Why home charging matters more than ever for flat residents

Recent figures show that while the UK's public charging network continues to grow, the pace of rollout has slowed considerably. Charge point operators installed 5,100 public chargers during the first half of 2026, bringing the UK's total to just over 121,000. While that is a positive year-on-year increase of 10%, it remains significantly lower than the growth rates of more than 40% seen in 2024. 

For drivers, this means access to charging away from home cannot always be guaranteed. For residents of apartment buildings, many of whom already lack convenient charging options, the challenge becomes even more pronounced.

The unintended impact of OZEV funding changes

At the same time that demand for residential charging is increasing, recent changes to OZEV funding have introduced additional barriers for apartment block projects.

While support remains available for chargepoint installations, the removal of dedicated infrastructure funding means buildings often need to commit considerably more capital at the start of a project before grant funding can be accessed. In practice, this has had a noticeable impact on decision-making.

Many property managers are reporting longer approval processes as freeholders and resident management companies evaluate larger upfront costs. Projects that may previously have progressed quickly are now often subject to additional budget reviews, funding discussions and financial scrutiny before installation can begin. Not only that, but at the driver level there has been an increased delay in grant approvals since the changes to OZEV came into effect. While approvals for the ⁠Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Renters and Flat Owners were previously almost instantaneous, customers now face wait times of up to two months to hear back about their OZEV application. Because approval must be granted before work can begin, this administrative gridlock directly delays chargepoint rollouts for EV drivers living in apartments.

The result is that some apartment block charging projects are taking longer to move from planning to delivery, despite growing resident demand.

A growing challenge for apartment buildings

This creates a difficult situation for many property managers. On one hand, residents are becoming increasingly dependent on home charging as the public network expansion slows. On the other, the financial and administrative hurdles involved in delivering communal charging infrastructure have increased.

The risk is that buildings delay implementation until demand becomes overwhelming. By that stage, developments can find themselves responding reactively to individual installation requests rather than delivering a coordinated solution designed around the needs of the whole building.

Avoiding the 'one charger at a time' approach

There may be pressure to approve individual charger installations on a case-by-case basis, as and when resident demand starts to grow. However, this approach can quickly create challenges around electrical capacity, maintenance, billing arrangements and aesthetics. It can also increase future costs if the design or layout of the chargers require redesigning as adoption grows.

A well planned, building-wide approach is the most effective route for apartment blocks and flats. By anticipating, and planning for long-term demand from the outset, property managers can create a safer and more scalable solution that supports future EV uptake.

Why home charging matters more than ever

While the public network remains an essential part of the UK's charging ecosystem, the reality is that most EV drivers prefer to charge where they live.

Home charging is generally more convenient, more reliable and significantly cheaper than relying solely on public infrastructure. As public charging growth slows down and demand for EVs continues to increase, residents are placing greater importance on having access to charging facilities within their own developments.

For property managers, this has led to EV charging becoming an immediate operational issue. Resident enquiries are increasing, expectations are rising and many freeholders are beginning to view charging infrastructure as a core building amenity rather than a desirable extra.

Looking ahead

The slowdown in public charging growth does not mean the UK's EV transition is slowing. In fact, the situation reflects quite the opposite. More than two million EVs are now on UK roads, and demand for convenient charging continues to increase. 

The focus is now on how quickly buildings can respond to the increasing demand of EV charging. Unfortunately, recent OZEV changes have made that response more complex. We have already seen that higher upfront costs and longer approval processes are already affecting the pace of apartment block installations, just as access to home charging has become more important.

As a result, property managers, freeholders and resident management companies should view EV charging as a long-term priority. Those that begin planning now will be better positioned to meet resident expectations, protect asset value and support the continued transition to electric mobility, placing less importance on the growth of the public charging landscape.

Denis Watling, Managing Director of ChargeGuru UK