Future Homes Standard 2025 and changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations

Continued pressure to meet environmental targets and improvements to social housing has led to frequent changes to the regulations surrounding ventilation, air quality and the retrofitting of properties. Changes to parts F and L of the Building Regulations are the latest updates intended to improve living conditions and meet net-zero targets. Read on to discover more about the Future Homes Standard, and why changes to Building Regulations continue to be made and find out how landlords and developers can safeguard their developments by investing in quality heating and ventilation solutions.

What is the Future Homes Standard (FHS)?

The Future Homes Standard (FHS), set to be implemented in 2025, is a key initiative in the UK’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the housing sector. It mandates the use of low-carbon energy sources, with a particular focus on heat pumps, to heat and power homes. The FHS aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, significantly cutting carbon emissions from new homes.

The FHS is the latest iteration of Part L of the Building Regulations, which governs the energy performance of buildings. It focuses on reducing carbon emissions from heating, hot water, and lighting. Additionally, Part F, which covers ventilation standards, is also considered in the new regulations to ensure homes are well-ventilated while maintaining energy efficiency. The Future Homes Standard represents a step towards greener, more sustainable housing, aligning with the UK’s broader climate goals.

What are the goals of the Future Homes Standard?

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) supports the UK’s Heat and Building Strategy, which aims to meet Net Zero targets by transitioning to low-carbon energy sources and reducing energy consumption in both new and existing homes. By integrating renewable energy solutions like heat pumps, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), and other energy-efficient technologies, the FHS ensures that new builds and renovations are aligned with sustainability goals.

In addition to its environmental benefits, the FHS also addresses the rising cost of living by implementing affordable, cost-saving solutions. These measures make it easier for residents to manage their energy usage, helping to reduce bills while maintaining comfort. By focusing on both energy efficiency and affordability, the FHS aims to create homes that are not only environmentally responsible but also practical and accessible for homeowners and renters alike.

What standards do developers need to comply with in the 2025 Future Homes Standard?

In order to comply with (and benefit from) the 2025 Future Homes Standard, landlords and developers will need to meet the following minimum standards for efficiency:

Airtightness standards

Airtightness standards are essential to ensuring that buildings are energy-efficient, with reduced heat loss and lower energy consumption. The fabric performance of a building refers to the thermal properties of its materials, and this is typically monitored using the U-value. The U-value measures the rate of heat transfer through building elements, with lower U-values indicating better insulating performance.

For new builds, the minimum standards for fabric performance are:

Walls: U-value of 0.18 W/m²K or lower.
Roofs: U-value of 0.13 W/m²K or lower.
Floors: U-value of 0.13 W/m²K or lower.
Windows and Doors: U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or lower.
Windows with low-emissivity coatings: U-value of 1.0 W/m²K or lower.

These standards are intended to reduce the need for excessive heating and cooling, improve indoor comfort, and contribute to meeting energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets (achieving an airtightness score of 3 or less to be considered highly airtight). Proper airtightness and insulation also help prevent issues like drafts and condensation, ensuring long-term building durability.

Ventilation standards

While airtightness standards ensure that buildings are energy-efficient by minimising heat loss, this airtightness must be balanced with effective ventilation to maintain indoor air quality and prevent issues like condensation and dampness. Proper ventilation ensures the continuous flow of fresh air and the removal of pollutants, which is essential for a healthy indoor environment.

The latest requirements for ventilation under the Future Homes Standard and related regulations include:

Higher ventilation supply rate: The ventilation supply rate for new homes is set at a minimum of 30 litres per second per person for mechanical ventilation systems. This higher rate ensures sufficient fresh air, particularly in airtight buildings.

Minimum equivalent for background ventilation: Background ventilation is required at a minimum of 5,000 mm² per room (equivalent to trickle vents or other background systems). This helps provide adequate airflow when mechanical ventilation is not in operation.

These measures help to ensure a balance between energy efficiency and indoor air quality, improving comfort and reducing health risks for residents.

Who needs to comply with these standards?

The FHS is focused on newly built properties, ensuring that all new homes are constructed to meet higher energy efficiency standards. However, the FHS also applies to properties undergoing significant renovations or extensions. When an existing home is retrofitted with an extension or major improvements, the building will need to comply with the same energy performance standards as new builds. This ensures that extensions, whether to a single room or multiple floors, meet the same rigorous standards for energy efficiency, insulation, and renewable energy integration as newly constructed homes. Any property undergoing major alterations must also adhere to these regulations, ensuring that the home remains energy-efficient and aligned with the UK's sustainability goals.

What changes have been made to the Future Homes Standard?

Changes to Building Regulations continue to reflect the shifting priorities of the Future Homes Standard and its goal. Updates to parts F and L illustrate a renewed focus on energy-efficient solutions and improved living standards:

Changes to Part L

Part L of the Building Regulations focuses on the conservation of fuel and power in buildings, ensuring that new builds and major renovations are more energy-efficient. It sets out the standards for reducing energy use and carbon emissions, which directly contributes to the UK's climate targets.

Key aspects of Part L include:

HEM calculation route: With the Home Energy Model (HEM) taking over from the Standard Assessment procedure (SAP), the shift from SAP to HEM provides a more accurate assessment of energy consumption that will support the government’s goal to lower carbon emissions in new builds by 31%.
Guidelines for extensions and renovations: Part L also covers the energy efficiency requirements for extensions and major renovations, ensuring that existing homes are upgraded to meet modern efficiency standards.
Commercial buildings: Specific guidelines for energy performance are also set for commercial buildings, ensuring they meet energy efficiency standards suited to their purpose.

Part L was updated in 2022 to increase the minimum energy efficiency standards for new buildings. These updates require a 31% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the previous standards, further advancing the goal of decarbonising the built environment.

Changes to Part F

Part F of the Building Regulations focuses on ventilation in buildings, ensuring that indoor air quality is maintained while meeting energy efficiency standards. Recent changes to Part F aim to simplify the design and implementation of these ventilation systems, making them easier to adopt in residential buildings. Despite the simplification, there is still a strong emphasis on ensuring clean air within indoor environments in line with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) legislation. Key requirements now include calculating the ventilator area room-by-room to ensure adequate airflow, and buildings must achieve an airtightness score of 3 or less (highly airtight). This must be maintained while running continuous mechanical ventilation to guarantee fresh air circulation throughout the home.

Why are the changes to Part F and Part L important?

The latest changes to Part F and Part L of the Building Regulations mark another critical step towards achieving the UK’s climate targets, specifically the 80% reduction in carbon emissions required by 2025 under the Future Homes Standard (FHS). These changes focus on enhancing energy efficiency, improving ventilation, and reducing energy consumption in both new and existing homes.

The updates to Part F ensure that buildings have effective ventilation systems, promoting clean air while reducing the need for excessive heating. Part L’s stricter standards for insulation and energy performance directly contribute to lower energy bills and reduced carbon footprints. These improvements are not just about energy savings; they also align with broader sustainability goals, ensuring that buildings are better for the environment and healthier for occupants.

How the Future Homes Standard will impact landlords and developers

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) will have a significant impact on landlords and developers, as further changes to regulatory guidelines are expected. Property owners must invest in technology that ensures compliance with evolving energy efficiency and air quality standards. Landlords and developers must upgrade existing ventilation, air quality, and heating systems to meet the new requirements, addressing issues like better ventilation in line with regulations such as Awaab’s Law and the Warm Homes Plan.

There is increasing pressure on landlords to provide well-ventilated homes due to heightened regulations, aimed at improving occupant health and reducing environmental impacts. As regulations continue to tighten, landlords, property managers, and developers should take a proactive approach to stay ahead of changes, and "future-proofing" developments by integrating energy-efficient tools into property designs. This ensures compliance, reduces long-term costs, and supports sustainability while maintaining the comfort and health of tenants.

How Airflow can help

Staying ahead of regulatory changes can be complex. Luckily, Airflow is here to help landlords and developers proactively address air quality and ventilation in their developments. From integrating mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) to introducing air quality control systems, our solutions can help you to future-proof your properties.

Get in touch with our team today to find out more about how you can utilise Airflow’s solutions in your properties.