The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its response to the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation in March 2026 and, at the same time, laid regulations in Parliament amending the Building Regulations 2010 and the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations1. Updated Approved Documents, the statutory guidance accompanying the regulations, have also been published1. The consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 20241.
The Government intends the Future Homes and Buildings Standards to come into force on 24 March 2027 for non-higher-risk building work, followed by a 12-month transition period1. To continue building any remaining dwellings, or a particular building, to the 2010 standards, work must be started before 24 March 20281. For higher-risk building work, including a stage of HRB work or work to an existing HRB, the amending regulations come into force on 24 September 20271.
A total of 2,421 responses were received, of which eight email submissions were excluded as falling entirely outside the scope of the consultation, leaving 2,413 responses included in the final analysis1. The Government has decided to retain the existing metrics, the Target Emissions Rate, Target Primary Energy Rate and Fabric Energy Efficiency, for setting performance requirements, and to introduce delivered energy as a voluntary reporting metric for new dwellings1.
On building services, the maximum specific fan power for continuous dMEV systems has been raised to 3.5 W/l.s in Table 5.4, and the minimum SEER for comfort cooling lowered to 4.61. The Government has chosen to proceed with the proposal to fix operational and maintenance information to heat pumps, although 54.2% of respondents to Question 16 indicated they did not believe the operating and maintenance information set out in the draft Approved Document was adequate1. It has decided not to proceed with the proposed revision to guidance on sizing of hot water vessels for new dwellings, and not to change the expected standards from those in the 2021 Approved Document for buildings with low energy demand that are not exempt from the Building Regulations1.
"We intend that the Future Homes and Buildings Standards will come into force on 24 March 2027, for non-higher-risk building (non-HRB) work followed by a 12-month transition period."
The response also confirms that in May 2025 the Government decided to make available for use with the Future Homes Standard an updated version of SAP, known as SAP 10.3, approved for use as an alternative to the Home Energy Model1. On energy consultations and how policy is made, the document states that the Government plans a further consultation on energy efficiency standards for dwellings created through a material change of use1.
Why it matters for households
The standards apply to new homes and non-domestic buildings, not to existing homes, so the direct effect on most households is through what gets built rather than what they must change. The Government says homes and buildings constructed to these standards will not require retrofitting to become zero carbon in use once the electricity grid is fully decarbonised1. For a household buying or commissioning a new home, the Building Regulations in England approval, inspection and certificate process is the route by which compliance is checked, and the response confirms routes for certifying fixed building services installations and available enforcement options where work does not meet the required standards1. Home User Guide requirements have been strengthened, including through the introduction of Regulation 40C to support provision of information to homeowners in an appropriate format1. The response does not set out costs to households, and no figures for bill savings or build cost changes have been reported1.
What happens next
The regulations and amended guidance come into force on 24 March 2027, subject to transitional provisions, with work to the 2010 standards required to start before 24 March 20281. The amending regulations come into force for higher-risk building work on 24 September 20271. The Government intends to publish a call for evidence and consider research on the energy performance gap and building performance evaluation, and plans a further consultation on energy efficiency standards for dwellings created through a material change of use1. It will continue to monitor smart meter installation outcomes for new builds and re-evaluate the approach if necessary1.
Sources1 cited
- The Future Homes and Buildings Standards: 2023 consultation response, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk