How to Charge Your EV by Living in a Flat

You've just bought an EV and live in a flat. Your property management company wants £500 just for permission to think about installing a charger. Your parking space is 50 metres from your front door. Public chargers cost 67p per kWh. Welcome to the reality of EV ownership without a driveway.

But here's the thing – thousands of flat dwellers are successfully running EVs without breaking the bank or losing their sanity. The trick is knowing where to look and what to avoid.

This isn't another article telling you EVs are the future. You already know that. This is about the practical stuff no one talks about – how to actually make it work when you don't have a nice driveway and a home charger.

As Professor Colin Herron puts it:

Dr Colin Herron

Professor of Practice at Newcastle University

"The problem isn't the number of chargers, it's that we've put them in the wrong places."

We'll cover the real costs, the workarounds that actually work, and how to deal with property managers who seem determined to make your life difficult.

What the Article Contains

The Real Cost of Public Charging (And How to Cut It)
Dealing with Property Management Roadblocks
Finding Cheap Charging Near You
Getting a Home Charger Installed (Even When It Seems Impossible)
Creative Solutions That Actually Work
What You'll Really Pay (No Sugar-Coating)

Let's start with the biggest problem first.

The Real Cost of Public Charging (And How to Cut It)

Public charging costs 3-5 times more than home charging. That's the harsh reality. But if you're smart about it, you can still run an EV for less than a petrol car.

The key is knowing which networks to use and which ones are daylight robbery.

The Expensive Mistake Everyone Makes

Walking up to any random charger and paying by card. You'll pay premium rates – sometimes 85p per kWh. That's like paying £1.50 per litre for petrol when you could get it for 80p.

The people making this mistake are paying £200+ per month to run their EV. The smart ones are paying £60-80.

Networks That Won't Bankrupt You

Aldi: 25p/kWh if you pay directly through Shell Recharge. Same charger costs 65p/kWh through some apps.

Home Bargains: 35p/kWh at newer stores. Often have a £5 connection fee, but it's still cheap if you're getting a decent charge.

Tesco: 44p/kWh through Pod Point. Convenient because you're probably shopping there anyway.

IONITY: 43p/kWh with their £10.50 monthly subscription. Worth it if you're doing serious miles.

Local council chargers: Usually 25-40p/kWh. Often the best value but can be slow.

The Complete Reliance on Public Charging Reality

Most flat dwellers end up 100% reliant on public charging. This sounds scary, but it's actually manageable if you approach it strategically.

The trick is building a routine around multiple charging locations rather than relying on one. Think of it like having several local shops instead of one big supermarket.

Your charging network becomes: workplace (if available), local supermarket, gym, regular shopping destinations, and rapid chargers for top-ups.

This approach actually works better than you'd expect. Many successful flat-dwelling EV owners find they're rarely caught short once they establish their routine.

Free Charging (While It Lasts)

Some Sainsbury's stores still offer free 7kW charging whilst you shop. Don't rely on it – they're slowly removing these and replacing them with paid chargers at 75p/kWh.

Shopping centres sometimes offer free charging to attract customers. Check our EV station finder to see what's available near you.

The catch? You need to spend 2-3 hours getting a decent charge on these slower chargers.

Dealing with Property Management Roadblocks

Property management companies are often the biggest barrier to getting a home charger. They'll hit you with permission fees, demand expensive surveys, and sometimes just say no because they can't be bothered.

The £500 Permission Fee Scam

Many management companies charge £500-1000 just to consider your request. This isn't for the actual work – it's literally just permission to ask someone else to give you a quote.

Here's what you can do about it:

Check your lease agreement. Some don't actually allow these fees.

Ask what exactly the fee covers. If they can't give you a breakdown, it might not be legitimate.

Get other residents involved. Management companies are more likely to cooperate if multiple people want chargers.

Consider communal charging solutions where the cost is shared between multiple flats.

When Your Parking Space Is Miles Away

Your flat is on the 4th floor, your parking space is in the basement 100 metres away. Even the longest extension cable won't reach, and you can't exactly run a cable through the communal hallway.

This is where most people give up. Don't.

Get a proper electrical survey. Sometimes there's a route you haven't considered.

Look into armoured cable installation through communal areas – it's more expensive but often the only solution.

Consider whether swapping parking spaces with a neighbour closer to the electrical supply is possible.

Working with Landlords

If you're renting, you need your landlord's permission. The good news is there's a government grant that covers up to 75% of installation costs for landlords (maximum £350).

Approach it as a property improvement that adds value, not as a favour to you.

Offer to cover any costs not covered by the grant.

Point out that EV charging is becoming a must-have for rental properties.

Finding Cheap Charging Near You

The difference between expensive and cheap charging often comes down to location and membership schemes. A bit of planning can save you hundreds per year.

Membership Schemes That Pay for Themselves

IONITY Passport: £10.50/month gets you 43p/kWh instead of 69p/kWh. Break-even point is about 600 miles per month.

FastNed: £9.99/month for 48p/kWh charging. Good if you have one near home or work.

Shell Recharge: No monthly fee, but much cheaper than using aggregator apps like Electroverse.

Apps That Cost You Money

Electroverse and similar aggregator apps are convenient but often add 10-20p per kWh on top of the network's own prices.

Use them to find chargers, but pay directly through the network's own app when possible.

Timing Matters

Some networks have time-of-use pricing. Charging overnight or early morning can be significantly cheaper.

Avoid charging during peak hours (4-7pm) when prices are highest.

Weekend rates are sometimes lower than weekdays.

Getting a Home Charger Installed (Even When It Seems Impossible)

Yes, it's more complicated than installing one on a house. No, it's not impossible. Here's how to make it happen.

Find an Installer Who Actually Wants the Job

Many installers will take one look at a flat installation and walk away. They prefer easy house installations.

Look for companies that specialise in flat installations. ChargeDev is one example – they understand the complexities and work with management companies regularly.

Get multiple quotes. Prices can vary wildly for complex installations.

Don't go with the cheapest quote unless you're confident they understand the job properly.

What Actually Needs to Happen

Electrical survey to find the best route from your electricity meter to your parking space.

Planning permission might be needed for external cable runs.

Management company approval for any work in communal areas.

Installation of armoured cable if running through shared spaces.

Connection to your electricity supply and separate billing arrangement.

Why Most People Give Up Before They Start

The biggest problem isn't the lack of solutions – it's that most flat dwellers don't know the solutions exist.

Many people assume that without a driveway, EV ownership is impossible. That's simply not true, but it does require more research and planning.

The charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with new solutions specifically designed for people without home charging appearing all the time.

Cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool are rolling out more on-street charging options, but you need to know where to look for them.

Why It Costs So Much

A house installation typically costs £800-1200. Flat installations can cost £1500-3000+.

The extra cost comes from:

Longer cable runs (armoured cable costs £8-15 per metre)

More complex routing through buildings

Additional safety requirements

Management company liaison and paperwork

Potential need for upgraded electrical supply

Government Help

The EV chargepoint grant covers up to 75% of costs, maximum £350. It's not much, but every bit helps.

Some local councils offer additional grants or loans for residents without off-street parking.

The grant ends in March 2025, so don't hang about if you're planning an installation.

Creative Solutions That Actually Work

When traditional solutions don't work, you need to get creative. Here are some approaches that flat dwellers are actually using successfully.

Borrowing Someone Else's Charger

Co-Charger is a platform where people with driveways rent out their chargers to people without. Typical cost is 25-35p per kWh.

You can arrange regular slots – say, Sunday evenings while you watch TV at their house.

Some people arrange informal agreements with neighbours who have chargers. You pay them for the electricity plus a bit extra for the convenience.

Workplace Charging

If your employer has workplace charging, this can solve your problem completely. Many companies are installing chargers as an employee benefit.

If they don't have charging yet, suggest it. The government offers grants for workplace installations too.

Even if it's not free, workplace charging is usually cheaper than public charging.

Strategic Location Charging

Build your charging around places you already go:

Gym sessions: Perfect for a 2-3 hour charge

Weekly shop: Slow charging while you browse

Visiting friends/family: Regular social charging

Work meetings: Charge while you're in the office

Dr Colin Herron

Professor of Practice at Newcastle University

"Charging takes 10 seconds of my time. I plug in, go to bed, and wake up full."

The Weekly Charging Routine

Many successful flat-dwelling EV owners charge once or twice a week rather than daily.

Example routine: Sunday morning rapid charge (30 minutes while getting coffee), Wednesday evening slow charge during gym session.

This works if your daily driving is predictable and you're not doing huge miles.

Always have a backup plan for unexpected long trips.

What You'll Really Pay (No Sugar-Coating)

Let's be honest about the costs. Running an EV from a flat will cost more than home charging, but it doesn't have to cost more than petrol.

Monthly Running Costs by Mileage

500 miles/month: £45-75 using smart charging strategies
1,000 miles/month: £85-140 with mixed public/subscription charging
1,500+ miles/month: £130-220 requiring multiple subscriptions and planning
Home charger installation: £1,500-3,000 depending on complexity
Management company fees: £500-1,000 (unfortunately unavoidable in many cases)

How This Compares to Petrol

At current fuel prices, a 40mpg petrol car costs about £155 per month for 1,000 miles.

So you can run an EV for less than petrol if you're smart about charging – even without home charging.

The convenience factor is the real cost. You'll spend more time planning and managing your charging than you would filling up with petrol.

Hidden Costs to Consider

Parking fees at some charging locations
Overstay charges if you leave your car plugged in too long
Higher insurance premiums for some EV models
Potential need for multiple network memberships
Occasional need for expensive rapid charging when caught short

When It Makes Financial Sense

If you're buying the EV anyway (company car, environmental reasons, just want one), then optimising charging costs makes sense.

If you're buying an EV purely to save money and live in a flat, the sums are marginal unless you do high mileage.

Factor in the time cost of managing charging vs filling up with petrol – your time has value too.

The Investment Calculation for Home Charging

Home charger installation: £2,000 average for flats

Monthly saving vs public charging: £50-100 depending on usage

Payback period: 20-40 months

But remember – it also adds convenience and potentially increases property value.

Dr Colin Herron

Professor of Practice at Newcastle University

"Once you've got an EV, you don't have range anxiety. You have range awareness."

The Bottom Line

Living in a flat and running an EV is definitely doable, but it requires more planning and usually costs more than having home charging.

The key is being realistic about the challenges and costs upfront, then finding the solutions that work for your specific situation.

If you're determined to make it work, it can work. Just don't expect it to be as simple as the YouTube videos make it look.

Most successful flat-dwelling EV owners use a combination of approaches: some home charging (if possible), strategic use of subscription networks, and creative solutions like workplace or peer-to-peer charging.

The infrastructure is getting better every year, and property developers are starting to include EV charging as standard. In five years' time, this will all be much easier.

For now, it's about finding the approach that works for you and your circumstances.

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