What the OZEV changes mean for health and safety in apartment blocks and flats

For flat residents, who would typically rely on shared parking and electrical systems, this could result in fewer charging projects going ahead. Although the updated grants offer more support for individual chargers, the removal of infrastructure funding could make home EV charging less accessible for the 22% of UK households that live in flats.

The risks of unplanned, individual installations

As public charging costs up to three times more than charging at home, many flat-dwellers will understandably look to the £500 grant as a way to install a charger independently. On the surface, this seems like a practical workaround. In reality, it introduces a host of problems.

EV charging in multi-occupancy buildings needs to be approached with a building-wide strategy rather than a series of one-off fixes. The OZEV changes make that coordinated approach more important, and more urgent, than ever.

Ad hoc installations risk causing multiple risk and safety concerns. Residents without access to suitable infrastructure may resort to running charging cables across communal walkways, parking areas or access routes, creating trip hazards for pedestrians and increasing the risk of accidents. Cables exposed to the elements are also more vulnerable to damage from vehicles, vandalism or general wear and tear, which can increase the risk of electrical faults.

The installation of chargers without a coordinated infrastructure plan can also place strain on a building's existing electrical capacity. If multiple chargers are added over time without appropriate load management or network upgrades, there is a greater risk of overloaded circuits, power disruptions and equipment failures. In extreme cases, poorly managed electrical installations can increase the risk of overheating, making it essential that charging systems are designed with the building's long-term energy requirements in mind.

The removal of infrastructure funding risks encouraging exactly this type of piecemeal deployment, rather than supporting the strategic planning needed to deliver safe, scalable and fair EV charging for all residents.

The wider public health impact

The consequences of these changes extend beyond the immediate health and safety concerns associated with unmanaged, uncoordinated charging infrastructure. By making it harder for residents of flats and apartment buildings to access reliable home charging, the policy could also slow EV adoption in some of the UK’s most densely populated areas. 

The public health benefits of cleaner transport are clear. Researchers found that children in London whose lung growth had been stunted by pollution showed impressive improvements after the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in 2019. Today, Ulez covers all London boroughs and benefits a population in which more than half of households live in flats, maisonettes or apartments.

These findings highlight the importance of making the switch to EV accessible, affordable and straight forward. While governments are investing heavily in measures to improve air quality and accelerate EV uptake, recent changes to charging infrastructure support risk making EV ownership less accessible for a significant proportion of the population, limiting the wider public health benefits that cleaner transport can deliver.

Industry response

Industry leaders across the EV, property, and safety sectors are already closely aligned, proactively collaborating to maintain safety standards in response to shifted government funding policies.

Cross-sector initiatives, such as the EVCORE Alliance Code of Practice, promote the safe and coordinated deployment of EV charging infrastructure in multi-use car parks. Crucially, these frameworks view managed charging infrastructure as a vital measure for mitigating fire risks and electrical hazards. By unifying expertise, the Alliance aims to educate the market on the dangers of ad hoc installations, reduce long-term safety concerns, and remove barriers to a smooth EV rollout.

By aligning with these emerging frameworks and championing safe, building-wide deployment alongside our industry peers, we can mitigate hidden and unnecessary fire and electrical risks.

What’s next?

Safety must remain the top priority whenever electrical equipment is installed in residential buildings. Yet, it is understandable that many EV drivers feel they have little choice but to pursue individual charging solutions when affordable, coordinated alternatives are unavailable.

Greater attention is needed on the unintended consequences of the recent OZEV changes. Without support for the infrastructure that apartment blocks rely on, millions of residents risk being left behind in the EV transition. 

This debate comes at a pivotal moment for the UK’s automotive sector. While the Government continues to review the ZEV Mandate and explore ways to accelerate EV adoption, far less attention is being paid to the charging infrastructure needed to support that ambition. Increasing EV sales is only one part of the equation; ensuring drivers can charge their vehicles safely, affordably and conveniently is equally important. In fact, the alleged challenges in achieving ZEV targets would be alleviated if the same policy focus and investment were directed towards expanding reliable home charging infrastructure, particularly for residents of apartment buildings and other shared residential developments.

If the UK is serious about accelerating EV adoption, policymakers should reconsider how charging infrastructure is funded to ensure flat dwellers are not excluded from the journey to net zero.

Denis Watling, Managing Director at Tohmo (formerly ChargeGuru)

About Tohmo: Tohmo is the European leader in private electric vehicle charging. Formerly ChargeGuru in the UK, Tohmo provides fully-funded EV charging solutions for apartment blocks and office buildings, transforming the way EV drivers power their vehicles at home and at work. Operating across six European countries with over 400 employees, the group supports more than 30,000 residential complexes and 5,000 corporate clients. Looking ahead, Tohmo aims to equip 100,000 buildings by 2030, representing 10 million connected parking spaces across Europe.