Britons given green light to install home electric car chargers only for landlords to 'charge more rent'
Two in five landlords would install an EV charger to make their property more attractive
PA
Four out of five landlords are willing to install an electric vehicle charger if requested to do so by a motorist, according to new data.
The willingness comes as more people are tempted to switch to an electric car with one in five landlords even agreeing to cover the costs of an EV charger.
New research has revealed that 35 per cent of landlords would expect the tenant to either pay or share the cost (30 per cent) of an EV charging point and installation.
The main reason landlords are willing to install an EV charger is that it could also help increase the value of the property and make it more attractive to tenants (40 per cent).
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Two out of five landlords would install a charger to keep their tenant happy
PAA further 40 per cent of landlords said they would install one to keep their tenants happy while 15 per cent stated that having a charge point would enable them to charge more rent.
Sarah Casey, landlord product manager at Direct Line business insurance, explained that one in 40 vehicles on UK roads are now zero emission, including almost one million cars.
She said: “Demand for rental properties with EV chargers is set to soar as more drivers make the switch.
“Installing a charger will make a property appealing to a broader range of tenants and add value to the property.”
To avoid complications and disputes, Casey warned thatit’s important that landlords and tenants have a “written agreement” to make sure that there is a clear understanding of who is responsible for maintenance and ownership of the charger.
Meanwhile, a quarter of landlords said they would be concerned about the additional cost and maintenance associated with installing a charging point.
Unlike an annual boiler service, landlords are not legally required to carry out yearly maintenance on EV charge points, Direct Line detailed.
However, doing so could help ensure that the charge point is efficient and safe to use. It can also help extend the lifespan of the charger, Casey noted.
There are currently two grants available for drivers to help with the costs of purchasing a charger.
The grant gives drivers either £350 or 75 per cent off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower.
The electric vehicle infrastructure grant, however, gives drivers up to £30,000 or 75 per cent off the cost of the work, with the amount depending on how many parking spaces the work covers.
Landlords can use an infrastructure grant and a charge point grant on the same property, Casey added.
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Drivers can benefit from EV grants to help offset the costs of installing a charger
PAAccording to Zoopla, Landlords should look to install a charging point in an area with a strong WIFI signal.
Drivers have been warned that if they charge an EV at home, they can expect electricity costs to rise.
The data also found that installing an EV charger could increase the value of a property by around £5,000, despite the installation only costing around £1,000.