Home Improvements Roundup – MAY 2026
This roundup highlights critical developments in home improvement regulations and trends, advocating for enhanced energy efficiency and security in residential properties.
Major Changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
The UK government has confirmed significant reforms to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime, set to take effect from October 2026.
The shift to four separate metrics is a significant change from the current single A-G rating. If you’re planning to sell or rent your property after October 2026, your EPC will look very different.
These changes aim to improve energy efficiency across both domestic and non-domestic properties in England and Wales. Notably, the revised scheme will remove existing exemptions for heritage buildings, requiring them to obtain an EPC when marketed, rented, or sold.
The new EPC framework will introduce four key metrics – energy cost, fabric performance, heating system, and smart readiness – aimed at providing clearer, actionable data for consumers and landlords alike. These measures are part of a broader effort to enhance energy efficiency and support the UK’s net-zero commitments. (The Energy Advice Hub.)
Fabric performance is now its own standalone measure. That means the quality of your windows, doors, walls and roof insulation will be assessed and reported independently, not buried inside a general score. For anyone considering upgrading their glazing, this change gives you a much clearer way to demonstrate the improvement on paper, which could influence both property value and rental eligibility.
If you own a heritage or listed property, the removal of the exemption is the headline. You will now need an EPC, and that means your windows and doors, which in many cases may be original single-glazed timber, will be assessed against modern performance standards. It’s worth understanding your options now rather than scrambling later.
Door and Window Experts Website Comment
If you can’t afford to replace your windows and doors or have a listed or heritage building, our advice would be to consider secondary glazing. Your property will benefit from better insulation at the windows and reduce heat loss and energy bills. Secondary glazing is typically 70% less than new windows and doors.
Read the Government Response to these EPC Changes.
For established, reputable installers, this is a positive development. The emphasis on fabric performance as a distinct metric will generate demand for window and door upgrades, particularly in older housing stock. Companies that can explain the new EPC framework to their customers and show how a window or door upgrade directly improves a specific metric will have a clear advantage.
For smaller installers, this is the bit that matters: if you’re quoting on jobs and you don’t understand how the new EPC metrics work, you’re going to get caught out. Homeowners will increasingly come to you with questions about fabric performance scores, and “it’ll keep the heat in” won’t cut it as an answer. The installers who take the time to understand these changes will win the work. The ones who don’t — or worse, who blag their way through it — risk losing credibility at exactly the point where informed customers are asking sharper questions.
GGF Seeks Clarity on Warm Homes Plan
The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) is calling for clarity regarding the integration of window and door improvements within the newly introduced Warm Homes Plan. Lauded as the most extensive home upgrade initiative in UK history, the plan focuses on insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable energy sources.
However, the GGF highlights concerns over the limited references to window and door upgrades in the policy documentation, seeking assurance that retrofit opportunities will be available for existing homes. They stress the importance of fabric-first improvements, which are crucial for maximising the efficacy of technologies like heat pumps (Window News).
Door and Window Experts Comment
The Warm Homes Plan doesn’t currently prioritise window and door upgrades. The GGF is pushing to change that. If they succeed, funding may become available for glazing as part of whole-house retrofit. Watch this space — but either way, upgrading poor glazing before installing a heat pump isn’t optional, it’s common sense.
If glazing makes it into the Warm Homes Plan funding framework, installers registered under competent person schemes with solid compliance records will get first access to that work. If you’re not already operating to those standards, now is the time to get your house in order — not after the funding lands and you can’t qualify.
Rehau Named Great Place to Work
Rehau UK has been re-certified as a Great Place to Work for the second consecutive year, reflecting its commitment to a positive workplace culture. This recognition is based on employee feedback, with over 90% participation in the related survey.
Martin Hitchin, CEO, emphasized the important role of trust, collaboration, and a supportive environment in achieving this accolade. This certification not only highlights employee satisfaction but also aims to enhance employee retention and innovation across the company (Window News).
Door and Window Experts Comment:
Rehau is highly regarded in the fenestration sector for the quality of their window and door systems. A company that holds onto its people tends to hold onto its standards. For fabricators and installers who rely on Rehau for technical support and consistent supply, that matters as much as the product itself. The homeowner also benefits from a great uPVC brand in their home.
Trends in Window and Door Design for 2026
As homeowners increasingly seek comfort and energy efficiency, bold colours are emerging as a dominant trend for windows and doors in 2026. Forest greens, deep navy, and earthy tones are expected to be popular choices, pairing well with minimalist designs featuring slimmer frames that maximize natural light. Moreover, energy-efficient features, such as advanced weather seals and sustainable materials, are becoming essential, driven by rising energy costs and regulatory demands. Smart technology integration is also on the rise, with innovations such as remote locking systems and video doorbells enhancing security and convenience (Double Glazing Network).
Door and Window Experts Comment:
Colour options have moved well beyond white and rosewood. But not all colours are equal. A stock foil from one supplier could be a six-week bespoke order from another, with the price to match. Ask your installer about the difference between foiled, spray-painted and powder coated colour finishes before you commit. The same goes for smart locks and integrated doorbells. Raise it at specification stage, not after the door’s been fitted. With Tech changing, be sure your products will have support in the future. And if your installer’s default answer on colour is still white, or they can’t explain how the smart lock they’re selling actually works, that tells you something too.
Window Security Concerns Highlighted
A recent study has revealed that approximately 70% of standard residential windows are vulnerable to break-ins, prompting a heightened focus on window security. As many break-ins occur through windows, homeowners are urged to assess the condition of their window locks, frames, and glazing.
With modern security innovations such as multi-point locking systems and toughened glass, homeowners can significantly increase their home’s security. The findings have sparked recommendations for homeowners to undertake window audits and consider upgrades to enhance their property’s safety (Home Improvement Daily).
Door and Window Experts Comment:
If your windows are 15-20 years old, check your locks. Many older windows still have basic cockspur handles or single-point locks, nowhere near current security standards. Modern PAS 24 windows feature multi-point locking, and frames are stronger today. You don’t always need a full replacement. Upgrading the hardware on old windows is hard. Replacing the glass with toughened or laminated is easier. But if the frames, seals and locks are all past it, replacing to current standards is the smarter long-term move. And if your installer isn’t talking to you about security as part of the quote, ask yourself why not. Or reach out to local double glazing repair firms to see how they could improve your window security without having to buy new ones.
Eurocell Launches Innovative Compliance System
Eurocell has introduced SureSpec, a comprehensive specification model designed to eliminate inconsistencies between design intent and final installation for windows and doors. Aimed at enhancing compliance with updated regulations, SureSpec is the only completely audited system currently available in the UK. The initiative is crucial in ensuring accurate product-specific performance data is utilised, particularly in light of the upcoming Home Energy Model requirements. With this new system, stakeholders across the construction supply chain can expect improved accountability and project success (Window News).
Door and Window Experts Comment:
If you’re buying a new build or having an extension done, the windows and doors specified at design stage should be exactly what gets installed. This way you get the the same U-values, security ratings, and the same performance. Eurocell’s SureSpec system creates an audited trail to make sure that happens. For the trade, the message is broader: compliance, traceability and accountability are tightening across the board. The businesses that document properly and use accurate performance data will thrive. The ones that don’t will get left behind. For the homeowner always ask for actual proof of performance.
