Updated
Best EV Charger for Renters and Flats UK 2026
Good News: Renters and Flat Owners Get a £500 Grant
Renters and flat owners qualify for the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant — up to £500 off the cost of buying and installing a home EV charger. The grant is targeted at this group specifically, and it makes home charging quietly affordable.
Owners of houses (detached, semi, terraced) are not eligible. Renters and flat owners have the financial edge here.
The grant has been extended to 31 March 2027 and rose from £350 to £500 on 1 April 2026.
Who Qualifies?
You can claim the OZEV grant if you meet all of these criteria:
- You rent your home (any property type) with written landlord permission, or you own a flat in a multi-unit building
- You have an eligible electric vehicle (all Tesla models qualify)
- You have dedicated off-street parking — a driveway, garage, or allocated parking space where a charger can reach your car
- You use an OZEV-approved installer
The grant covers 75% of the total cost (charger + installation), capped at £500 per socket. Your installer handles the paperwork — the grant is deducted from your bill directly. The grant runs until 31 March 2027 and increases to £500 from April 2026.
For the full eligibility details and application process, see our complete OZEV grant guide.
Eligible for the grant? Get free installation quotes now → — your installer handles the grant paperwork for you.
The 4 Best Chargers for Renters and Flats
Four chargers suit this category: OZEV-eligible, sensibly priced, and straightforward to install.
1. Easee One — Best Overall for Renters
Price: £405 | After grant: from £55 + installation | Full review →
The Easee One is the cheapest charger on our site at £405, which makes it the lowest-cost option once the OZEV grant is applied. It is also one of the more practical for renting.
Why it suits renters:
- Lowest upfront cost — at £405 the grant covers nearly the whole unit
- Built-in 4G — useful when landlord Wi-Fi doesn't reach the parking space
- Compact and unobtrusive — less to argue about with landlords or management
- An electrician can remove and reinstall it at a new address
Cost breakdown:
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Easee One unit | £405 |
| Standard installation | £400–500 |
| Total before grant | £805–905 |
| OZEV grant | -£500 |
| You pay | £455–555 |
2. Tesla Wall Connector — Best Tesla Integration
Price: £478 | Not OZEV-eligible | Full review →
The Tesla Wall Connector gives the tightest integration with the car and carries a 4-year warranty — the longest on the market. At £478 the pricing is competitive, but it's not OZEV-approved, so the £500 grant doesn't apply — unlike most rivals.
Why it suits renters:
- Everything lives in the Tesla app — no separate charger app
- 4-year warranty covers even a long tenancy
- Power sharing — up to six units on a single circuit if the building adds more
- OTA updates add features over time without new hardware
Cost breakdown:
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tesla Wall Connector unit | £478 |
| Standard installation | £400–500 |
| Total before grant | £825–925 |
| OZEV grant | -£500 |
| You pay | £475–575 |
3. GivEnergy EV Charger — Best Budget Option
Price: £478 | After grant: from £128 + installation | Full review →
The GivEnergy EV Charger is a strong all-rounder at £478, with a capable app and dependable performance.
Why it suits renters:
- Similar pricing to the Easee One
- App with charging history and scheduling
- Compact wall footprint
- Works with any EV — handy if the next car isn't a Tesla
Cost breakdown:
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| GivEnergy unit | £478 |
| Standard installation | £400–500 |
| Total before grant | £878–978 |
| OZEV grant | -£500 |
| You pay | £528–628 |
4. Ohme Home Pro — Best for Smart Tariff Savings
Price: £535 | After grant: from £185 + installation | Full review →
The Ohme Home Pro costs more upfront but claws it back on every charge via smart tariff integration. On Octopus Intelligent Go or similar, the price difference pays itself back in months.
Why it suits renters:
- Direct tariff links with Octopus, OVO and British Gas for cheapest-rate charging
- Per-session cost tracking to the penny
- Solar diverting built in — useful on rentals with panels
Cost breakdown:
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ohme Home Pro unit | £535 |
| Standard installation | £400–500 |
| Total before grant | £935–1,035 |
| OZEV grant | -£500 |
| You pay | £435–535 |
Flat-Specific Considerations
Flats bring questions that houses don't:
Landlord and Freeholder Permission
Written permission is required from the landlord (if renting) or the freeholder or management company (if leasehold). Start the conversation early.
Tips for getting permission:
- Mention the OZEV landlord grant (up to £500 per socket plus £30,000 for infrastructure)
- A charger is increasingly a property asset
- Offer to share installation costs if it helps
- Point to precedent — other buildings in the area that have installed
Communal Parking
Communal car parks (underground or surface) complicate installation:
- Cable routing may cross communal areas and need freeholder sign-off
- Dedicated metering may be required so the bill lands on the right flat
- Load management may be required if multiple residents want chargers — the Easee One handles shared capacity well
Electrical Supply
Flats often have smaller electrical supplies than houses. The installer will confirm whether the consumer unit can carry a 7kW load. In most cases it can; older buildings sometimes need a supply upgrade (DNO-handled, free, 2–4 weeks).
What If You Move?
For renters, tenancy end matters:
- Most chargers can be removed and reinstalled at the next address (budget £200–400)
- The OZEV grant stays with the property — it can't be reclaimed, but the next place may be eligible for a fresh application
- Some landlords will want the charger left behind — worth negotiating upfront, as it can offset removal costs
A portable EV charger sidesteps the installation conversation entirely — it travels with you, and there's nothing to ask the landlord about. See our best EV chargers on Amazon UK for portable and wallbox picks.
Quick Comparison
| Charger | Unit Price | After Grant | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easee One | £405 | from £455 installed | Lowest cost, 4G backup |
| Tesla Wall Connector | £478 | from £475 installed | Tesla integration, long warranty |
| GivEnergy EV Charger | £478 | from £528 installed | Budget all-rounder |
| Ohme Home Pro | £535 | from £585 installed | Smart tariff savings |
What to Do Next
- Check your eligibility for the OZEV grant — if you rent or own a flat, you almost certainly qualify
- Get landlord/freeholder permission in writing — this is often the longest step
- Get installation quotes from OZEV-approved installers — they'll assess your property and handle the grant paperwork
- Choose your charger based on your priorities (cost, smart tariff, Tesla integration)
We can match you with up to 3 certified installers in your area — get free quotes here.
For a full walkthrough of the installation process, see our complete installation guide. For our full cost-ranked list, see the cheapest EV charger guide.
When you're ready, compare the chargers we've tested, or — no obligation, no sign-up.