A survey claims that 86 per cent of freehold landlords with a suitable property would install an electric vehicle (EV) charge point if their tenant requested one.
A fifth (20 per cent) of landlords would be willing to cover the cost of installation for a tenant requested a charger was installed.
The majority of landlords would expect the tenant to pay for (35 per cent), or to share the cost (30 per cent) of, the EV charging point and installation. This could potentially cause problems between tenants and landlords in the long run, if there isn’t a clear written agreement in place outlining what happens to the charge point when the tenant moves out. It is also important there is an agreement as to who is responsible for paying maintenance and repair costs should something go wrong.
The main reasons for installing an EV charging point for a landlord is to increase the value of the property (40 per cent), to make the property more attractive to tenants (40 per cent), and to keep their tenant happy (40 per cent). A further 15 per cent would do so to enable them to charge more rent.
A quarter of landlords (26 per cent) would be concerned about the additional cost and maintenance associated with installing a charging point. Unlike the annual boiler service, landlords are not legally required to carry out an annual service on EV charge points, however doing so could help to ensure that the charge point is efficient and safe to use. It can also help extend this lifespan of the charger.
There are currently two grants available to support the purchase and installation of chargers for electric vehicles at a property owned by landlords: an electric vehicle charge point grant (either £350 or 75 per cent off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower), and an electric vehicle infrastructure grant (up to £30,000 or 75 per cent off the cost of the work, with the amount depending on how many parking spaces the work covers).
Landlords can use an infrastructure grant and a charge point grant on the same property.
A spokesperson for Direct Line, which commissioned the survey, says: “One in 40 vehicles on our roads are now zero emission, including 960,896 cars. With the UK government pathway for zero emission vehicle transition by 2035, demand for rental properties with EV chargers is set to soar as more drivers make the switch. Installing a charger will make a property appealing to a broader range of tenants and add value to the property. To avoid complications and disputes, it’s important that landlords and tenants have a written agreement to make sure that there is a clear understanding of who is responsible for maintenance and ownership of the charger.”
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Osbourne probably conducted the survey
9897754% of people believed everything written on an epc
How big was the survey? Ages of respondents? Location? Income levels? etc. etc.
Throwing out all these numbers and percentages without providing more information is utterly pointless.
Not this one. No chance.
I would consider installing an EV charger in appropriate houses (with driveways).
The cost of installation would need to be discussed rationally with the tenant.
Assuming they are paying their own electric bills having a charger gives access to EV tariffs at 7p per kWh at night. This is for all electric used during this period, not just for the car. Public charging stations charge anything from about 35p per kWh upwards. A quick Google search shows 35p, 44p, 52p and 61p within a one mile radius of my house.
Our EV uses about 400kWhs per month so the saving is huge (at least £112 a month). It would seem entirely reasonable to install a charger and increase the rent by maybe £40 or £50 a month. Win, win for both landlord and tenant.
There are probably ways of making it work in a bills inclusive HMO as some of the chargers and apps are quite clever.
My rational discussion would be that the tenants paid the full cost upfront and would be free to negotiate a contribution from any future tenant but neither transaction would involve me.
Alternatively I would pay provided I could put the rent up sufficiently to recover the cost plus interest over 12 months with an appropriate further review after 12 months.
Madness to agree to an EV charger being installed. As I understand it, you have to have a smart meter installed for an EV charger to work (happy to be corrected if wrong). Having a smart meter will be akin to taking a vaccine in future years, there will be buyer's remorse when the smart meter is used to restrict your supply to certain hours of the day!
I can see tenant saying - oh a ev charger - yes pls. But then havin to pay an extra 50.00 a (month) for the pleasure - can’t see him/ her for that.
Yes they can have an EV charging point installed at their exspense, if I have to pay for it there will be a cost added to the rent
It's all very well getting Direct Line's statements, but does Gibbo have a view?
Of course he does. He is a chartered surveyor, a residential and a commercial landlord and, if his post on Letting Agent Today is to be believed, has the ear of the Opposition Ministers.
Perhaps we should refer to him as Comrade Gibbo in future?
AL - if he has their ear, that explains why they don't listen to us. He needs to give them their ears back!
I would not fit one at all. I would prefer everyone kept the petrol and diesel cars. I want things to heat up a little more so we have some nicer summers, and we don't need heating. And I don't get dumb a** tenants growing mould in my properties.
No future need for these electric points. ‘carbon capture’ combustion engines are on the way!
Electric car drivers will be forced to pay London's £15-a-day Congestion Charge from Christmas 2025.
Nick, that’s the strange thing global warming so it’s getting warmer and we are smothered with insulation.
When we were freezing in the 60’s we didn’t even have Central heating for most part never mind Insulation. We must be getting soft.
Indeed, it appears that we were not included in the recent survey conducted among a select group of five landlords.
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