OZEV grant
EV charger grant for flats: who qualifies and how to apply.
Leasehold flat owners and renters in flats can claim the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant: 75% of charger and installation costs, up to £500: provided they have a private allocated parking space and their freeholder's written permission.
Can flat owners and renters claim the OZEV grant?
Yes. The OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant is specifically designed for people who cannot access the standard homeowner grant. It covers:
- Leasehold flat owners: you own the flat but not the building or the land
- Shared ownership flat owners: you own a share of the leasehold
- Renters in flats: you rent from a private landlord or housing association
If you own a house outright (freehold), you are not eligible for this grant. There is a separate homeowner grant process, which ran until 2022 and is no longer available. The current OZEV grant is exclusively for renters and people in leasehold or shared ownership.
The parking space requirement
The key practical requirement is a private off-street parking space allocated to your flat. The space does not need to be attached to the building: it can be in a shared car park, an underground garage, or a surface-level residents' car park, as long as it is allocated specifically to your flat and you use it.
If your parking space is shared with other residents on a first-come, first-served basis, it is not an allocated space and you do not qualify for the grant. The charger must be associated with your specific bay: it cannot sit in a shared area where any resident might park.
If you have no private parking, the on-street grant option may apply instead. See our guide on EV charging without a driveway for how that works.
Who qualifies?
GOV.UK lists the full eligibility conditions. You can apply if all of the following apply:
- You live in and own or rent the flat (not a second home or buy-to-let)
- You have a private off-street parking space allocated to your flat: this can be in a shared car park, as long as it is allocated specifically to you
- You have written permission from the freeholder or management company
- The charger has not already been fitted at this address
- You own or use an eligible electric vehicle
Getting freeholder permission
Freeholder permission is a legal requirement for the grant: without it, the grant application cannot proceed. OZEV requires written confirmation from the freeholder or management company before the work starts.
Getting this permission can take time. Some freeholders respond quickly; others refer the request to a managing agent or board meeting. The main points that often help:
- The charger will be fitted to the parking bay or a nearby wall, not to the building structure
- It does not reduce or affect other residents' parking
- OZEV-authorised installation includes the electrical work and landlord's electrical sign-off
- EV charging infrastructure can increase the property's appeal to future buyers and tenants
- Several housing associations and larger freeholders already have blanket approval policies in place
If your freeholder or management company is resistant, ask your installer to write to them on your behalf. Many OZEV-authorised installers have experience dealing with freeholder queries and can provide a technical specification covering the installation scope and safety sign-off.
Freeholders are not legally required to give permission, but refusing a reasonable request for a privately-funded installation in an allocated bay is increasingly unusual, particularly for larger housing associations.
Where does the charger get fitted?
For a flat in a shared building, the charger is typically fitted either:
- On a wall adjacent to your allocated bay, if there is a wall at the back or side of the space. This is the simplest installation.
- On a post or bollard in the bay, where there is no suitable wall. The installer fits a ground-mounted post and runs cable to it.
- In an underground car park, where the charger connects to the building's power supply. This requires the freeholder's approval and coordination with the building's electrical arrangement.
The electrical supply for the charger usually comes from your flat's consumer unit, with a dedicated circuit run to the parking area. The route and method depend on the building's layout. Your installer surveys the building and proposes the most practical route before any work starts.
How much does it cost?
Installation costs in a shared building or underground car park are typically higher than a standard house installation, because the cable run is longer and routing through communal areas requires more care and may involve working with managing agents.
Typical supply and installation cost for a flat: £1,000–£1,600, depending on the building and cable route. After the OZEV grant (up to £500), the net cost is typically £500–£1,100.
Getting quotes from multiple installers is especially important for flat installations: pricing varies more than for straightforward house installs. Our free quoting service matches you with local OZEV-authorised installers who have experience with shared buildings.
Common questions
Can I share the charger with another flat owner?
The OZEV grant covers one chargepoint socket per person. If you and a neighbour both want chargers, you each apply separately and each receive up to £500 off your respective installations. Some installers offer a combined installation with shared infrastructure (a single cable route with two separate chargers at the end) which can reduce overall cost.
What if I am a housing association tenant?
Housing association tenants qualify for the grant in the same way as private renters: provided they have an allocated parking space and written permission from the housing association. Many housing associations have dedicated EV charger approval processes. Ask your housing officer for the right form or contact.
Do I need a smart charger?
Yes. Since June 2022, all new home EV chargers installed in the UK must be smart chargers by law. Smart chargers support scheduled charging, app control, and EV overnight tariffs. This applies to all installations, including flats.
What happens to the charger if I move?
In most cases, the charger stays with the parking space. If you are a renter, the charger will typically be left at the property when your tenancy ends. For leasehold owners, the charger remains with the flat or bay: it can be sold as part of the property or negotiated separately. You cannot claim the grant again at a future address.
Can multiple flats in a building apply for the grant?
Yes. Each eligible flat owner or renter applies individually through their installer. There is no limit on how many residents in a building can claim, as long as each has their own allocated space and meets the eligibility conditions. A coordinated installation across multiple residents is often more cost-effective.
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