Future Homes Standard 2026: What Electricians Need to Know

Published: 28 October 2026 Category: Technical articles

The Future Homes Standard comes into force on 24 March 2027. Find out what it means for new homes in England and what electricians should prepare for.

Future Homes Standard: what electricians need to know before March 2027

The Future Homes Standard was published on 24 March 2026 and will come into force on 24 March 2027. Its headline requirements for low-carbon heating and on-site renewable electricity apply to new homes in England, making heat pumps and solar panels on the majority of new homes the norm. For electricians working on new-build housing, that points to more electrical equipment in each home and earlier conversations about load and supply.

This guide sets out the dates, who the rules apply to and what is likely to change on site. It is not a wiring guide: the standard sits in the Building Regulations, not in BS 7671.

What is the Future Homes Standard?

The Future Homes Standard is the name for the 2026 changes to Part L (energy and greenhouse gas emissions) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations in England, set out in Approved Document L, Volume 1 and Approved Document F, Volume 1. If you have seen it described as Part L 2026, this is the same thing. You may also see it written as the future home standard or future home standards.

The government’s headline aim is that new homes will emit, on average, at least 75% less carbon than homes built to 2013 standards. The changes also add a new requirement, L3, for on-site renewable electricity generation on new homes.

The Future Buildings Standard does the same job for non-domestic buildings. It is not covered here.

Future Homes Standard 2026: when does it come into force?

Not yet. The Future Homes Standard will come into effect on 24 March 2027 for most building work. For higher-risk buildings, the date is 24 September 2027.

Transitional rules apply, and they work building by building, not site by site. For most work, the old standards still apply to a building if a building notice, an initial notice or a full plans application was given to the relevant authority before 24 March 2027, and building work on that building starts before 24 March 2028. A plot on the same site without an earlier notice or application will be built to the new standard.

Higher-risk buildings have separate transitional arrangements. Where a valid building control approval application has been submitted to the regulator before 24 September 2027, and has not been rejected, the new regulations do not apply to that work.

Which projects does it apply to?

The new requirements for on-site renewable electricity and low-carbon heating apply to new homes in England. The on-site renewable electricity requirement applies when a building that is, or contains, one or more homes is erected.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own Building Regulations, so this article does not cover them.

What about retrofit heat pumps?

Approved Document L 2026 also contains guidance for fixed building services in existing dwellings. For heat pumps, it states that the procedures for installation, certification, inspection and testing apply in both new and existing dwellings, and it includes requirements for controls and installation guidance. Electricians working on retrofit heat pump projects should therefore check the 2026 guidance when it takes effect.

What changes in a Future Homes Standard new build?

The standard sets outcomes rather than installation methods. According to the government, the main changes for new homes are:

Low-carbon heating. New homes are to be fitted with low-carbon heating such as heat pumps. The guidance also covers homes connected to a heat network.
On-site renewable electricity. The new requirement L3 means a system for on-site renewable electricity generation must be installed on the building or within its curtilage.
Controls, commissioning and information. Updated guidance covers heating and heat pump controls, the commissioning and installation of fixed building services, and the information handed to the homeowner, including a Home User Guide.

What it means for the electrical installation

The Future Homes Standard does not set circuit, protective device or consumer unit requirements. How the electrical work is designed and installed stays a matter for BS 7671, the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and the network operator. What the standard changes is what is being installed in the home, and when you need to think about it.

More electrical demand per home. A heat pump and solar PV, often alongside EV charging and battery storage, add up to a very different load and generation profile from a conventional new build. See our guides to battery storage under Amendment 4 and to EV charger installation cost for how those pieces fit in.

Supply capacity and the DNO connection. Government guidance on Approved Document L says that where on-site generation is installed, the system and its output should be appropriately sized for the site and the available infrastructure. The factors it lists include on-site energy demand and any export limits set by the distribution network operator (DNO). In practice, load and generation need assessing earlier in the build than they used to be. For the solar side of the DNO process, see our guide to G98 vs G99.

Commissioning and handover. The 2026 guidance highlights the importance of following manufacturers’ instructions when installing heat pumps, and says on-site electricity generation should be commissioned through testing and adjustment. Operational and maintenance information is to be fixed to heat pumps, and information given to the owners of new homes must be provided in an appropriate format. Expect developers to ask for clear records at handover.

How to prepare before March 2027

Talk to developers early about expected load, generation and supply for the plots you will work on.
Check current DNO lead times for new connections and generation notifications.
Review whether your business is ready to take on heat pump and solar PV electrical work, and the testing and records that go with it.
Read the relevant sections of Approved Document L, Volume 1 and Approved Document F, Volume 1, so you know what the developer’s design is working to.
Keep your BS 7671 knowledge, including Amendment 4, up to date: it remains the standard for the wiring itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Future Homes Standard in force yet?

No. It comes into force on 24 March 2027 for most building work, and on 24 September 2027 for higher-risk buildings, subject to the transitional arrangements.

Does it apply to existing homes?

The new requirements for on-site renewables and low-carbon heating apply to new homes. However, Approved Document L 2026 also contains guidance for fixed building services in existing dwellings, including heat pumps, so it should also be checked for retrofit heat pump work.

Does it change BS 7671?

No. The Future Homes Standard is part of the Building Regulations (Parts L and F). It does not change BS 7671, which remains the standard for electrical installations.
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