Flat owners and renters with private off-street parking may be able to claim an OZEV chargepoint grant toward purchase and installation, subject to live GOV.UK rules. In outline you confirm eligibility, secure written consent where needed, apply through the current government process before installation, then work with an authorised installer who can supply the evidence the scheme requires. Published support has included a high percentage of eligible costs up to a capped amount per socket, with rates updated from April 2026, but you must verify the live figure. Owner-occupier houses are usually a different story.
Confirm you are on the right scheme
The flats and renters chargepoint grant is aimed at people who own and live in a flat, or who rent and live in a residential property, with private off-street parking they can access. Lodgers in a landlord's own home, empty properties and many owner-occupied houses are typically excluded. Channel Islands and Isle of Man addresses are outside the UK scheme framing used on GOV.UK.
If your only parking is on the public highway, look at on-street or cross-pavement routes instead of forcing a flats-and-renters claim that will fail the parking test.
Permissions before paperwork
Renters need written landlord permission that names them and the address. Flat owners often need freeholder or managing agent consent where the lease or estate rules require it. OZEV guidance has stressed that third-party permissions should be in place before you apply, and may be requested later.
Attach a simple sketch of the bay and mounting wall when you ask for consent. Vague emails that only say "happy for an EV charger" create disputes when the cable route crosses a shared lobby or planter.
- Keep PDF copies of consent letters
- Confirm who will own the charger at the end of a tenancy
- Check estate rules on drilling, posts and make-good
Application and installer sequence
From April 2026, customer applications for flats and renters moved toward a newer GOV.UK application platform. Apply using the live "start application" path on the scheme page, then instruct an OZEV-authorised installer who understands the photo and evidence pack.
Do not treat a friendly verbal quote as a grant reservation. The claim usually needs matching applicant, address, parking photos and installed socket evidence.
What "private off-street parking" means in practice
The bay should be private, clearly defined and accessible to you, with legal rights documented. It does not always have to sit inside your freehold boundary, but you must be able to prove the right to use and alter it for charging.
Allocated underground spaces, podium decks and rear courtyards can qualify when rights are clear. Shared first-come bays and council bay permits usually do not.
Money and timelines
Published rates have described support such as around 75% of eligible costs up to a per-socket cap, with higher caps appearing for some routes from April 2026. Check GOV.UK for the figure that applies on the day you apply. Ask your installer what happens to the deposit if processing slips.
Build a buffer for consumer unit work or long cable runs that may sit partly outside eligible cost definitions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a house renter claim?
Often yes if you rent the whole residential property, have private off-street parking and meet the other live tests. Confirm on GOV.UK and get written landlord consent first.
I own a house with a driveway. Can I use this grant?
Usually no. The flats and renters route is not a general homeowner driveway grant. Check whether any other live OZEV scheme fits your parking instead.
Must the installer be OZEV-authorised?
Grant claims typically require an authorised installer who can submit the evidence pack. Using an unauthorised trader risks an invalid claim even if the electrics look fine.
How much will I get?
Use only the live GOV.UK cap and percentage for your scheme. Guides quoting £350 or £500 are illustrations of published maxima at particular dates, not a personal entitlement.
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How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.