Tenants want an EV
Discussion
We have a small rental and the tenants would like to get an EV. They've offered to pay for the charger and in theory I have no problem with it.
The property is a ground floor maisonette with a garage. There's no power to the garage and there is a shared access footpath between the property and the garage which the neighbours also use. Can anyone help explain how fitting a charger would work please?
In my mind it would be good to have the charger on the garage wall as you can't run a cable across the path. Or would they dig the cable under the footpath? I don't really want it going overhead. Is another option getting power to the garage and then the charger can go there?
Any advice appreciated as I've never had any dealings with EV's. Cheers.
The property is a ground floor maisonette with a garage. There's no power to the garage and there is a shared access footpath between the property and the garage which the neighbours also use. Can anyone help explain how fitting a charger would work please?
In my mind it would be good to have the charger on the garage wall as you can't run a cable across the path. Or would they dig the cable under the footpath? I don't really want it going overhead. Is another option getting power to the garage and then the charger can go there?
Any advice appreciated as I've never had any dealings with EV's. Cheers.
It sounds like the best plan would be to get a decent supply to the garage, the install the EVSE / 'charger' on the garage.
Without a drawing, it is a bit of a guess, but it sounds like installing a duct under the path would be the way to go.
With almost all these things, the dominant cost is the groundworks/cable routing.
I am going to make my normal comment as general advice, but I am realistic enough to know that sometimes it can make the install very much easier...
Don't put anything in the meter cupboard,
It should 'simply' be a new MCB (probably 40A) in the consumer unit, some SWA cable from there, through the duct to a new small CU in the garage.
That CU then has the RCBO or RCD which give the supply to the 'charger'.
You need the length of the route to be able to calculate the cable size/capacity/voltage drop... but probably 6 sq mm or more.
I also have a thing about earthing.. but that is for another day.
Without a drawing, it is a bit of a guess, but it sounds like installing a duct under the path would be the way to go.
With almost all these things, the dominant cost is the groundworks/cable routing.
I am going to make my normal comment as general advice, but I am realistic enough to know that sometimes it can make the install very much easier...
Don't put anything in the meter cupboard,
It should 'simply' be a new MCB (probably 40A) in the consumer unit, some SWA cable from there, through the duct to a new small CU in the garage.
That CU then has the RCBO or RCD which give the supply to the 'charger'.
You need the length of the route to be able to calculate the cable size/capacity/voltage drop... but probably 6 sq mm or more.
I also have a thing about earthing.. but that is for another day.
Thanks for the reply.
So would it be best to get an independent electrician to get the supply to the garage, then the tenant can sort the charger? Or is it something the charger installation people can do?
When you enquire about chargers do they send someone out to have a look at what's involved?
So would it be best to get an independent electrician to get the supply to the garage, then the tenant can sort the charger? Or is it something the charger installation people can do?
When you enquire about chargers do they send someone out to have a look at what's involved?
ChrisH72 said:
Ah yes, excellent.
Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
They are hardly going to take it with them are they? Let them fit it keep it when they leave. Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
BoRED S2upid said:
ChrisH72 said:
Ah yes, excellent.
Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
They are hardly going to take it with them are they? Let them fit it keep it when they leave. Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
Isolate it and it'll be about 3 screws.
I would, them things aren't cheap.
Yes I think they would take it.
Technically they should leave things as they were before they moved in. Could get awkward.
Getting power to the garage seems like the first thing to do. We are happy to pay for that as its useful to have and should then make fitting a charger fairly easy.
Technically they should leave things as they were before they moved in. Could get awkward.
Getting power to the garage seems like the first thing to do. We are happy to pay for that as its useful to have and should then make fitting a charger fairly easy.
ChocolateFrog said:
BoRED S2upid said:
ChrisH72 said:
Ah yes, excellent.
Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
They are hardly going to take it with them are they? Let them fit it keep it when they leave. Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
Isolate it and it'll be about 3 screws.
I would, them things aren't cheap.
BoRED S2upid said:
ChrisH72 said:
Ah yes, excellent.
Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
They are hardly going to take it with them are they? Let them fit it keep it when they leave. Looks like a grant towards the cost of the charger itself would be available. The tenants offered to pay but actually it might be better for us to provide it. That way if and when they leave it would be ours.
So get a spark to explain the installation procedure and cost and the grant reduction etc, then work out from that the actual cost of just the charger and tell the tenants it will cost that much for you to arrange everything - and that the charger will become part of the properties inventory. They get their solution for now, you get an upgraded (legally) property for the next decade.
As mentioned above, there's a high chance the spark will recommend breaking the supply out from within the meter cupboard... It's so common that I expect it to become officially authorised by default at some point. It's often by far the most sensible solution and poses zero safety risk - the only reason it's technically not 'OK' is that you don't actually own the space within the cupboard. The only people that would care are those that do own the cupboard, who are now selling more power through that installation - you can imagine how unlikely they are to complain about this particular technicality.. I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I don't..
Good point. I'm not entirely sure but I think it's ours as we are responsible for it. The path leads to our door and back garden but then also to the garden belonging to the 1st floor maisonette. We know the elderly lady upstairs very well as she's been there many years. In fact she also has a garage and drive but has never owned a car. She let's our tenants use her drive as they have 2 cars so I think she'd be fine about it.
If it was me and the Tenant asked for one, I would just get it fitted.
It's a bit unfair to get them to pay for it, over the next few years it will be regarded as basic as having a cooker.
Short-term loss, long-term gain and all that.
Use the grant if you can and while it is available, and get a few quotes.
It's a bit unfair to get them to pay for it, over the next few years it will be regarded as basic as having a cooker.
Short-term loss, long-term gain and all that.
Use the grant if you can and while it is available, and get a few quotes.
It is the tenant who gets the government grant? Not the landlord?
Recently went through this process (I'm a tenant). Paid about £700 for charger and install, just got permission from my landlord first. If / when I move out, I'll either negotiate a price with the landlord to leave it in place or isolate it and take it with me.
Recently went through this process (I'm a tenant). Paid about £700 for charger and install, just got permission from my landlord first. If / when I move out, I'll either negotiate a price with the landlord to leave it in place or isolate it and take it with me.
superlightr said:
who owns the freehold to the flat and the land? As a leaseholder - you will need permission of the freeholder to make these alterations.
Yes that's a consideration as it is leasehold. They're a pain to deal with but I can't see any grounds for them to refuse. No doubt will be a cost involved as usual. Turns out the cars they are looking at come with a charger included so they're not really offering to pay for anything.
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