The Future Homes Standard (FHS) marks a major step in the UK’s journey toward low-carbon, energy-efficient housing. Designed to significantly cut emissions and eliminate the use of traditional gas heating in new builds, the standard will reshape how homes are constructed from the mid-2020s onward. Below is an overview of when the FHS is expected to take effect and what homeowners, developers, and buyers can expect from the upcoming changes.

WHEN WILL ‘FUTURE HOMES STANDARD’ COME INTO FORCE?

This will affect all new homes
The government plans to publish the final regulations in autumn 2025.
Legislation is expected to be laid before Parliament in December 2025.
The regulations are expected to come into force in December 2026, probably with a twelve-month transition period.
It is expected from 2028, all new homes will be required to comply with FHS.

WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED?

Final details won’t be confirmed until at least early 2026. The key points are:

Carbon reduction: New homes will need to produce 75–80% lower carbon emissions compared to homes built to the 2013 regulations.
No gas boilers: Gas boilers in new homes will not be permitted. Heating will need to be provided by air-sourced heat pumps, ground-sourced heat pumps, or other low-carbon systems.
Insulation: Homes must be built with high levels of insulation and airtightness, with highly efficient windows and external doors, to reduce heat losses.
Future-proofing: The standard is designed to ensure that homes built from 2026/27 onwards will not need retrofitting to meet the UK’s 2050 net zero target.