OZEV Chargepoint Grant for Renters & Flat Owners

Who is eligible for the OZEV chargepoint grant in 2026?

The OZEV chargepoint grant is no longer available to all UK households. Since April 2022, the government has restricted it to four specific groups who historically had less access to home charging. Owner-occupiers with private driveways were removed from the scheme on the basis that the early-adopter market was already mature.

The five live grant schemes for 2026 are:

Renters: detailed eligibility

If you rent your home, you can claim £500 towards a chargepoint provided three conditions are met. First, you must have private off-street parking that is exclusively yours under the terms of your tenancy — this can be a driveway, garage, or an allocated parking bay in a shared scheme. On-street parking outside your home does not qualify under this scheme; that requires the separate cross-pavement scheme.

Second, you must have written permission from both your landlord and, if the property is leasehold, the freeholder or managing agent. The permission letter should name you, the property address, and confirm consent for the chargepoint to be installed and to remain after your tenancy ends. Verbal permission is not accepted by OZEV.

Third, you must own, lease, or have placed an order for a qualifying electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle does not have to be registered at your address, but you must have legal access to the parking where the charger will be installed.

Flat owners and leaseholders: detailed eligibility

Flat owners face the most complex eligibility path because the parking space and building infrastructure are typically owned by a freeholder or management company, not the leaseholder. The leaseholder must therefore obtain a Licence To Alter or equivalent written consent before any work begins. Reviewing your lease is the first step — some leases prohibit electrical alterations without express consent, while others permit them subject to landlord notification.

Where the parking space is part of the demised property, the leaseholder typically has the right to install equipment with freeholder consent. Where the parking space is part of the common parts (such as a shared car park managed by a residents' association), the route is more complex and may require a building-wide infrastructure assessment.

Shared-ownership flat purchasers are explicitly included in the renters and flat owners scheme. The same permission rules apply.

Landlords: detailed eligibility

Residential landlords have the most generous version of the OZEV grant: up to £500 per socket, repeatable for up to 200 sockets per year across an entire portfolio. To qualify, the applicant must be either a registered company at Companies House or VAT-registered. Sole-trader landlords typically need to register before applying.

Each property where a chargepoint is installed must be a residential rental — second homes you do not let, and short-term holiday lets, are not eligible under this scheme. Landlords can also access a separate EV infrastructure grant covering up to £30,000 of building-wide enabling works (wiring, substations, distribution boards) at 75% of cost. Read our complete landlord guide for ROI calculations and 7-step application process.

Who is not eligible

• Owner-occupiers of houses with a private driveway (excluded since April 2022)
• Properties without any form of dedicated parking, including those served only by on-street public parking — these qualify under the separate cross-pavement scheme instead
• Tenants without written landlord permission
• Holiday lets, Airbnb properties, and second homes used solely by the owner
• Commercial premises (these qualify under the workplace charging scheme)

How to apply for the OZEV chargepoint grant: 8-step process

The application is submitted by your installer, not by you directly. This sounds bureaucratic but is actually faster — installers do this routinely and know exactly what OZEV needs to approve quickly. Your role is to gather the evidence and pick the right installer.

1. Step 1 — Confirm your eligibility

   Use the eligibility checker above or review the criteria in the eligibility section. If you are a renter or flat owner, identify whether your property is freehold or leasehold — this determines whose permission you need.

2. Step 2 — Get written permission

   Renters: write to your landlord requesting permission to install an EV chargepoint. The letter must include your name, the property address, the type of work, and acknowledge that the chargepoint will remain after your tenancy ends (or be removed at your cost). If the property is leasehold, also write to the freeholder or managing agent.

   Flat owners: write to the freeholder or managing agent. If the lease prohibits electrical alterations or you are unsure, instruct a property solicitor to confirm whether a Licence To Alter is required (typical cost £400–£800).

3. Step 3 — Choose an OZEV-approved charger

   Only chargers on the OZEV authorised product list qualify. Popular models include the Pod Point Solo 3, Ohme ePod, BP Pulse Home, Andersen A2, Hypervolt Home 3 Pro, Easee One, and Wallbox Pulsar Plus. All are smart-compatible (a regulatory requirement). Compare on tethered vs. untethered cable, app features, and integration with your energy tariff. Ohme integrates particularly well with Octopus Intelligent Go.

4. Step 4 — Get three quotes from OZEV-authorised installers

   Always get at least three quotes. Verify that each installer is OZEV-accredited — this is non-negotiable for grant eligibility. Confirm they will submit the grant application on your behalf as part of their service. Request a written breakdown of charger cost, labour, materials, and any extras (long cable run, mounting bracket, Wi-Fi extender if needed).

5. Step 5 — Installer submits the application

   Your chosen installer submits the grant application via the GOV.UK service portal. You provide property details, vehicle details, and copies of your written permissions. The installer attaches their quote and OZEV credentials. Most installers do this within 1–3 working days of confirming the order.

6. Step 6 — Wait for approval

   OZEV typically processes applications in 3 to 8 weeks. You will receive an email notification when the application is approved. Do not begin installation work before receiving approval — pre-approval work is not grant-eligible and will void the claim.

7. Step 7 — Charger installed

   The installer arranges installation, typically within 2 to 4 weeks of grant approval. A standard install takes half a day. The installer photographs the completed work and uploads the evidence to OZEV alongside the final invoice within 28 days of completion.

8. Step 8 — Grant deducted from your invoice

   OZEV pays the grant directly to the installer, who applies it as a discount on your final invoice. You pay only the net amount. The grant never passes through your hands — this is by design, to prevent fraud and simplify VAT treatment.

Total elapsed time from first contact to working chargepoint: typically 6 to 12 weeks. Plan ahead if you need the charger ready for a specific date such as a vehicle delivery.

Getting permission: the trickiest step

For renters and flat owners, securing written permission is the slowest and most variable part of the process. We see four common scenarios.

Scenario 1: private rental, freehold property

Simplest case. Write to your landlord with a clear request. Most cooperative landlords approve within 2–4 weeks because the chargepoint adds property value and rental appeal. Some will require you to remove the unit at end of tenancy or pay for its removal — this is reasonable and often acceptable.

Scenario 2: private rental, leasehold flat

Two-step approval. First the landlord (your immediate counterparty), then the freeholder of the building. Freeholder approval is typically the bottleneck — managing agents can take 6–12 weeks to respond. Start this process early. If multiple flats in the building want chargers, coordinate a joint application — freeholders respond faster to organised requests covering several units.

Scenario 3: owner-occupier flat (leasehold)

Single approval needed (freeholder or managing agent), but the lease wording matters. Read the alterations clause carefully. Some leases require a formal Licence To Alter (a legal document, not a casual letter), which costs £400–£800 to instruct via a property solicitor. Skipping this step risks invalidating your lease.

Scenario 4: shared parking

Where the parking space is in a shared area (residents' association, communal car park), additional approval from the association or other affected leaseholders may be required. Schedule a residents' meeting if possible and propose a building-wide infrastructure plan rather than a single charger — this is more likely to win unanimous support.

To [Landlord / Freeholder / Managing agent name]
[Their address]

[Your name]
[Property address]
[Date]

Re: Request to install an electric vehicle chargepoint at [property address]

I am writing to request your written consent to install a 7 kW electric vehicle chargepoint at the above property. I am applying for the OZEV chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners, which requires your written permission as a precondition.

The proposed installation:
- Charger model: [e.g. Ohme ePod, OZEV-approved smart charger]
- Installer: [name], OZEV-accredited
- Location: [e.g. external wall adjacent to allocated parking bay]
- Power supply: existing single-phase domestic supply (no upgrade required)
- Removal undertaking: I confirm I will remove the chargepoint at my own cost at the end of my tenancy / on disposal of the property, restoring the wall to its original condition, if required by you in writing.

Please confirm in writing your consent to this installation. I am happy to provide further details, the installer's quote, or to attend a site visit.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]

Common issues and how to avoid them