Following a recent clarification meeting the Home Builders Federation, has now confirmed the timeline for the implementation of the Future Homes Standard (FHS), with full enforcement of the new regulations set to begin in January 2028.
The timeline is understood to be as follows:
- The official response to the Part L consultation will be published in Summer 2025, followed by legislation being laid before Parliament in December 2025.
- This legislation will be subject to a 12-month period before coming into effect in December 2026.
- During this time, both the updated SAP 10.3 and the new Home Energy Model (HEM) will become available to support compliance.
- This marks a critical shift toward more accurate, forward-looking energy performance assessments for new homes.
- To ease the transition, the government is introducing a 12-month Transitional Arrangement Period from December 2026 to December 2027.
- Any site registered before December 2026 will have until December 2027 to begin construction, and those plots can continue to follow Part L 2021 regulations. In contrast, plots registered from January 2027 will need to meet the new FHS standards.
- This phased approach allows the industry to adapt progressively, avoiding disruption to housing delivery.
- A notable uptick in plot registrations is expected ahead of the December 2026 cut-off, particularly from developers looking to maximise the use of current regulations.
At Element Sustainability, we see this transition as a positive and pragmatic step forward. It gives our clients time to align their projects with the new standards while ensuring regulatory certainty in the interim.
Our team will be working with both SAP 10.3 and the Home Energy Model and is well positioned to guide developers through the upcoming changes. If you need tailored advice on how the Future Homes Standard could affect your upcoming projects, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our consultants.