The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) runs the UK’s most impactful scheme to support private EV owners, landlords, and businesses through financial incentives. These grants reduce the upfront cost of certified EV charger installation by hundreds of pounds, making home charging accessible to renters and flat owners who need it most.
The OZEV grant replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) on April 1, 2022, changing eligibility rules significantly. Homeowners can no longer claim grants. The new system targets properties where charging infrastructure faces the biggest barriers: rental accommodation and multi-unit residential buildings.
Grant approval isn’t automatic. Only installations carried out by OZEV-approved installers qualify, and these installers follow government guidelines to ensure safe, compliant installation and proper documentation. Your charger must appear on OZEV’s certified equipment list, meet smart charging requirements, and comply with technical standards that protect the electricity grid.
Understanding OZEV eligibility before you buy equipment saves time and disappointment. This guide explains grant criteria, installation standards, required documentation, and how Diligent Electrical Contractors ensures your installation meets all OZEV compliance requirements from survey through to final certification.
Eligibility criteria for EV grants
You can only qualify for the OZEV grant if you live in a flat (whether owned or rented) or you rent any other kind of property. Homeowners who own houses became ineligible when the scheme changed in April 2022. This shift focuses government funding on where private installation faces practical and financial obstacles.
Property eligibility requirements:
- Flat owners (leasehold or freehold) with associated parking
- Tenants renting any residential property type
- Dedicated off-street parking space with exclusive access
- Written permission from the landlord or property management
- Legal right to install charging equipment at the property
People who rent or own residential property without private off-street parking can still qualify if they install a permanent cross-pavement charging solution alongside the chargepoint, have adequate on-street parking, and obtain permission from the local highways authority. Cable covers or mats don’t count as acceptable solutions.
Vehicle eligibility:
- All full-battery electric vehicles qualify; plug-in hybrid vehicles must have CO2 emissions under 50g/km
- Vehicle must be obtained after the grant start date, even if it meets emission standards
- Vehicle must feature on OZEV’s eligibility list; some older EVs and quadricycles like Citroën Ami are excluded
- Owner must possess a vehicle registration document (V5C) matching the applicant’s details
- Proof of ownership or a lease agreement for a minimum of 6 months required
Financial grant structure:
- Government covers 75% of the cost to buy and install a home charging point, up to a maximum £350
- Grant applies per socket, not per property
- Landlords can receive up to 200 grants annually for residential properties, 100 for commercial properties
- One application per eligible parking space
- Grant amount deducted from installer’s invoice automatically
Since June 30, 2022, the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 demand that all new home chargers are smart, so a solid Wi-Fi or mobile data connection is non-negotiable. Your charger must schedule off-peak charging, adjust to grid needs, and let you track costs via app. These features aren’t optional extras—they’re grant requirements.
Landlord-specific grants:
The EV Infrastructure Grant for residential car parks offers up to £30,000 per building or estate, limited to 30 grants per financial year. This covers groundwork and installation preparation for future chargers. Landlords can combine this with the EV Chargepoint Grant for actual charger installation, but not for the same charging points.
Multi-unit residential properties face different rules. Landlords and property managers can claim funding with an additional £500 per bay available for up to 60 bays in residential car parks. This helps apartment blocks install a comprehensive charging infrastructure without prohibitive upfront costs.
Commercial and workplace grants:
Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to 75% of the total cost to purchase and install EV chargepoints, with a maximum £350 per socket for up to 40 sockets across all sites per applicant. Chargepoints must be used by staff or fleet only, though charities and small accommodation businesses can allow guest use.
If your primary place of work is also your residential property, you can apply under the workplace scheme as long as your address is listed as the place of business with Companies House or recorded on your business rate bill. This helps sole traders and home-based businesses access commercial grant rates.
Installation standards for grant approval
Chargers installed must comply with standards set by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to ensure they’re energy-efficient, smart-enabled, and installed safely. Technical specifications protect the electricity grid, enable demand management, and guarantee interoperability between different vehicle makes.
Smart charging mandatory features:
- Pre-set default charging times for off-peak usage with suitable user override
- Interoperable smart functionality to integrate with the smart grid for load curtailment and demand side response services
- Smart chargers allow users to schedule charging sessions during off-peak hours, reducing grid demand and helping drivers benefit from lower electricity tariffs
- Real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities
- Remote access via smartphone app or web portal
- Compatibility with time-of-use energy tariffs
Part S of Building Regulations mandates charging equipment must be at least Mode 3, with a power capability of at least 7kW, with a universal outlet, supplied by a dedicated circuit. Lower-powered equipment doesn’t meet grant standards even if it technically charges vehicles.
Approved equipment requirements:
The charger itself must be listed on OZEV’s official certified chargepoint list. Manufacturers submit products for testing against technical standards. This list updates regularly as new models receive certification and older models become obsolete.
Nine of the ten favourite home chargers from companies such as Andersen, Easee and Hypervolt are eligible; however, models made by popular brands including Hive and Tesla are not. Check the official OZEV registry before purchasing equipment. Non-approved chargers void grant eligibility even if your installer is OZEV-registered.
Installer certification requirements:
Only installations carried out by an OZEV-approved installer qualify for the grant. Installers must demonstrate competence through recognised schemes like NICEIC, NAPIT, or equivalent bodies. They also need specific EV charging qualifications beyond standard electrical credentials.
OZEV-approved installers complete annual training updates. They understand current wiring regulations, smart charging protocols, and grid connection requirements. Installers receive authorisation letters from OZEV allowing them to offer grants to customers.
Installation compliance standards:
- Equipment must be installed according to BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) required post-installation
- Building Regulations notification through the competent person scheme
- DNO (Distribution Network Operator) notification where required
- Compliance with Part P electrical safety regulations
Socket height follows accessibility standards. BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 refers to BS 8300 series, stating EV socket-outlet must be installed within 0.75 to 1.2 metres from Finished Floor Level, with top of displays between 1.2 and 1.4 metres. These measurements ensure wheelchair users and people with mobility issues can operate chargers independently.
Safety and protection devices:
Regulation 722.531.3 requires that RCD (Max 30mA) supplies a car charger, and RCD shall disconnect all live conductors, including Neutral. Single-pole RCBOs don’t meet this requirement. The RCD must individually protect the car charger circuit without serving additional circuits.
If the car charger does not have any RDC-DD (Residual Direct Current Detecting Device), you will need a Type B RCD supplying the car charger; if the charger has 6mA RDC-DD built-in, a Type A RCD can be used. Type B RCDs cost significantly more, so most manufacturers include 6mA detection in their units.
Required documentation and evidence
Grant applications need comprehensive documentation proving eligibility, property rights, and vehicle ownership. Missing paperwork delays processing or leads to rejection even when the technical installation meets standards.
Vehicle documentation:
- Vehicle registration document (V5C) confirming ownership and matching grant applicant details
- Proof of ownership or lease agreement showing EV purchased or leased for at least 6 months, applying to both personal and company cars
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) helping verify car’s eligibility under the approved vehicle list published by OZEV
- Purchase invoice or lease contract with vehicle details
- Confirmation vehicle appears on the OZEV-approved list
Property documentation:
- Proof of off-street parking required to verify smart EV charger will be installed on a private, dedicated space
- Property ownership or rental agreement confirming legal rights to install a certified EV charger at the property, useful for tenants and landlords
- Written landlord permission for rental properties
- Leasehold documentation for flat owners
- Resident association approval for communal parking areas
For cross-pavement solutions, additional evidence includes highways authority permission letters, engineering drawings showing cable route, and photographic evidence of parking availability. Cable covers or mats are not eligible solutions for cross-pavement installations.
Installer documentation:
- Quotation from OZEV-approved installer must include charger model and confirm it’s on the OZEV-certified EV charger list
- Installer’s OZEV authorisation number
- Detailed breakdown of equipment and installation costs
- Confirmation of smart charging features
- Estimated installation timeline
Post-installation certification:
After installation, installers submit claims via the government portal with photographic evidence and compliance certificates. Most OZEV grant approvals are processed within 2-4 weeks once installation and documentation are completed correctly.
The installer provides:
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) proving BS 7671 compliance
- Building Regulations Compliance Certificate
- Manufacturer’s commissioning documentation
- Photographic evidence of completed installation
- DNO notification confirmation, where applicable
Comprehensive handover packages include Risk Assessment, Method Statement, ENA Application Form, DNO confirmation email, EIC, Building Regulations compliance certificate, EVSE Commissioning sheet, Manufacturer’s Manual, and Letter of findings and recommendations. Keep all documents for warranty claims and future property sales.
Grant claim process:
Unlike government electric car grants, the OZEV grant is not automatically applied when buying a charger. Your installer makes the application on your behalf. Shortly after the application is sent, you’ll receive an email featuring an eligibility survey to fill out online.
Once OZEV approves your application, the installer fits the chargepoint and claims the grant. The grant amount reduces the price you pay rather than requiring reimbursement later. This simplifies the process and removes upfront cost barriers.
Audit and compliance checks:
OZEV selects some installations for audit using third-party organisations who check data, statements and records held by you and the installer, occasionally requiring on-site visits with access to the chargepoint itself. Keep documentation for a minimum of three years after installation.
Fraudulent claims face serious consequences. Any attempt to claim the same chargepoint twice by submitting both WCS and EV grant application for same chargepoint will be viewed as fraud, resulting in action being taken against you. This includes criminal prosecution and the requirement to repay grants received.
How Diligent ensures OZEV compliance
Diligent Electrical Contractors maintains OZEV-approved installer status through continuous training, technical competence verification, and strict adherence to installation protocols. Our team holds NICEIC registration and EV-specific qualifications required for grant-eligible work.
Pre-installation compliance checks:
We verify grant eligibility before starting work. Our surveyors confirm your property type, parking arrangements, and vehicle qualify under current OZEV rules. This prevents wasted time on applications that can’t succeed. We check your chosen charger appears on the certified equipment list and meets smart charging requirements.
Our technical survey covers electrical capacity, consumer unit suitability, and cable routing. We assess your home’s wiring capacity and install new circuits if required. This ensures your installation won’t fail compliance checks due to inadequate supply or protection devices.
Installation to OZEV standards:
Every installation follows the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation Fifth Edition, published 2023. We use only approved equipment installed to the manufacturer specifications. Our electricians understand smart charging protocols, grid connection requirements, and accessibility standards.
We handle DNO notifications where required. Single-phase installations under 3.68kW may not need DNO approval, but 7kW single-phase and all three-phase installations require notification. We submit applications and wait for confirmation before energising circuits.
Documentation and certification:
Our handover package includes all documents OZEV requires for grant processing:
- Electrical Installation Certificate tested and certified
- Building Regulations Compliance Certificate submitted to local authority
- Commissioning sheets proving smart features operational
- Manufacturer warranties and operation manuals
- Photographic evidence of completed installation meeting accessibility standards
We submit grant claims promptly after installation. Our experience with OZEV systems means the applications process within 2-4 weeks typically. We handle any queries from OZEV directly, so you don’t need to navigate bureaucracy.
Smart charging configuration:
We configure your charger for optimal performance and grant compliance. This includes:
- Setting default off-peak charging schedules
- Connecting the charger to home Wi-Fi network
- Registering unit with the manufacturer’s cloud platform
- Testing smartphone app connectivity and controls
- Enabling grid flexibility features required by regulations
We verify Wi-Fi signal strength exceeds minimum requirements for smart features to work reliably. Weak signal areas get Wi-Fi extender recommendations before installation proceeds.
Ongoing compliance support:
OZEV rules change as EV technology and grid requirements evolve. We monitor regulatory updates and inform existing customers about changes affecting their installations. If OZEV selects your installation for audit, we provide all technical documentation and support site visits.
Our NICEIC registration gives you independent verification of work quality. NICEIC assesses our installations randomly and investigates any complaints. This additional oversight ensures consistent compliance beyond OZEV’s own checking processes.
We register installations with building control through competent person schemes. This means we can self-certify compliance rather than requiring separate building control inspector visits. You receive certification directly from the scheme operator within 30 days.
Grant maximisation for landlords:
Property owners with multiple units face complex grant applications. We help landlords access both chargepoint grants and infrastructure grants for the same property. The EV infrastructure grant for residential car parks can be used with EV chargepoint grant for landlords at the same location but not for same chargepoints.
Our project management covers bulk installations across estates. We coordinate work to minimise disruption while meeting OZEV requirements for each individual chargepoint. This includes sequencing applications to stay within annual grant limits and optimising parking bay assignments for maximum coverage.
Commercial installation expertise:
Workplace Charging Scheme installations face additional requirements, including evidence letters confirming employees work for the applicant company and permission to install chargepoints at homes for company vehicles. We handle these administrative requirements alongside technical installation work.
Our commercial team understands load management requirements for multiple chargepoints. We design systems that maximise charging capacity within existing electrical supply limits, reducing infrastructure upgrade costs while maintaining grant eligibility.
Quality assurance:
Every installation undergoes testing before handover:
- RCD testing according to BS 7671:2018+Amd1:2020 Regulation 643.8, including any RCD forming part of charger equipment itself
- Earth loop impedance verification
- Insulation resistance testing on new circuits
- Polarity and continuity checks
- Smart charging feature functionality tests
We demonstrate charger operation during handover. You’ll understand how to schedule charging, monitor energy use, and troubleshoot common issues before we leave the site. This reduces support calls and ensures you get maximum benefit from smart features.
Need an OZEV-approved EV charger installation in London? Diligent Electrical Contractors handles your grant application, installation, and certification. We work with housing associations, landlords, and private homeowners across the capital. Contact us for a free eligibility assessment and quote.