The Future Homes Standard has been “coming soon” for years, delayed more than once. It’s now genuinely locked in, published in March 2026 with a firm date attached. Here’s what it actually requires, what it means for the cost of a new-build home, and a transitional detail that catches out more people than you’d expect.
At a glance
- In force: 24 March 2027 for standard homes (24 September 2027 for higher-risk buildings).
- Headline requirement: low carbon heating (heat pumps or heat networks) and solar panels on the majority of new homes.
- Carbon target: new homes must emit at least 75% less carbon than a 2013-standard home.
- Cost impact: government estimates an average £4,350 build cost uplift per home, offset by projected running-cost savings of over £1,000 a year for a typical semi.
- The catch: the 12-month transition only protects homes that are physically underway, not just registered, and it applies plot by plot.
Confirmed in the official written ministerial statement, 24 March 2026.
What the standard requires
New homes will need low-carbon heating, in practice a heat pump or connection to a heat network, and solar panels across the majority of new homes, with exemptions where roof space is genuinely limited (the full technical detail sits in Approved Document L “The overall target is a home that emits at least 75% less carbon than one built to the 2013 standard, alongside tighter airtightness (no worse than 4 m³/m²/hr at 50 pascals) and mechanical ventilation, plus wastewater heat recovery on many designs as part of hitting that carbon figure.
Is this actually a gas boiler ban?
Not in name. Nothing in the standard says “gas boilers are banned”. What it does is set carbon emission targets calibrated tightly enough around heat pump performance that no fossil fuel heating system can realistically hit them. The practical effect is the same as a ban; a new gas boiler won’t get a home through building control under these rules, just achieved by setting a bar rather than naming a technology. If you’re weighing up what that actually means day to day compared with the boiler you might be used to, our heat pump vs boiler comparison covers the practical differences.
The transition catches most coverage misses.
The standard comes into force on 24 March 2027, and there’s a 12-month transitional window after that. But “transitional” doesn’t mean “registered before the deadline”. Under the official transitional provisions, a development needs a valid building control application submitted before the in-force date, and separately, each individual dwelling needs to have genuinely started, meaning its foundations and ground-floor structure are physically complete, within that 12-month window, by 24 March 2028. Site clearance, earthworks, or partly-dug foundations don’t count.
This matters because it applies plot by plot, not site-wide. A large development can have some homes still built to the old 2021 standard and others required to meet the new one, depending on exactly when each individual plot hits that commencement threshold. If you’re buying off-plan on a large site, it’s worth asking your developer directly which standard your specific plot is being built to, rather than assuming the whole development falls under one set of rules.
What it means for the price and running costs of your new home
The government’s own estimate puts the average build cost uplift at £4,350 per home, though it varies by type: around £5,600 to £5,700 for a typical semi-detached or mid-terrace house, less for high-rise flats. Some, or all, of that is likely to be reflected in the price a buyer pays. Against that, the government projects running-cost savings of more than £1,000 a year for a typical semi-detached home, heating and hot water that costs meaningfully less to run than the same size home built to the previous standard (our heat pump cost and savings guide breaks down where those savings typically come from). If you’re buying a home that already has a heat pump fitted, our guide to what to expect covers the practical side of living with one day to day, including a warranty detail worth checking before you complete.
What this means if you’re self-building
Self-build projects go through the same building control routes as any other new home, so the same commencement test applies: registering your project before 24 March 2027 doesn’t protect you if your foundations aren’t physically complete by 24 March 2028. If you’re planning a self-build timeline around this deadline, it’s worth building in a realistic margin, since building control capacity is widely expected to come under strain as everyone tries to commence before the same date.
FAQs
Does this apply to homes already being built?
Only if they don’t meet the commencement test in time. A home whose foundations are already complete, or will be by 24 March 2028 under a valid pre-deadline application, can complete under the previous 2021 standards.
Can I still buy a new build with a gas boiler after March 2027?
Only if it’s covered by the transitional arrangements above. Any home starting fresh after the deadline will need to meet the new carbon targets, which a gas boiler can’t do.
Will every new home have solar panels?
The majority will, but there are exemptions, particularly for taller buildings where roof space per home is limited.
Does this affect Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland?
The Future Homes Standard applies to England. The devolved nations set their own building standards on similar but separate timelines.
Final thoughts
The headline numbers are straightforward: heat pumps, solar, and tighter carbon targets, from 24 March 2027. The part worth actually paying attention to is the transitional detail, since “my development started before the deadline” and “my specific home has passed the commencement test” aren’t automatically the same thing, and that distinction could genuinely decide what’s actually installed in the home you end up buying.