Electric Charge Point - Flat - Allocated Parking outside

Section62

MrFrugalFever said:

...There is a communal understairs cupboard right by the door entrance (my bottom flat neighbour uses this to store his fishing gear which isn't technically allowed but it doesn't affect me or anyone else!) and the end of my parking space closest to the flats is a large shrub/bush which could be trimmed back slightly to allow for the positioning of the standalone charger.

Is the position where you want to install the charger within the area included in your lease, or is the area the responsibility of the freeholder?

MrFrugalFever

Section62 said:

MrFrugalFever said:

...There is a communal understairs cupboard right by the door entrance (my bottom flat neighbour uses this to store his fishing gear which isn't technically allowed but it doesn't affect me or anyone else!) and the end of my parking space closest to the flats is a large shrub/bush which could be trimmed back slightly to allow for the positioning of the standalone charger.

Is the position where you want to install the charger within the area included in your lease, or is the area the responsibility of the freeholder?

I believe the positioning of the actual charging unit itself would be on my leased land, however, the installation of cabling/metering point etc would fall within the communal area of the property and therefore I assume would be responsibility of freeholder here.

My style of flats could easily be retrofitted with chargers at the end of each designated parking space should it be required IMO.

Grumpy_chap

MrFrugalFever said:

Hi,

I have an allocated parking space outside my block of flats (6 in total, over 3 floors, 2 on each floor), which is leasehold. I have enquired about the possibility of an electric charge point being installed at the end of my parking space (which I own on the deeds), to which I have been told I do not have the right to have cables installed or a charger installed under the terms of the lease. 

With the ZEV mandate in place and petrol/diesel cars being banned from sale from 2030, I cannot understand why management agents / terms of lease aren't considering the impact of this and the necessity of a charging station.

Would I need to go legal with this and try for a variation of lease?

How large is the allocated parking space?
Do you own the freehold or the leasehold to the allocated parking space?
Are there any restrictions in the deeds that constrain what you do with the allocated parking space?

Within the limitations of the above, you may be able to get a separate electricity meter installed by the DNO and then power an EV charger from that.  If that is permitted within the deeds, you would not need the right to have cables installed as the DNO would do so under their statutory powers.
I think that is a long-shot, but I can't read your lease / deeds from here.

Section62

MrFrugalFever said:

Section62 said:

MrFrugalFever said:

...There is a communal understairs cupboard right by the door entrance (my bottom flat neighbour uses this to store his fishing gear which isn't technically allowed but it doesn't affect me or anyone else!) and the end of my parking space closest to the flats is a large shrub/bush which could be trimmed back slightly to allow for the positioning of the standalone charger.

Is the position where you want to install the charger within the area included in your lease, or is the area the responsibility of the freeholder?

I believe the positioning of the actual charging unit itself would be on my leased land, however, the installation of cabling/metering point etc would fall within the communal area of the property and therefore I assume would be responsibility of freeholder here.

My style of flats could easily be retrofitted with chargers at the end of each designated parking space should it be required IMO.

If you can get everything above ground installed within your land (and still have room to park) then it might be less problematic than asking for equipment dedicated for your use installed on communal ground.

But if you have no right to install cables under the landlord's area then you'd need to find an argument which will persuade them... i.e. sufficient money.

Neil49

DE_612183 said:

A separate charging point I would assume would require a new supply, a separate meter etc - may be quite costly as well as an inconvenience to others if the ground has to be dug up.

Have they said anything about the reasons why other that you don't have the right?

Have you had an estimate / costing for such an installation - bearing in mind the location of the inbound supply of electricity?

You should also ensure that your existing power supply can cope with the higher demand for charging the car. If it can't then you have a problem. 

https://wepoweryourcar.com/how-to-notify-dno-of-ev-charger-installation/

If you are on the ground floor then installation could be easier than from above but it all depends upon the location of your meters and where the power cables enter your property. I doubt that the other leaseholders would accept power cables running down the outer wall (and neither would the freeholder).

You may have more luck if all six owners wanted such an installation but if it's just you then I would suggest that the entire cost is your responsibility. 

MrFrugalFever

Grumpy_chap said:

MrFrugalFever said:

Hi,

I have an allocated parking space outside my block of flats (6 in total, over 3 floors, 2 on each floor), which is leasehold. I have enquired about the possibility of an electric charge point being installed at the end of my parking space (which I own on the deeds), to which I have been told I do not have the right to have cables installed or a charger installed under the terms of the lease. 

With the ZEV mandate in place and petrol/diesel cars being banned from sale from 2030, I cannot understand why management agents / terms of lease aren't considering the impact of this and the necessity of a charging station.

Would I need to go legal with this and try for a variation of lease?

How large is the allocated parking space?
Do you own the freehold or the leasehold to the allocated parking space?
Are there any restrictions in the deeds that constrain what you do with the allocated parking space?

Within the limitations of the above, you may be able to get a separate electricity meter installed by the DNO and then power an EV charger from that.  If that is permitted within the deeds, you would not need the right to have cables installed as the DNO would do so under their statutory powers.
I think that is a long-shot, but I can't read your lease / deeds from here.

Thanks for this info! 
the parking space is sufficient for an estate car such as a VW Passat/BMW 3 series/Audi A4 etc.

As far as I can see the only restriction I have with regards to my allocated parking space is that I cannot have a motorhome or caravan or commercial vehicle on it.

I do not believe I have any freehold ownership it is purely leasehold.

My block was built in 1996.

PRAISETHESUN

Regardless of the issues over where the cables are legally allowed/not allowed to go, you might find that in general the electrical infrastructure for the complex might not sufficient to facilitate EV charging. It's not as simple as running a few extra cables and install the charging point - it can mean retrofitting thicker gauge wiring, high capacity fuse boxes, etc. A potentially significant expense, that someone has to pay for...

Herzlos

HelpfulLittleHelper said:

I cannot understand why management agents / terms of lease aren't considering the impact of this and the necessity of a charging station.

I know exactly why, because if they wait until it's super critical all of a sudden they can charge a big fat premium for any changes and you are stuck with it because you have to get it installed anyway.

It'll just be standard short term-ism. No-one is really asking about it yet and they don't want to spend the money upgrading because they won't see a benfit in this years annual report.

They may also be holding out for grants or the government to just do it for them. Or whoever is dealing with the requests doesn't like EV's.

our_des

PRAISETHESUN said:

Regardless of the issues over where the cables are legally allowed/not allowed to go, you might find that in general the electrical infrastructure for the complex might not sufficient to facilitate EV charging. It's not as simple as running a few extra cables and install the charging point - it can mean retrofitting thicker gauge wiring, high capacity fuse boxes, etc. A potentially significant expense, that someone has to pay for...

This and if the OP is on a looped system, their neighbour would need to give permission to be un-looped by the DNO.

sheenas

I have seen this done and other than the cable runs it not really any different. Many chargers come with key fob options and work well in this configuration. Here in Scotland the land of 'no lease holds' the Factor (management company) did offer to install EV charging points for every parking bay for around £800 per flat (with a grant) where I live.