Two-thirds of property leaders plan to install EV chargers

Public charging is growing, private charging must catch up

For drivers without driveways, electric vehicle ownership is synonymous with public charging stations, which are well-established across the UK. Zapmap data shows that at the end of January 2025, there were 74,611 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, across 37,613 charging locations and 109,737 connectors – representing a 35% increase versus 12 months ago. This is not where the challenge lies to continue the shift to EVs.

Our data confirmed this, with over 70 percent of residents who live in flats or apartment buildings reporting that they are or would be reliant on public charging. While public charging is vital to bringing us into the e-mobility future, it is on average 3x more expensive than charging at home, and can be up to 10x more. The challenge now is bringing charging costs down by expanding private EV charging infrastructure to match the rapid growth of public charging.

The barriers to private EV charging

Encouragingly, 81% of property managers, developers, and landlords say they are aware of the process of getting EV charging installed on their premises and 86% of property managers, developers, and landlords say they are aware of funding available from the government like the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for renters and flat owners and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant. However, navigating the complexities of installation, including permits, council restrictions, and managing costs and responsibilities takes more than a general understanding of what is available.

Every building is different, and so are the needs of its residents. Some tenants or leaseholders may already own EVs and require charging access, while others may not be ready—or may never need an EV charger. Striking a balance between meeting the needs of EV drivers and ensuring fairness for all residents is a key challenge, especially in multi-unit buildings where shared resources must be allocated equitably.

Many existing buildings were not designed with EV infrastructure in mind, making retrofitting a costly and complex undertaking. Upgrading electrical capacity, securing permissions, and managing installation logistics can deter property managers from moving forward, even when funding is available. Even with grants to offset installation costs, there is often uncertainty about who should pay for and manage the chargers.

How to overcome these challenges

To turn intent into action, collaboration is key. Property leaders must integrate EV charging into long-term development plans, ensuring that infrastructure is built with future residents in mind. The EV industry’s role is to simplify the process, offering tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of different types of buildings. With end-to-end charging solution providers, like ChargeGuru, there are fully funded & managed apartment block charging solutions which come at zero cost to property managers and freeholders, making EV charging simpler for building owners & managers and more accessible to residents.

As demand for EVs continues to grow, properties with charging capabilities will become a key factor for buyers and tenants alike. To future-proof homes and workplaces, the EV industry, government, and property leaders must work together to simplify installation, remove cost and logistical hurdles for building decision-makers, and make private charging as accessible as public networks.

Rapid adoption of private “at-home” chargers is essential to meeting ambitious sustainability goals and ensuring that EVs are a viable option for all drivers. This is where partners like ChargeGuru play a vital role in demystifying the process and making EV charging a seamless, scalable solution for property owners and residents alike.

Denis Watling, Managing Director of ChargeGuru UK