Building Regulations Part S — mandatory for new residential buildings from June 2022
Approved Document S (Electric Vehicle Charge Points) applies to new residential buildings and qualifying renovations in England submitted for Building Regulations approval from 15 June 2022. New dwellinghouses with associated parking must include at least one active EV charge point per dwelling. Residential buildings of fewer than 10 units must have at least one active charge point per unit with associated parking (or passive cable route provision where active installation is impractical). Renovations requiring Building Regulations approval must include EV infrastructure where associated parking exists and renovation costs exceed the relevant threshold. Compliance is mandatory — failure to include required EV infrastructure is a Building Regulations breach affecting completion certification.
OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant — up to 75% off for existing rental properties
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles administers the EV Chargepoint Grant for flat owners and landlords. Eligible landlords can receive up to 75% off the cost of the charge point and installation, capped at £350 per socket, for installations in existing privately rented flats and multi-unit residential buildings. The grant is applied for by the OZEV authorised installer — only authorised installers can submit grant applications. Landlord cooperation (access and signed documentation) is required. There is no upper limit on the number of sockets per property under the landlord scheme, subject to grant availability. Proactive installation of charge points before tenant request differentiates a rental property in competitive urban markets.
Planning permission for EV charge point installation
Installing a wall-mounted EV charge point at a dwellinghouse with off-street parking is typically permitted development — planning permission is not required. Exceptions: listed buildings require listed building consent before any external works affecting the building's character; conservation area properties may require prior approval for front elevation installations. Flat blocks and multi-unit buildings: installation in communal areas or on external walls typically requires planning permission and freeholder consent. EV charge points on highway land require separate highways authority consent. Contact the local planning authority before commissioning installation where any heritage designation applies.
Handling tenant EV charging requests
In England, tenants have no statutory right to install EV charge points — landlord consent is required. Assess each request on merit: a professionally installed, OZEV-authorised charge point typically adds value to the property and improves lettability. Where consent is given, document it as a written addendum to the Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement specifying: OZEV authorised installer required; compliance with BS 7671 wiring regulations and Building Regulations; costs borne by the tenant unless otherwise agreed; charge point to be removed and surfaces made good at tenancy end unless agreed in writing. Include the pre-installation condition in the check-in inventory and document the charge point at check-out.
HMO EV charging — electrical capacity, shared use, and billing
HMO landlords face additional complexity: older HMOs may have limited electrical supply capacity; multiple tenants wishing to charge simultaneously requires load management; electricity billing for EV charging must be allocated fairly. Smart charge points with dynamic load management share available capacity across sockets without overloading the supply. Sub-metered smart charge points allow EV electricity use to be separated and billed to the relevant tenant. A DNO supply upgrade may be needed before any charge point can be installed in older HMOs — allow 8–16 weeks for DNO works. Confirm with the local authority that EV charge point installation does not affect HMO licence conditions.