With the ongoing transition to net zero, there are more and more electric vehicles on the roads to help reduce carbon emissions. In December 2021, 21.4% of all new car sales in Scotland were electric. But if you live in a flat without off-street parking, where can charging points for electric vehicles be installed?
The Energy Savings Trust did operate a fund on behalf on the Scottish Government to support electric vehicle charging, but this was only applicable for private tenants in factored developments with dedicated off-street parking.
The challenge of electric vehicle charging in tenements
For those living in tenement flats with no off-street parking, installing a charging point close to home is difficult, if not impossible. At the moment, the only option available is to approach local authorities to install public charging points.
The Scottish Government are providing local authorities with funding to help identify locations that need charging infrastructure; however, the issue of where to install charging points remains.
The ChargePlace Scotland network of public electric vehicle charging points has been developed by the Scottish Government to make owning an electric vehicle more accessible, and the network has a total 2,600 charging points across Scotland as of 2023.
Yet, it is acknowledged that the network’s charging points are not always available or sometimes in disrepair. For those who own flats in dense urban areas, a network of charging points might be a solution, but where to install them remains a problem. Pavements need to be kept accessible and free from trip hazards, and parking spaces are often limited.
Installing an electric vehicle charging point
There are no specific provisions in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 on electric vehicle charging points. Installation of these would be an alteration rather than maintenance. This means that if you are looking to install a charging point adjacent to or on the exterior wall of your tenement building, you will need to review your titles to check the position as to ownership of walls and adjacent ground, as well as checking for any real burdens forbidding alteration.
To find out more about your options regarding charging points for electric vehicles, contact the Energy Savings Trust who will be able to advise you and see if you are eligible for support with installation. Note, their domestic charge point funding scheme is currently closed, but you can register your interest to be updated when it next opens.
In the meantime, Under One Roof will monitor any developments on this issue and provide updates as they arise. If you have any feedback on this topic, let us know by sending us an email.
