Updated 28 October 2026. Government is asking whether tenants and leaseholders in England should have a clearer route to request an electric-vehicle charge point at a home with off-street parking. The consultation, published by the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is open until 16 December 2026. Its ideas are proposals: they do not create a new legal right today.
The problem is not always a simple yes-or-no decision. In a block of flats, several chargers may require a grid upgrade, a shared approach to parking and charging, and agreement about installation and ongoing costs. Lease terms can also affect who may approve structural work. Government says existing grants and Building Regulations already support some installations, but it is seeking views on barriers that remain for people who rent or own a leasehold home.
**Two possible routes are under discussion**
One option is non-statutory guidance for residents, landlords and freeholders. It could explain what information a request should include and what issues decision-makers should consider. Guidance alone would be voluntary: the consultation notes it would not require a landlord or freeholder to approve an installation, follow a fixed process or give reasons for refusal.
The alternative is future legislation. The government is asking whether landlords and freeholders should have to make decisions within a set time and avoid unreasonably refusing a request. A possible example in the consultation is a written response within 28 calendar days, but that is an option for consultation, not an operative deadline. The document says legislation would require future primary legislation and parliamentary time.
**Costs and safety are central questions**
Under the legislative option, the resident would be expected to arrange and pay the up-front charge point and installation costs, including any permission fees where applicable. The consultation asks who should cover later maintenance, electricity use, removal and other costs. It also asks how rules should address allocated, demised and communal parking, shared ownership and mixed-tenure buildings.
The consultation lists possible reasons a request might reasonably be refused, including conflict with a lease or legal duty, necessary network upgrades, no off-street space, an existing building-wide installation plan, insufficient parking, or a design that does not meet BS 7671 electrical standards. These are subjects for consultation, not a final statutory list.
**What residents and property owners can do now**
Until policy or legislation changes, do not assume that a request automatically has to be approved or that a proposed 28-day response period applies. Check the tenancy agreement, lease and parking arrangements; ask the landlord or freeholder in writing; and agree responsibility for installation, access, maintenance and reinstatement before work starts. Any installation should be planned with qualified professionals and the relevant electrical and building requirements.
Landlords and freeholders can prepare by keeping a consistent way to log requests, checking ownership and electrical capacity, and explaining decisions clearly. The government is inviting evidence from residents, landlords, freeholders, managing agents and local authorities. The full consultation and response form are on [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/expanding-electric-vehicle-charging-access-for-tenants-and-leaseholders/expanding-electric-vehicle-charging-access-for-tenants-and-leaseholders).