We all know by now that electric cars are the future. Ever since the government banned the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030, more and more people are exchanging their old cars for newer electric models – even businesses are hopping on the bandwagon! But one of the things that has been stopping a certain group of people from buying electric cars is the lack of infrastructure for them to be able to charge. That’s right, today we’re talking about renters.
You see, you can pay to have a charging port installed at your home, for not a lot of money once you take into account all of the grants you can get, and that would be all you need to keep your car running. Sure, you might need to top up the charge if you go on long journeys, but there is an infrastructure for that, and it’s expanding every day. But you can only install a charge point in a property you own. And since renters don’t own the houses they live in, this presents a big problem.
So listen up landlords, this blog is for you. Because your tenants want electric car charging points, and now it’s easy for you to provide them.
Electric Car Charging Point Grants For Landlords
In the past, grants to install an electric car charging point would only be grants to people installing on their main residence, meaning that if a landlord wanted to install one on their rental property, they would be paying entirely out of their own pocket for it. Unsurprisingly, not a lot of landlords chose that option!
But because electric cars are the future, the government recognised the need to incentivise landlords to install charge points on rental properties. So earlier this year they released a grant scheme specifically for landlords to have charge points fitting. This grant allows landlords to apply for 75% of the costs of a charging point (up to £350) on each of their rental properties, providing they also own the parking area. For individual properties, this would mean a car park, but blocks of flat may need committee consent, or the consent of the head lease holder for the land. This essentially makes it an incredibly low-cost way of adding value to their property, and to encourage more interest in their properties during vacancies, minimising unoccupied periods.
How Do They Work?
It’s quite simple really. When a landlord decides to install an electric car charge point on their rental property, they can apply for 75% of the cost to be given as a grant by the government. They must choose an authorised installer to do the work, and the grant is paid directly to the installer, so landlords only pay the remaining 25% of the cost. A landlord can receive up to 200 grants a year for residential properties, and a further 100 for commercial properties, in a bid to encourage them to install in all properties. These grants can be applied to several properties, or for several installations at one property.
The only eligibility criteria the landlord needs to meet is being either VAT registered or registered at Companies House. If a landlord doesn’t meet the requirement, then they can allow their tenant to apply for a similar grant on their own behalf to have a charging point installed.
Fire Protection Measures
If you’re a landlord having an electric car charging point installed at your rental property, it’s highly recommended that you also take this chance to review your fire protection measures. Because electric charge points add a new risk point, you will need to update any rental agreements, amend insurances and ensure the correct fire protections and preventions are in place.
Specifically, there is new guidance available on what should be reviewed and updated once the new installation is in place, and there is dedicated advice around their installation in enclosed parking spaces expected later in 2022.
At DNA Brickwork & Builders, we are dedicated to supporting a green future. In fact, we’re so passionate about electric vehicles that we own one, and are in the middle of upgrading our entire fleet to electric-only vehicles. Our electricians have worked hard to achieve OLEV approval, which means we have been trained and tested in installing electric car charging points at home or on commercial premises. We can install all types of electric vehicle charging points to suit cars and vans, including Type 1 and Type 2, as well as guide you through the process of applying for your grant so that you save a little money too! If you would like to find out more, just get in touch with the team today.
