An England-wide consultation could require timely decisions on tenants’ requests, but no new duty has yet taken effect.
Landlords and freeholders in England could be required to respond within a set period when a tenant or leaseholder asks to install an electric vehicle charge point. A government consultation published on 21 October 2026 is seeking views on an ‘ability to charge’ for residents with access to off-street parking.
One option is legislation requiring timely decisions and preventing requests from being unreasonably refused. The other is non-statutory guidance encouraging a more consistent process. Neither option is currently a new legal obligation, and the consultation does not give tenants an automatic right to install equipment without permission.
How the proposed request process could work
The consultation envisages a private tenant making a written request to the landlord. Where that landlord is themselves a leaseholder, they could be expected to pass it to the superior landlord or freeholder. Leaseholders and shared owners would submit their own requests to the relevant landlord.
Government guidance or legislation could require an acknowledgement followed by a formal written decision. A period of 28 calendar days is given as an example, not a confirmed deadline. If permission were refused, the landlord or freeholder could be required to explain why. The government is also asking what route should be available when the parties dispute a decision.
The proposed approach is intended to cover as many off-street parking arrangements as possible, including demised and allocated spaces. Communal parking is more complicated because capacity, access and costs may affect several households rather than one tenancy.
A refusal could still be reasonable
The government recognises that some properties cannot readily accommodate a charge point. Possible reasons for refusal listed in the consultation include a conflict with lease terms or other legal obligations, the need for a local electricity network upgrade, the absence of off-street parking and insufficient parking space.
In a block of flats, a request might also be refused where the freeholder or landlord is adopting a building-wide charging plan. Non-compliance with the electrical installation standard BS 7671 is another suggested ground. These examples are part of the consultation and have not yet become a statutory test.
Who would pay for the work
Under the legislative option described by the government, the tenant or leaseholder would be expected to arrange and pay the up-front cost of the charge point, its installation and any applicable fee for permission to alter the property. That expectation is a proposal, not a final allocation of every cost.
Responsibility for electricity use, maintenance and eventual removal has not been settled. The consultation asks who should meet those costs and whether a formal licence for structural alterations should be used. If permission were granted, the parties would need agreed terms covering the work and the continuing responsibilities attached to it.
The physical installation may also raise questions about electrical capacity, cabling routes, parking rights and the effect on communal areas. Multi-occupancy buildings can require network upgrades or a coordinated system rather than a separate installation for each resident.
Why this matters to landlords and tenants
For landlords, a statutory process could turn an informal alteration request into one requiring a documented response within a defined period. That may be particularly significant for owners of leasehold flats, who can receive a tenant’s request but may need another party’s consent before they can decide it.
For tenants, easier access to home charging could make an electric vehicle more practical and reduce reliance on public chargers. A charge point may also make a rental home more attractive to future occupiers. However, the proposal does not remove the practical limits of unsuitable wiring, restricted parking or shared infrastructure.
There is also a question of fairness in blocks and estates. A single installation may benefit one household, while upgrades to communal capacity or later maintenance could affect wider service charges. The consultation is seeking evidence on how those interests and costs should be balanced.
A consultation rather than a change in the law
The consultation applies to England and closes at 11.59pm on 16 December 2026. Housing policy is devolved, so the proposals should not be presented as a UK-wide change. A separate consultation is considering EV charging requirements for covered car parks in new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation.
If ministers choose the legislative route, primary legislation would still be needed and implementation would depend on parliamentary time. The confirmed development is therefore the start of a consultation. Its outcome may shape future landlord duties, but it has not yet created a 28-day response rule or a general requirement to approve or install an EV charge point.
NetRent does not provide legal advice. This article represents our understanding of rental property law and is provided for general information only. Landlords should obtain independent legal or professional advice where appropriate.
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