Future Homes Standard: What Every Heating Engineer Needs to Know
Changing regulations are nothing new in the world of heating & plumbing. It seems that every few years—months, even—there’s something new affecting heating engineers and installers across the country.
The Future Homes Standard is one of those shifts. The government formally laid the regulations before Parliament on 24 March 2026, and they come into force on 24 March 2027.
If you’ve heard the headlines about gas boilers being banned and wondered what it actually means for your day-to-day, this guide breaks it down.
What Is the Future Homes Standard?
The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is a set of amendments to the Building Regulations that will apply to all new homes in England from March 2027. Its central goal is to ensure that new builds produce at least 75% fewer carbon emissions than homes built to the 2013 Part L standards. In practice, that means new homes will be heated by low-carbon systems — primarily heat pumps — rather than gas boilers, and will need to include solar panels as standard.
The standard sits within the broader push to hit net zero by 2050. It only applies to new homes in England (more on existing homes shortly), but it will fundamentally change what “heating installation” looks like on any new housing development.
For heating engineers, the important bit isn’t the policy language — it’s the practical reality. New build plots that would have once suited a combi boiler will instead spec an air source heat pump, underfloor heating, and a hot water cylinder. That’s a different skill set, different kit, and a different way of working.
Key Dates You Need to Know
The timeline shifted more than once over the years, but as of March 2026, here are the dates:
- 24 March 2026: The Building Regulations (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/335) were formally laid before Parliament. This is the legislation that implements the Future Homes Standard through updates to Part L (energy efficiency), Part F (ventilation), and a new Part 6 (on-site renewable electricity generation).
- 24 March 2027: The regulations come into force for most new homes. From this date, all new dwellings must meet the FHS requirements.
There’s a 24-month transitional period (12 months lead-in plus 12 months transition), so projects with building control approval already submitted before March 2027 can complete under current rules.
- 24 September 2027: The regulations come into force for higher-risk buildings, with their own transitional arrangements.
- 2035: The government’s target date for phasing out the installation of new gas boilers in existing homes. This is separate from the FHS and still conditional on technology readiness, but it’s the direction of travel for the wider market.
What This Means for New Build Work
This is where the practical impact hits hardest. Under the Future Homes Standard, gas boilers will not meet the carbon emission targets for new homes. Developers will need to install low-carbon heating — and in most cases, that means air source heat pumps.
On top of that, the new Requirement L3 mandates on-site renewable electricity generation, meaning solar PV panels become standard on virtually every new home.
Heat pumps become the default
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are expected to be the go-to solution for the vast majority of new builds. They’re well-suited to the fabric-first approach that the FHS demands — highly insulated homes with low heat demand. Ground source heat pumps will feature on some larger developments, but ASHPs are simpler and cheaper to install at scale.
For installers who frequent new build property jobs, this is a huge shift. Unlike a boiler job, heat pump installations on new builds require proper heat loss calculations and careful consideration of flow temperatures, emitter sizing, and hot water delivery.
Different systems, different skills
A typical new build heating install under the FHS might include an ASHP, underfloor heating on the ground floor, appropriately sized radiators upstairs, a hot water cylinder, and smart controls. That’s a more complex system than a combi boiler with a few rads — but it’s also potentially more rewarding work with higher install values.
Engineers who can design and commission these systems confidently will be in demand.
What About Existing Homes?
The Future Homes Standard applies to new builds, not existing properties. There is no regulation requiring homeowners to rip out a working gas boiler and replace it with a heat pump.
The UK has roughly 24 million homes with gas central heating. Those boilers will continue to need servicing, repairing, and replacing for decades. Annual gas safety checks on landlord properties aren’t going anywhere. Breakdown callouts will keep coming every winter. Boiler replacements in existing homes will remain bread-and-butter work for years.
That said, the direction of travel is clear. Government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are encouraging homeowners to switch to heat pumps voluntarily. Over time, as energy prices and grant structures evolve, the proportion of heat pump retrofits will grow. But it’s a gradual transition, not a cliff edge.
The smart play is to keep your gas skills sharp while building a stream of heat pump leads. That way, you’re covered regardless of how quickly the market shifts.
What This Means for Your Business
Beyond the technical side, the FHS creates practical business questions you’ll need to think through.
If you’re a sole trader doing mainly domestic gas work, the immediate impact is limited. Your existing customer base isn’t affected by the FHS. But the long game matters — as fewer gas boilers are installed in new homes, the pool of gas-only work will shrink over the next 10–20 years. Starting your heat pump training and getting MCS certified gives you options before it becomes urgent.
Not to mention, keeping your records and certificates organised becomes even more important as you potentially juggle both gas and renewable work. Having everything in one place — CP12s, commissioning records, warranty documentation — saves time and keeps you compliant across both types of jobs.
How to Get Ahead of the Shift
You don’t need to reinvent your entire business overnight. But a few deliberate steps now will put you ahead of the curve.
Get trained on heat pumps
Look into courses from providers like Logic4Training, BPEC, or your local college. Many are subsidised through government skills funding. A typical heat pump training course covers all things you’ll need on new build sites.
Consider MCS certification
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accreditation is required if you want your customers to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Being an MCS-certified installer unlocks a growing market segment that many gas engineers haven’t entered yet.
Talk to developers you already work with
If you’ve got relationships with local builders or developers, ask what their plans are for upcoming schemes. Many smaller developers are still working out their approach to the FHS and haven’t locked in their preferred installers yet. Being the engineer who already has the knowledge — and can talk confidently about system design — could put you at the front of the queue.
Don’t abandon gas
This isn’t an either/or situation. The engineers who’ll do best over the next decade are the ones who can offer both. A customer with a gas boiler today might want a heat pump in five years. If you’re already their trusted engineer, you’re the natural choice for that upgrade — as long as you can do the work.
The Future Homes Standard isn’t a threat to heating engineers — it’s a shift in what the work looks like. The demand for skilled people who can keep homes warm isn’t going anywhere. The question is whether you’ll be ready to meet that demand in its new form.