If you live in a flat or rent your home, you are one of the few groups in the UK still eligible for the OZEV grant towards a home EV charger. Homeowners with driveways lost access in 2022. The grant covers up to £350 (75% of installation costs), and the government may increase this to £500 from April 2026. This guide covers the best OZEV-eligible chargers for flats and renters, what you need from your landlord, and alternatives if installation is not possible.
- OZEV grant covers up to £350 for renters and flat owners - homeowners with driveways are NOT eligible, making this the last segment that qualifies for government EV charger funding
- Ohme Home Pro costs £649 after the grant - the full £999 installed price drops significantly, with Octopus Intelligent Go saving a further £200-400/year on overnight charging
- Written landlord consent is mandatory - you cannot apply for the OZEV grant or begin installation without documented permission from your landlord or management company
- Tesla Wall Connector is NOT OZEV-eligible - despite being one of the cheapest units on the market, it does not appear on the approved charger list
- Portable 3-pin plug chargers offer a no-install alternative - charging at 2.3kW (around 8 miles per hour), they suit renters who cannot get landlord permission or a dedicated parking space
EV Charger Comparison for Flats and Renters
All five chargers below are OZEV-approved and can be installed by accredited installers. Prices include VAT and standard installation. The “After Grant” column shows what you actually pay once the £350 OZEV grant is deducted.
| Charger | Installed Price | After OZEV Grant | Warranty | Smart Tariffs | OZEV Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohme Home Pro | £999 | £649 | 3 years | Octopus, BG, E.ON | Yes |
| Pod Point Solo 3S | £999 | £649 | 5 years | Octopus, OVO | Yes |
| Easee One | £918–£999 | £568–£649 | 3 years | Octopus, Ohme | Yes |
| Myenergi Zappi | From £1,100 | From £750 | 3 years | Octopus, Gridpay | Yes |
| Hypervolt Home 3 | £999 | £649 | 3 years | Octopus, OVO | Yes |
Note: The Tesla Wall Connector (£425 unit price) is NOT on the OZEV-approved list. If you are claiming the grant, do not choose it. See our full EV charger comparison if you are a homeowner without grant eligibility.
Our Top 3 Picks for Flats and Renters
Ohme Home Pro
The Ohme Home Pro is the strongest overall choice for renters and flat owners claiming the OZEV grant. At £999 installed (£649 after the £350 grant), it undercuts most competitors on total cost while offering the deepest smart tariff integration on the market. Its direct link to Octopus Intelligent Go means the charger automatically schedules overnight charging at the cheapest rates, typically saving £200-400 per year.
The built-in 4G SIM is particularly useful in flats where Wi-Fi signal may not reach a car park or basement garage. You do not need to rely on your home broadband reaching the charger. The LCD screen shows real-time charging status and costs, and Solar Boost mode can divert excess solar generation if your building has panels. Read our full Ohme Home Pro review for detailed test results.
Pod Point Solo 3S
The Pod Point Solo 3S matches the Ohme on installed price at £999 (£649 after the OZEV grant) but stands out with a 5-year warranty, double the 2-3 year standard offered by most competitors. For renters who may move before a shorter warranty expires, this extra coverage adds genuine peace of mind. If you move out, the charger stays, but the warranty remains valid for the next occupant, which can be a selling point when negotiating with your landlord.
Pod Point has installed over 200,000 chargers in the UK, and their installer network is one of the largest. This matters for flats where installation can be more complex, with longer cable runs, communal wall mounting, and trunking requirements. Their experience with multi-dwelling installations is a practical advantage. See our Pod Point Solo 3S review for our full assessment.
Easee One
The Easee One is the smallest home EV charger on the UK market, roughly the size of a hardback book. For flats where wall space is limited, perhaps in a shared garage or on an external wall near a communal car park, its compact footprint is a genuine advantage. Installed prices range from £918 to £999, dropping to £568-649 after the OZEV grant.
Easee’s modular design also supports load balancing across multiple chargers on the same circuit. If your building decides to install several units for different residents, the Easee system can distribute power automatically without requiring expensive electrical upgrades. This makes it a strong choice for buildings considering a phased rollout of charging infrastructure. For more on affordable options, see our guide to the cheapest EV chargers in the UK.
How the OZEV Grant Works for Renters and Flat Owners
The EV chargepoint grant (formerly the OZEV grant) covers 75% of installation costs up to £350 per charger. It is available exclusively to renters, flat owners, and landlords. Homeowners with off-street parking on a house lost access in April 2022. This makes flats and rental properties the last residential segment where the government will contribute towards your home charger.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the OZEV grant, you must meet all of the following criteria. Missing any one will result in your application being rejected, so check each point before approaching an installer.
- You must be a renter, flat owner, or landlord – owner-occupiers of houses with driveways do not qualify
- Written landlord or management company consent is required – verbal agreement is not sufficient; the installer will need a signed letter or email
- The charger must be on the OZEV-approved product list – not all chargers qualify (notably the Tesla Wall Connector does not)
- The installer must be OZEV-accredited – they handle the grant application on your behalf; you pay the reduced price
- You need a dedicated parking space – shared or unallocated parking may disqualify you, though some management companies can assign a space
For a full breakdown of all available EV charger funding, including workplace and commercial schemes, see our complete guide to EV charger grants in the UK.
How the Application Process Works
You do not apply for the OZEV grant directly. Your OZEV-accredited installer submits the application as part of the installation process. They deduct the grant amount from your invoice, so you pay the reduced price upfront. The installer then claims the £350 back from the government. The typical timeline from first quote to installed charger is 2-4 weeks, depending on electrical survey availability and landlord response times.
Challenges of Installing an EV Charger in a Flat
Installing a charger in a flat is more complex than in a house with a driveway. Longer cable runs, communal wall permissions, and shared electrical supplies all add cost and complexity. Here are the main challenges and how to address them.
Landlord and Management Company Permission
Your landlord or freeholder must provide written consent before any work begins. For leasehold flats, this may also require approval from the residents’ management company or a formal variation to your lease. Start this conversation early, as it can take weeks. Some landlords are enthusiastic because a charger adds property value. Others will need convincing that the installation is safe, insured, and will not damage communal areas.
Dedicated Parking and Cable Routing
You typically need a dedicated parking space to qualify for the OZEV grant. If your flat has an allocated bay in an underground car park or gated area, this is straightforward. If parking is first-come-first-served, ask your management company about assigning a space near a suitable wall for mounting. Cable runs from your flat’s consumer unit to the parking area can be 15-30 metres in some buildings, which adds £100-300 to installation costs beyond the standard quote.
Communal Charging Alternatives
Some flat developments are installing shared charge points rather than individual units. Providers like Pod Point and BP Pulse offer commercial-grade solutions where multiple residents share 2-4 chargers, often managed through an app with billing split per kWh used. This approach avoids the need for individual grant applications and landlord negotiations, though you lose the convenience of a personal charger. Ask your management company if this is being considered for your building.
What If You Cannot Install a Charger?
Not every renter or flat owner will get landlord permission or have a suitable parking space. If installation is not possible, you still have options for charging your EV at home or nearby.
Portable 3-Pin Plug Chargers
A granny charger (3-pin plug charger) draws power from a standard 13A socket and charges at roughly 2.3kW. That translates to about 8 miles of range per hour, or a full charge in 24-30 hours for a typical 60kWh battery. It is painfully slow, but it works if you have access to an outdoor socket or can safely run a cable from your flat. Portable chargers cost £150-350 and require no installation, no landlord permission, and no grant application.
Public Charging Networks
The UK now has over 70,000 public charge points. If your flat is near a supermarket, car park, or on-street charger, you may find that regular top-ups at 7-50kW are more practical than slow home charging. Apps like Zapmap and Bonnet aggregate multiple networks so you can find and pay for nearby chargers. The cost per kWh is higher than home charging (typically 40-79p vs 7-10p on a smart tariff), but the convenience may outweigh the premium if home installation is not feasible.
How We Chose These Chargers
We evaluated every OZEV-eligible home charger on the UK market against criteria specific to flats and rental properties. Our assessment weighted OZEV grant eligibility, installed cost after the grant, physical size (critical for shared spaces), warranty length, smart tariff compatibility, and installer network coverage. We excluded chargers that are not on the OZEV-approved list, regardless of their quality, because grant eligibility is the defining advantage for this audience.
Grant increase expected: The UK government has signalled that the OZEV grant may increase from £350 to £500 from April 2026. If you are not in a rush, waiting a few weeks could save you an additional £150. We will update this guide when the change is confirmed.
