How do the changes to OZEV grant funding impact property managers?

The funding changes property managers should know

Before these changes, the electric vehicle infrastructure grant for residential landlords meant that up to £850 per parking bay could be claimed via the OZEV grant scheme. This covered £500 for infrastructure and £350 for the charge point. But, under the new scheme, support will drop to £500, and will only become available once a chargepoint has been installed. 

This removed the funding that was initially available to support the installation of the pre-infrastructure, which consists of cabling, distribution and safety systems – critical to making the installation financially and operationally viable for residents.

In reality, these changes will make EV charging less accessible for people living in flats and could significantly slow down the shift to electric transport. The policy shift reduces one of the main sources of financial support of EV adoption for those who live in apartments, increases reliance on private capital and poses safety concerns to property leaders.

What’s next for safe, scalable installations?

As OZEV support is changing and the cost gap between public and home charging is widening, some apartment residents could consider utilising the £500 OZEV grant to install their own chargers. However, this raises significant challenges around building safety, billing fairness, load management, aesthetics and long-term consistency. Property managers should look towards a coordinated, building wide strategy in order to achieve a solution that is both safe and scalable. 

Government funding has always been subject to change, but these shifts have brought to light how quickly the landscape can evolve. By not acting or delaying surveys, property managers risk leaving their residents without access to at-home charging for even longer. 

However, alongside these changes, resident expectations are rising. ChargeGuru data found that 74% of drivers feel onsite EV charging is a meaningful factor when deciding where to live. If building managers and owners invest in EV charging solutions, they are only supporting their tenant attraction, retention and long-term asset value. 

Practical funding scenarios without the OZEV grant

After 31 March, several funding approaches will remain available for introducing EV charging across your properties.

One route is for the freeholder to finance the infrastructure directly. This offers a long-term asset upgrade, full oversight of the system, prevention of ad-hoc resident installations, and the flexibility to expand over time. The trade-off, however, is the upfront capital required, along with the responsibility for ongoing management and maintenance of the charging network.

Another option is a resident co-funding model, where all residents contribute to shared infrastructure works, and individual chargers are installed when needed. While this provides transparency and shared ownership, it does present challenges: the building must still manage ongoing maintenance and operations, and securing agreement from residents, especially those who don’t have or expect to own an EV, can be difficult.

Third-party funded solutions offer a middle path by removing upfront costs for both freeholders and residents who don’t want a charger. Providers like ChargeGuru invest in the infrastructure themselves, absorbing the initial outlay. In return, residents receive access to reliable, fairly priced charging points. This model delivers a safe, scalable, and low-administration solution for buildings, offering a more sustainable long-term strategy for EV charging in apartment buildings.

2026: Where disruption meets opportunity

The infrastructure grant application deadline is looming, and only projects that are already well into the planning phase, or physically underway, are likely to be in a position to use the current funding. Despite the shift in available grants, ChargeGuru’s core commitment to closing the ‘driveway divide’ for flat residents remains absolute. Because of this, from 1st April onwards; freeholders, property managers and RTM directors will still be able to access ChargeGuru’s fully funded solution for apartment blocks. 

Denis Watling, Managing Director of ChargeGuru UK