standard won't be in place until December 2026. This 12-month transition period gives developers time to go from "FHS-ready" designs to full compliance without slowing down work on active sites.

Key Changes Under the Future Homes Standard

1. Fabric Efficiency Requirements

New homes must meet significantly enhanced standards for the building envelope:

• Improved insulation: Higher R-values for walls, floors, and roofs.

• Enhanced airtightness: Stricter air permeability targets.

• Thermal bridge reduction: Minimising heat loss at junctions.

• Advanced glazing: While technology-neutral, triple glazing has become the de facto industry standard to meet tightening U-values.

2. Low-Carbon Heating Systems

The most transformative change: gas boilers are effectively phased out for new builds. Instead, homes must be equipped with:

• Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) or ground source alternatives.

• Systems designed for low-temperature heating (typically $55^\circ\text{C}$ or lower).

• Integration with underfloor heating or oversized radiators.

3. Renewable Energy: The Solar Mandate

At first, it looked like solar panels would only be "encouraged", but the policy landscape changed a lot in the middle of 2025. The government has now made it clear that most new homes must have solar panels on their roofs.

The final specifications say that solar panels must be put on all roof space that can hold them. "Solar-ready" (pre-wiring only) will only be accepted in rare cases where there is a lot of shading or heritage restrictions.

4. Improved Ventilation Standards

To balance airtightness with health, Part F requirements now prioritise:

• Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) systems.

• Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) as the preferred solution.

• Strict indoor air quality monitoring to prevent damp and mould.

Assessment Methodology: The Home Energy Model (HEM)

Moving from SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) to the Home Energy Model (HEM) is a very important technical change. HEM is a high-fidelity simulation engine that checks energy use every half hour, which is different from its predecessor.

There are now three main ways to rate homes:

• Dwelling Emission Rate (DER): Real-time carbon impact based on grid intensity.

• Dwelling Primary Energy Rate (DPER): Total energy consumption.

• Dwelling Fabric Energy Efficiency (DFEE): The thermal performance of the building's "skin."

Beyond New Builds: The Building Safety Act 2022

The Building Safety Act 2022 has changed the rules for "Higher-Risk Buildings" (HRBs), which are buildings that are at least 18 metres tall or have 7 or more stories and at least two residential units. The FHS is more concerned with efficiency.

The Golden Thread of Information

The Act mandates a "Golden Thread"—a comprehensive digital record of a building’s design, construction, and ongoing maintenance. This includes:

• Digital Records: Architectural plans, material specifications (cladding/insulation), and fire safety details.

• Accountable Persons: Clearly identified individuals responsible for safety.

• BSR Oversight: The Building Safety Regulator (under the HSE) now has the power to stop projects or prohibit occupation for non-compliance.

Preparing for the Changes: What Stakeholders Need to Know

For Developers and Housebuilders

• Costs: Expect initial construction costs to rise by 3-5%, though this is offset by the premium value of low-running-cost homes.

• Supply Chain: Early procurement of heat pumps and solar hardware is critical as demand spikes toward the 2026 deadline.

For Architects and Designers

• Design Early: Solar orientation and plant room space for heat pump cylinders must be integrated into initial sketches, not added as afterthoughts.

For Homeowners

While the FHS applies to new builds, major renovations or extensions may still trigger current Part L requirements, requiring upgrades to insulation or heating efficiency.

The 2021 Building Regulations Uplift: The Bridge to FHS

It is worth noting that the June 2022 updates (Parts L, F, and O) acted as the "stepping stone" to today’s standards. This included the introduction of Part O (Overheating), which is increasingly vital as we build more airtight, highly insulated homes.

Summary: A Greener, Safer Future

The Future Homes Standard and the Building Safety Act together make the biggest change to UK construction in a generation. There are still problems with putting things into action, like the lack of skilled workers for heat pump installers, but the direction is clear.

Britain is building houses that are:

• Safer: With transparent digital records.

• Greener: Producing a fraction of the emissions of 2010-era homes.

• Cheaper to Run: Energy bills for occupants are often 40-50% lower than those for conventional properties.

This article is based on government guidance and industry updates as of November 2025. For technical specifications, always refer to the Future Homes Hub or GOV.UK.