Government grants for EV chargepoint installation in apartment blocks & commercial properties | Powerverse
  • Property Management
  • |
  • 11 July 2023

Government grants for EV chargepoint installation in apartment blocks & commercial properties

Is your property ready for an EV future?

Setting up EV chargers in your apartment blocks and commercial properties might seem like a daunting task for another day in the future. But, with several government grants available, there’s no better time to get started than today.

In fact, you’ll gain a competitive advantage if you do.

Government grants can help you save up to 75% of the EV charging installation costs. Navigating the requirements, however, can be a complex and time-consuming task.

This guide will serve as a helpful checklist of key information and resources for a faster and easier installation and application process.

4 reasons why acting now is a smart idea

EV charging will soon be a must-have in any residential and commercial property as interest in EVs continues to grow — and fast.

How do we know?

1. 2030 deadline for petrol and diesel cars

The UK government has put in place a ban on the production of petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, and hybrid cars and vans by 2035.

Additionally, auto dealers will have to ensure Zero-Emission Vehicles make up:

  • at least 22% of all cars sold in 2024
  • 80% of all cars sold by 2030
  • 100% of the cars sold in 2035

That’s just seven years left for the internal combustion engine.

2. Accelerated rise in EV sales

According to RAC estimates, 700,000 fully electric vehicles were on the road at the beginning of 2023 — seven times more than in 2019.

Environmentalism and sustainability have been the primary motivators behind EV purchases — a trend that will only grow in importance. Improved vehicle performance and lower total cost of ownership, meanwhile, are close behind, motivating individuals and businesses alike.

While many buyers may currently prefer to start with a hybrid vehicle (which still requires a convenient home charging setup), the 2035 ban will change that too.

3. EV charging increases the value of real estate

Already back in 2021, 76% of homes with EV charging installed sold for more than the local average.

With strict government bans and the rise of sustainable businesses and lifestyles, we can expect more and more flat buyers to have EV charging on their must-have checklist, alongside good schools and a nearby train station.

4. There are government grants available — for now

With your long list of responsibilities and urgent to-dos, EV charging may not seem like a priority today. But waiting may prove expensive.

As the 2030 deadline for petrol and diesel cars approaches, the demand (and waitlist) for EV chargepoint setup will go up. As will installation costs.

There are several EV chargepoint grants for tenants and landlords, but these can come to an end at any time. We’ve seen it happen before. Just think of the sudden demise of the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme and the Plug-in Grant for cars (when only the existing applications and the cars sold in the two working days before the announcement remained eligible).

While the government will aim to provide a four-weeks notice before removing any of the EV chargepoint installation grants, it is not guaranteed — and may not afford you enough time to fulfil the necessary requirements to apply.

If past experience has taught us anything, it’s that those who don’t wait, win.

EV chargepoint installation grants available

Jump to section:

EV chargepoint grant for landlords

What you can claim

£350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever is lower.

You can get up to:

  • 200 grants per financial year* for residential properties
  • 100 grants per financial year for commercial properties

for one or several properties and installations.

*6 April to 5 April the next year

Eligibility

Who’s eligible

You can apply if you own or manage flats, houses, apartment blocks, or business premises.
Both commercial and residential landlords are eligible, but different criteria apply.

Residential landlord

An individual or organisation that owns or manages a property that:

  • is let or leased for people to live in
  • contains multiple units people live in (such as a block of flats)
  • includes common or communal spaces of a property with multiple units people live in (such as an apartment block or a housing estate)

Commercial landlord

An individual or organisation that owns or manages a property that is leased or let to a business that pays business rates.

Eligible residential landlords:

  • Individual with property to let
  • Right to manage company
  • Residents management company
  • Company or person owning the freehold of a property
  • Company owning a building’s common areas, including shareholders who are the leaseholders
  • Property factor in Scotland
  • Private registered provider of social housing
  • Public sector organisation
  • Charity that manages or owns residential property

Eligible commercial landlords:

  • Individual with commercial property to let
  • Company that owns:
    • the freehold of a commercial property
    • a commercial property’s common areas, with
    • shareholders who are the leaseholders

Property eligibility criteria

Both EV infrastructure and chargepoint grants can be used on the same property.

The property must be:

  • an existing property (not under construction)
  • located in in the UK (not in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man)

Parking spaces must be:

  • off-street, private, and clearly defined (even if they’re not part of the property)
  • accessible to all tenants

The applicant must own or have the legal right to the given parking space.

Chargepoint eligibility criteria

The chargepoint installed must be on the list of chargepoint models for residential properties and commercial properties approved by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

In the case of commercial properties, the chargepoint should be accessible only to the building’s staff and vehicles.

How to access the grant

See Application process for EV chargepoint and infrastructure grants for landlords below.

 

 

EV infrastructure grant for landlords

This grant helps you save on the cost of wider EV chargepoint installation, covering additional infrastructure costs like wiring and posts.

 What you can claim

  • Up to 30 infrastructure grants per financial year
  • Up to £30,000 or 75% off the cost of the work, depending on the number of parking spaces covered. That includes:
    • up to £350 off the cost of buying and installing a chargepoint socket
    • up to £500 for each parking space provided

Eligibility

Who’s eligible

You can only apply for a grant if:

  • you own or manage flats, houses, apartment blocks, or business premises in the UK
  • you’re not a commercial landlord

Property eligibility criteria

The property must:

  • be an existing property (not under construction)
  • comprise multiple homes (such as an apartment block or an estate with several buildings sharing a car park)
  • be located in in the UK (not in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man)

Parking spaces covered by the grant must be:

  • off-street, private, and clearly defined, even if they’re not part of the property
  • accessible to all tenants
  • in a car park with at least 5 parking spaces clearly marked

The applicant must own or have the legal right to the given parking space.

You’ll also need to:

  • install at least one chargepoint socket
  • work on at least five parking spaces to either:
    • install a chargepoint socket
    • prepare the space for future installation

Both EV infrastructure and chargepoint grants can be used on the same property.

Chargepoint eligibility criteria

The chargepoint installed must be on the list of OZEV-approved models for residential properties and commercial properties.

The chargepoint should be accessible only to the building’s staff and vehicles.

How to access the grant


Checklist: Application process for EV chargepoint
and infrastructure grants for landlords

Download checklist

 

Clarify the existing and future demand to inform your EV charging strategy. This may include a number of consultations and surveys.

It is particularly important to ask your tenants the right questions that will help you assess not only their short-term but also potential long-term needs and requirements.

An experienced EV charging ecosystem provider will be able to help you with that as well as develop an agile and adaptable EV charging strategy for your buildings.

EV chargepoint installation will require:

  • certified electricians and engineers to perform an electrical audit of the building as well as any necessary upgrades
  • Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) provider to supply the charging stations, electrical conductors and related equipment, and software for energy management
  • OZEV-approved installer or an OZEV-authorised representative like Powerverse that can manage the entire process from A to Z, from initial strategy and supplying OZEV-approved chargers to engaging an OZEV-approved installer and claiming the relevant government grants for you

In this guide, you’ll find some useful tips on choosing the right supplier for you.

  • If you work with more than one installer or apply for more than one address, you’ll need to submit a separate application for each one.
  • You will also need to file separate applications for residential and commercial properties.

Quick tip: To save you a lot of headache post-installation, look into maintenance procedures and costs of the potential EVSE supplier and installer.

Powerverse, for example, ensures ongoing maintenance as part of its service. Using automatic over-the-air system updates and advanced AI, its system proactively monitors all EV chargepoints. If an issue arises, it is swiftly taken care of — sometimes even before your tenants notice it themselves.

Before applying, you’ll need to have:

  • up-to-date property risk assessment that includes EV chargepoints
  • electrical audit confirming the building’s capacity to handle the additional load needed for EV charging
  • completed all necessary upgrades to the building’s electrical supply
  • regular maintenance checks arranged
  • performed a thorough site inspection to identify potential physical barriers that may:
    • impact access to chargepoints
    • fail to protect them from damage
    • complicate the installation process
  • defined the best EV charging spots based on the above as well as:
    • residents’ needs
    • Wi-Fi access and signal strength
    • infrastructure setup requirements
    • and more…

Decide how the electricity and running costs will be paid for and what pricing models will be applied.

Although not mandatory, this step is crucial in ensuring the chosen EV charging setup is future-proofed and cost-efficient. It will also help you:

  • facilitate the process of getting resident buy-in
  • identify and implement additional income streams

Contact your OZEV-authorised installer to get a quote for installing the chargepoints as well as additional infrastructure, if necessary.

Once you’ve agreed what work will be carried out and at what cost, the grant application can begin.

Selecting the right charging technology from the start can save you a lot of stress and costly updates in the future.

You may want to make sure it works with all EV models and can withstand consistent high loads as the number of EVs in the building grows.

Whichever model you choose, it must be on the list of OZEV-approved chargepoint models for residential properties or commercial properties.

Quick tip: Consider setting up an Energy Management System (EMS).

EV charging can lead to significant incremental costs. You can avoid that by using an EMS that:

  • incorporates smart load management to make sure that demand doesn’t exceed supply even when all chargepoints are connected
  • allows switching between energy sources, such as the grid and solar
  • includes dynamic charging, charge scheduling, and community charging for maximum cost-efficiency

You’ll need to fill out an online application providing additional information, such as:

  • your email address
  • UK mobile phone
  • Companies House company registration number or a VAT registration number ​
  • one address
  • one EV chargepoint installer and their OZEV number
  • the number of parking spaces covered (for the EV infrastructure grant)

An application form will land in your inbox as soon as your installer begins the grant application process. This will ask you to submit additional information and evidence, such as a Land Registry title register for the car park where EV chargepoints will be installed.

Your installer or OZEV-approved representative should be able to navigate this process for you.

After the form has been submitted and approved by OZEV, it will let your installer know that they can start the work.

In some cases, OZEV may choose to audit your EV chargepoint installation process to ensure it meets the grant requirements. If they’re not allowed on the site, the installation may be stopped.

The installation process must be completed within 90 days or an extension will need to be officially requested (through another form) and approved.

Once chargepoints are set up and tested:

  • your installer will claim the grant. They will need to supply details on your chargepoints, photographs of the installation process, as well as their invoice.
  • OZEV will email you the application for review. You’ll have one week’s window to request any changes.
  • if approved, the grant will be paid directly to the installer. You should see the grant amount subtracted from their final invoice.

EV chargepoint grant if you own or rent a flat

What you can claim

£350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower.

Eligibility

Who’s eligible

You can apply for this grant if you:

  • own and live in a flat
  • rent any residential property
  • live in a home with its own private off-street parking space
  • own an OZEV-approved electric vehicle (you will need to provide evidence of its ownership or use)

If your EV is on lease, you can apply if:

  • the lease is for at least 6 months
  • it includes a chargepoint that will become yours once payment is complete
  • the lease specifies the cost of the chargepoint and its installation, including VAT
  • the chargepoint warranty meets the grant requirements

Property eligibility criteria

You can apply if:

  • the property is in the UK (houses in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are not eligible)
  • it’s an existing residential property that you live in
  • it has a parking space that:
    • you own or have the legal right to
    • is off-street, private, and clearly defined (even if not part of the property)
    • is accessible to you at all times

Chargepoint eligibility criteria

The chargepoint installed must be on the list of OZEV-approved chargepoint models.

How to access the grant

The first precondition — you must work with an OZEV-authorised representative or installer.

Some companies like Powerverse will be able to deliver an end-to-end managed service, from the initial assessments to supplying OZEV-approved chargepoint models, engaging an OZEV-approved installer, and managing your EV chargepoints.

Alternatively, you will need to invest more time to find and manage several contractors to perform an electrical audit, supply EV chargers, install chargepoints, and ensure ongoing maintenance.

This guide covers useful tips on choosing the right installer for you.

It is crucial that a certified electrician with experience in EV charging performs a thorough electrical audit of your house. This will ensure that its infrastructure can handle the additional load created by EV charging.

It may also require you to upgrade the house’s existing electrical supply.

The chosen EV chargepoint installer will make an assessment of your home and your EV charging requirements in order to provide a quote for the work.

Once the costs have been mutually agreed on, you can ask the supplier to start your grant application.

As your installer begins the application process, you will receive an online application form to provide the required information and documentation, such as Land Registry title deeds. Your installer should be able to guide you through the government requirements.

After the form has been submitted and approved by the OZEV, they will let your installer know that they can start the work.

In some cases, OZEV may choose to audit your EV chargepoint installation process to ensure it meets the grant requirements. If they’re not allowed on site, the installation may be stopped.

The installation must be completed within 90 days or an extension officially requested through another form and approved by OZEV.

Once the process is complete, your installer will claim the grant. They will need to supply details on your chargepoints, photographs of the installation process, as well as an invoice.

The invoice you receive should have the grant amount subtracted from the total installation cost.

Useful resources:

How Powerverse can help

Powerverse is a smart energy management company brought to you by global solar leader, Lightsource bp. 

Our EV charging services are:

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