Electric vehicles are the future
The UK Government announced a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. With the lack of charging infrastructure being one of the key things thought to be holding back sales of electric vehicles (EVs), landlords can now apply for grants to install EV charging points at their properties, both residential and commercial.
There are several conditions that must be met to be eligible for a grant which is being administered by DVLA on behalf of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. A digital platform is available for applications by signing in or creating an account on the GOV.UK website.
Start an application for a chargepoint grant →
Landlords and tenants
A related scheme enables tenants to apply for a similar grant on their own behalf. However, tenants can apply for a grant to have a charging point installed if landlords do not meet the registration requirements.
The chargepoint grant replaces the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and as well as being open to tenants and landlords it includes:
- right to manage (RTM) companies
- companies owning the freehold of a leased or rented property
- companies owning a building’s common areas. The company may comprise shareholders who are the leaseholders. The company may also manage the building
- property factor listed on the Scottish Property Factor Register
Grant paid to the installer
Once an authorised installer is chosen, they apply for the grant and must pass on the discount to the landlord or tenant meeting the remainder of the costs.
Landlords can receive up to 200 grants a year for residential properties, and a further 100 for commercial properties. These may be across several properties and installations or just for one property.
Fire protection measures
The new guidance also advises landlords installing EV chargepoints to update their fire protection measures to take account of the new installations. Further guidance on how this can be achieved in enclosed parking areas is expected later in 2022.
The announcement of chargepoint grants for landlords is welcomed and due to the size of the private rented sector and the substantial role it will play in a greener future, we hope that in time, the scope of eligible landlords can be widened to meet the changing needs of tenants and help towards our Net Zero targets.
