As of 2025, a new set of building regulations called the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will come into effect within construction. The standard will apply to new homes and will ensure that they are built to maximise energy efficiency to meet net zero and broader sustainability targets.
The new regulations will cover a wide range of performance attributes, including thermal performance, airtightness, ventilation and power usage.
At CFP Energy, we help clients adopt sustainable energy solutions. From the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that will affect carbon pricing for the import of materials like steel, cement, iron and aluminium, to the ETS2 that will cover CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion in buildings, there are a range of mandates underway that the construction sector must navigate to operate effectively. Contact our carbon specialists today to see how we can help you with your decarbonisation strategy today.
What happened to the Future Homes Standard?
The FHS is a government-led strategy to cut carbon emissions by ensuring that all new homes are built to uniform, energy-efficient standards. Compared to current builds, buildings constructed according to the FHS standard will produce 75-80% less CO₂.
One of the most important aspects of FHS will be heating. Because heating, on average, generates 60% of a building’s total carbon footprint, heating systems (i.e., boilers) and thermal retention, such as loft insulation, have been prioritised under the code.
These new standards build on the existing Part L regulations, which haven’t undergone significant change since 2013. By implementing more stringent rules, the FHS brings UK standards much closer to existing EU regulations, such as Germany’s Passivhaus.
What Are the Future Homes Standards in 2025?
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Higher Energy Efficiency
The FHS, compared to earlier regulations, like Part L, comprises a much tougher set of requirements. From improved wall insulation and airtightness to triple-glazed windows and solar panels, the regulation maps out a much more rigorous set of rules than those before.
Even doors, to meet the new regulations, will have to be installed more rigorously. To meet the new standard, they will have to be ‘thermally broken’ to eliminate thermal bridging effects.
This approach to maximising heat retention extends to the overall build of the home. Under the new rules, air permeability rates must not exceed 3 m³/(h.m²), compared to the current one of 8 m³/(h.m²). This new threshold, applied through air-tightness testing using the fan pressurisation method, will ensure that new homes are 3x more airtight than before.
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Low-Carbon Heating
One of the biggest changes will see the end of gas boilers in new build homes. Under the new rules, air source heat pumps will replace gas boilers.
Pulling heat from the outside air or drawing warmth from the ground, heat pumps offer a much more sustainable option compared to conventional boilers, ensuring that new builds remain energy efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable throughout their life cycle.
In some cases, heat networks, such as district heating systems, will also be used as energy-efficient heating alternatives, particularly in larger developments.
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Effective Ventilation
Ventilation is another area that the FHS has earmarked for improvement. Due to the ‘airtightness’ mandate included in the code, efficient ventilation systems will be needed to maintain good indoor air quality.
Through an advanced kind of ventilation called Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), new buildings under the FHS code will be able to remove stale air from indoor areas (i.e., bedrooms, lounges, kitchens) while replacing it with fresh air from outside.
This type of ventilation is more energy efficient than conventional systems because it recovers heat from the stale air before extracting it, thereby ensuring that no heat is wasted.
Timeline: When Does It Happen?
The Future Homes Standard, as of 2025, is already underway. This means that developers and builders should already be in a position to adopt the regulations laid out in the code.
This even applies to buildings in the design phase too, which should also incorporate FHS requirements in preparation for the forthcoming construction of the building.
The standard mandates that new homes built from 2025 onwards must produce 75–80% fewer CO₂ emissions compared to those constructed under the previous 2013 regulations.
What It Means for Homeowners
Homes built to the FHS standard will offer the following benefits to buyers:
- Because new builds will be more energy efficient, energy bills should be significantly lower, around 70-80% compared to older properties
- More consistent temperatures and fewer draughts will make homes more comfortable
- Improved indoor air quality should help prevent health conditions linked to poor air quality
- Because homes will achieve either an EPC rating of A or B, property values will be enhanced for buyers seeking homes with credible sustainability profiles
- As the UK electricity grid decarbonises through the increased adoption of renewables, FHS homes will become even more carbon-neutral over time
How It Affects the Construction Industry
Builders and developers will need to rethink their entire approach, starting from the design phase.
New technologies, meanwhile, will have to be adopted as standard. That means installing heat pumps, MVHR systems, and using improved insulation methods as a matter of course.
Suppliers will also need to adapt as demand for mandated equipment and fittings, such as heat pumps and MVHR systems, is projected to grow.
While construction costs may rise in the short term, long-term operational savings and stronger demand for FHS Homes should make these investments pay off over time.
What is the Future Home Standard EPC rating? Preparing for the Change
Developers who act early by adopting the FHS regulations stand a much better chance of weathering the coming changes.
By pre-emptively installing regulation-improved insulation, airtightness joints, and the prescribed ventilation and heating systems, developers circumvent the need to retrofit new builds later - a delay that would almost certainly lead to increased costs in the future.
By adopting FHS regulations now, developers also benefit by building relationships with suppliers - i.e., suppliers who provide FHA-approved heat pumps and insulation - increasing the likelihood of a smooth transition when the regulations are officially introduced.
Building for the Future: Constructing for 2025 and Beyond
The Future Homes Standard (FHS) marks a turning point for house building in the UK.
Homes built to these new standards will be more desirable to buyers, cheaper to run, and play a vital role in the UK’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
At CFP Energy, we help developers in the construction industry navigate an increasing array of complex CO₂ compliance regulations, from the ETS and ETS2 to CBAM and voluntary carbon credits. To ensure that your operations are fully decarbonised, contact one of our carbon specialists today.
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