EV charging in a flat or without a driveway

Helpful video reference. Artisan Electrics produce some of the clearest UK EV charging content on YouTube. Their video "EV charging without a driveway - UK options explained" covers Mode 2 socket use, the OZEV flat grant and communal charging for blocks of flats. Well worth a watch before making any decisions.

1. Know your realistic options

The four main routes to home or near-home EV charging without a driveway are:

• Mode 2 charging from a 13A socket. Slow (about 10 miles of range per hour), but it works if you have an accessible socket near your parking space. Suitable as a short-term solution or for low-mileage drivers.
• On-street and public destination charging. Lamp post chargers, kerbside bays and supermarket or leisure centre car park chargers. Speeds vary from 3.7 kW (similar to home charging) up to 7.4 kW or faster. Usually paid by the session or per kWh via an app or RFID card.
• Communal charging in a managed block. Shared EV chargers in the building's car park, usually managed by a specialist operator under contract with the management company. The most convenient long-term option if your building has car parking it controls.
• Dedicated charger on your allocated space. If you have a private parking space associated with your flat, the OZEV EV chargepoint grant may cover most of the cost. This gives you 7.4 kW home charging, smart tariff access and the lowest running cost of all the options.

2. Mode 2 charging from an accessible socket

Mode 2 is the charging method used with the cable that comes in the boot of most new EVs. One end is a standard 13A plug; the other is a Type 2 connector for the car. The EVSE box in the middle of the cable monitors the connection and current draw, and will cut off if it detects a problem.

At 10A continuous draw it adds roughly 10 miles of range per hour. An empty 60 kWh battery takes around 25 hours from flat to full, so Mode 2 only really works for people who do not use the car heavily every day, or as a top-up between sessions at a faster charger.

If you have a garage or a socket in a communal area near your parking space, have an electrician check the socket and circuit before you start a regular charging routine. Look for:

• A socket that is rated for continuous 13A use and shows no signs of heat damage.
• A circuit that is not also supplying heavy loads from other tenants or communal equipment.
• A cable run from the socket to the car that does not cross a pavement or shared entrance where it becomes a trip hazard. Most council highways departments will not permit a cable laid across a public pavement, even overnight.

3. On-street and public destination charging

The UK's on-street charging network has grown considerably since 2022. In most Kent towns including Sandwich and Deal there are now lamp post chargers, kerbside bays or destination points at supermarkets and car parks. The Zap-Map app (free, no registration required) shows every public charger in the country with live status, pricing and user reviews.

Lamp post chargers in residential streets are typically 3.7 kW (16A, single phase), which gives roughly 15 miles of range per hour. That is more than enough for most overnight sessions. Costs vary: many are priced per kWh (typically 40-55p/kWh in 2026), which is more expensive than home rates but still far cheaper than petrol.

If your local authority does not yet have a lamp post charger on your street, most councils have an active programme and a request process. It is worth submitting a request, particularly if several neighbours with EVs would use the same point.

4. Communal charging in a managed block

If your building has a car park managed by a management company or residents management company (RMC), a communal EV charging scheme is likely the most practical long-term answer for the whole building.

Several operators (including Pod Point, bp pulse and Osprey) offer no-upfront-cost installations for blocks: they fund the installation in return for taking a share of the revenue from session fees. From the management company's perspective, this adds value to the building with no capital outlay. From your perspective as a resident, you get a 7.4 kW charger a few spaces from your car.

To start this process, write to your management company proposing a communal charging scheme and offering to do the initial research. Operators will survey the building, check the electrical supply capacity and propose a scheme at no cost to you or the management company. Even if it takes a year to get agreement and installation done, that is the right timeline for something that benefits all future residents.

5. The OZEV EV chargepoint grant for flat dwellers

From 2022, the OZEV EV chargepoint grant was extended to cover people in flats and private tenants. The grant covers 75% of the cost of purchasing and installing an OZEV-approved charger, up to a maximum of £350, provided:

• You own an eligible EV or have placed an order for one.
• You have an allocated private parking space associated with your flat (not a shared or communal space, but one that is yours).
• The property is in England, Scotland or Wales (Northern Ireland has a separate scheme).
• An OZEV-registered installer carries out the work and makes the grant application on your behalf.

Most 7.4 kW home chargers cost between £700 and £1,000 installed before the grant. After the grant, a typical job costs £350 to £650. The smart tariff savings on overnight charging (charging at 7-10p/kWh on Octopus Go or a similar tariff versus 50p+/kWh from a public charger) typically recover that cost in under two years for a driver covering average mileage.

To check grant eligibility and find an OZEV-registered installer, visit the OZEV EV chargepoint grant page on gov.uk. Richard is an OZEV-registered installer for east Kent.

6. Approach your landlord or management company

If you rent and your landlord owns the parking space, or if your flat's parking is controlled by a management company, you need consent before an installer can proceed. Here is how to approach that conversation:

• Write formally rather than asking verbally. A letter or email creates a record and gives the landlord or management company something to respond to.
• Explain the OZEV grant and that the installation will be carried out by a qualified electrician with proper certification. Landlords are more receptive when they understand it is not DIY work with unknown liability.
• Confirm in writing that the charger will be installed on your allocated space only and that you will arrange removal or transfer of ownership if you leave the property.
• In England, under current legislation, landlords cannot unreasonably withhold consent for EV charger installation in a private parking space associated with a tenanted property. If you receive a refusal that appears unreasonable, Citizens Advice can advise on next steps.

In practice, most landlords with a single property give consent once they understand the process. Management companies for large blocks take longer but the communal route (step 4) is often a better fit for them anyway.

When to call us

Richard is an OZEV-registered installer covering Sandwich, Deal, Dover and the surrounding east Kent area. If you have identified an allocated parking space and want a dedicated 7.4 kW charger, he can advise on grant eligibility, carry out a supply assessment and handle the installation and OZEV paperwork. If you are still working out whether Mode 2 from a socket is safe for your situation, that is a conversation worth having before you start a nightly charging routine.