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From 24 March 2027

The Future Homes Standard

The Future Homes Standard changes how new homes in England are designed and signed off. Here is what changes, when, and what it means for the reports you need.

Key dates

  • 24 March 2026 New Approved Documents L and F published.
  • 24 March 2027 The Future Homes Standard comes into force for most new homes.
  • 24 September 2027 It applies to higher-risk building work.
  • 24 March 2028 The transitional period ends.

What changes

  • Tougher Part L targets. New homes should be "zero-carbon ready", with far lower carbon emissions than homes built to 2013 standards.
  • SAP 10.3. At launch, compliance is shown with SAP 10.3, updated with the Future Homes Standard targets.
  • Rooftop solar. Solar PV is required on new homes where it is feasible.
  • The Home Energy Model (HEM). HEM will eventually replace SAP. The government has said there will be at least 24 months when both can be used, and six months’ notice before SAP is withdrawn.

What it means for your reports

Every new home will still need SAP calculations, an air tightness test and an on-construction EPC. Talk to your assessor early: the new targets affect heating, insulation and solar choices at design stage, not just at sign-off.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

The Future Homes Standard applies in England only. The other nations set their own rules.

  • Wales has its own update. New Welsh Approved Documents L and F were published in April 2026 and apply from 4 March 2027. They bring in SAP 10.3, on-site renewables (usually solar PV) on new homes, and a heat pump in the reference home the design is compared with. Projects notified before then can keep the old rules if work on each home starts before 4 March 2028.
  • Scotland’s New Build Heat Standard has applied to building warrants applied for since 1 April 2024, so new homes can’t have gas or oil boilers. A Scottish Passivhaus-equivalent standard is out to consultation until 16 October 2026, with a start date proposed for autumn 2029.
  • Northern Ireland has nothing equivalent in force yet. New homes are still assessed under the 2022 Technical Booklet F1 using SAP 2009, and a further update proposed in 2023 is waiting for decisions from the NI Executive.