Leasehold flat EV charger: £500 grant + freeholder route
Updated 19 May 2026By Umut Tosmanoglu8 min read
UK leaseholders qualify for the 2026 OZEV £500 chargepoint grant. The harder problem is freeholder permission. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 and the case law that followed, where your lease requires consent for alterations and that covenant is "qualified", consent cannot be unreasonably withheld. Most flats can install with the right approach.
Communal/unallocated parking has different rules — see our Communal Charging guide for blocks of flats and RTM/RMC routes.
Free leasehold eligibility check
Full postcode (e.g. M1 1AA) or just the first part (e.g. M1) is fine.
Freeholder permission EV charger — three setups
Your building's structure determines who decides your application and how long it takes.
Single freeholder
One person or company owns the freehold. Decision time varies from 1 week to several months — median 6–8 weeks for reasonable freeholders. If you get no response within 6–8 weeks, treat silence as effective refusal and consider a s.19(2) letter before action (County Court route). Section 19/qualified-covenant principles still apply: refusal must be reasonable.
RTM / RMC company
Residents collectively manage. Decisions are usually faster because RTM/RMC directors are your neighbours — find out who they are. Crucially, the RTM/RMC itself is treated as a landlord under the OZEV scheme and can apply for up to 200 sockets per year covering communal parking — better than each leaseholder applying individually.
Landlord scheme for RTM/RMC →Share of freehold
You and your neighbours collectively own the freehold. Decisions made among share-holders, typically at AGM/EGM. Share-of-freehold decisions tend to be more pragmatic when multiple residents want EV charging — the neighbours co-owning the freehold often face the same need themselves.
Licence to Alter EV charger — what it actually means
Most leaseholders haven't heard the term "Licence to Alter" until they try to install a chargepoint. Here's what it is, in plain English:
Your lease almost certainly contains a clause requiring the freeholder's written consent before you make "alterations" or "additions" to the property. A chargepoint installation — drilling for the wall mount, running cable, connecting to the consumer unit — counts as an alteration. The formal consent document is called a "Licence to Alter". It records what you're allowed to install, who installs it, who pays for any future remediation, and what happens if you sell or surrender the lease.
Cost reality: many freeholders charge a Licence to Alter administration fee — typically £150–£500 — payable by the leaseholder. This is on top of the install cost and is NOT covered by the OZEV grant. Some leases explicitly recover this fee from the leaseholder; some don't. Read the lease before assuming.
The key statute is Landlord & Tenant Act 1927, Section 19(2): where a lease contains a qualified covenant against making improvements without consent, the statute implies a proviso that consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The statute opens "In all leases" — it applies to residential leases (only agricultural and mining leases are excluded under s.19(4)).
Three important nuances most guides miss:
- "Improvements" not "alterations". The statute uses the word "improvements". Case law (Lambert v F.W. Woolworth [1938]) defines an improvement from the tenant's perspective — anything enhancing value or utility. An EV chargepoint almost always qualifies, but the distinction matters in disputes.
- Communal land carve-out. If installing the chargepoint requires cabling across communal land owned by the freeholder (which is common for flats where the cable run crosses shared parking or building exteriors), s.19(2) does NOT apply to that part. The freeholder has absolute discretion to refuse use of their own land. This is the practical killer for many block-of-flats leaseholders.
- Remedy is County Court, not FTT. For declarations that consent was unreasonably withheld, the County Court is the correct forum. The FTT Property Chamber handles administration-charge reasonableness (Licence to Alter fees) — that's a different question.
If you're in any doubt about your lease wording — or whether your install touches communal land — spend £80–£150 on a property solicitor for a 30-minute review before submitting your consent request. It typically pays for itself in time saved if the freeholder pushes back.
Sources: LTA 1927 s.19 verbatim (legislation.gov.uk) · LEASE Advisory Service
Realistic timeline
Honest expectations — leasehold installs are slower than driveway owner-occupier installs because of the consent step.
| Step | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Read lease + identify consent route | 1–2 days (or 30 mins with a solicitor) |
| Submit Licence to Alter / consent request | Same day, by email or recorded post |
| Freeholder or RTM response | 4–12 weeks (treat silence past 8 weeks as effective refusal) |
| County Court declaration, if needed | 6–12 months — but a s.19(2) letter before action often resolves before filing |
| OZEV application + installer survey | 2–4 weeks once consent obtained |
| Install + grant deduction | 1–2 weeks |
| Realistic total (typical case) | 2–5 months from start |
Cost — all-in
Three components most leasehold guides forget to mention.
- Install (after £500 OZEV grant)
- £150–£400
- Licence to Alter fee
- £150–£500
- Property solicitor (optional)
- £80–£150
- Realistic total leaseholder cost
- £300–£1,000
Charger unit + labour. Grant deducted from installer invoice.
Charged by many freeholders for the formal consent document. NOT covered by the OZEV grant.
30-minute lease review to confirm your covenant type before submitting consent.
Depends on freeholder admin fees and lease complexity. Listed/conservation properties may add £200–£500 in additional consents.
Section 19 EV charger consent — 5-step process
- 1
Read your lease — find the alterations clause
Most residential long leases contain a clause requiring freeholder consent for alterations or additions. Chargepoint installations typically fall under this. Note the clause number and whether the covenant is 'absolute' (no negotiation possible) or 'qualified' (consent cannot be unreasonably withheld). A property solicitor can confirm in 30 minutes — typical fee £80–£150.
- 2
Identify who you need permission from
Single freeholder, managing agent, RTM (Right to Manage) company, RMC (Resident Management Company), or share-of-freehold co-owners. Each has different timelines, processes, and tone. Your lease and most recent service-charge demand will identify the right entity.
- 3
Submit a Licence to Alter request
Send a written request including charger specification, install plan, electrical survey, and OZEV-approved installer details. Reference the relevant lease clause and s.19(2) of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1927 (qualified consent principle). Many freeholders charge a Licence to Alter administration fee — typically £150–£500 — recovered from the leaseholder.
- 4
If refused or no reply, consider County Court action
If consent is unreasonably refused, or if your freeholder fails to respond within a reasonable time (typically 6–8 weeks), the correct forum is the COUNTY COURT — not the First-Tier Tribunal. You seek a declaration that consent was unreasonably withheld under s.19(2) Landlord & Tenant Act 1927. Typical timeline 6–12 months once filed; costs awards are rare and require unreasonable-conduct threshold (Rule 13, FTT) or standard court costs rules (County Court). In practice, a 'letter before action' citing s.19(2) and giving 14 days to respond often resolves disputes before filing.
- 5
Install + grant deducted from invoice
Once written consent is obtained, get a quote from an OZEV-authorised installer. Apply for the £500 grant via the gov.uk Find-a-Grant portal. Once approved, the installer carries out the work and claims the grant payment. You pay the remaining 25% (typically £150–£400 after grant), plus any Licence to Alter fee separately.
Best chargers for leaseholders
Two routes for leasehold flats — individual install with premium aesthetic (you live there long-term), or RTM/RMC communal install (one supply, multiple sockets).
Andersen
Andersen A3
Cable hidden inside the unit, wood/metal fascia options. Designed for visible installs where aesthetics matter to a long-term flat owner.
- From
- £1,430
- After £500 grant
- £930
Hypervolt
Hypervolt Home 3 Pro
Sleek LED-lit design, native Intelligent Octopus Go support, app status indicator. Premium pick for tech-conscious leaseholders.
- From
- £1,095
- After £500 grant
- £1,045
Easee
Easee One
Daisy-chainable on a single supply with intelligent load balancing — the standard pick when your RTM or RMC company applies for the OZEV Landlord scheme to install communal charging.
- From
- £699
- After £500 grant
- £579
Full comparison: All UK OZEV-approved chargers
Leasehold FAQs
I own a leasehold flat — do I qualify for the £500 grant?
Yes. The OZEV Renters & Flat Owners scheme explicitly covers leasehold flat-owners on the same terms as renters. You need three things: (1) off-street parking that is allocated to your flat in your lease — not shared communal parking, (2) written permission from your freeholder, managing agent, or RTM/RMC company, (3) an OZEV-authorised installer to carry out the work. Leaseholders with shorter leases (under 80 years) may face additional restrictions — speak to your conveyancing solicitor.
Can my freeholder refuse permission?
It depends on your lease wording. If your lease contains an 'absolute' covenant against alterations (no qualification), the freeholder can refuse without giving reasons. If your lease contains a 'qualified' covenant (the more common form, especially in long leases of 99+ years), the Landlord & Tenant Act 1927 — as developed through later case law — generally requires that consent not be unreasonably withheld. Good reasons to refuse: structural risk, listed building constraints, valid fire safety concerns. Blanket refusal without specific objections rarely survives s.19(2) scrutiny in the County Court. A property solicitor can confirm your lease classification in 30 minutes.
What is the court route — and is it the FTT or the County Court?
For unreasonable refusal of consent to alterations, the correct forum is the COUNTY COURT, not the First-Tier Tribunal. The County Court can issue a declaration that consent was unreasonably withheld under s.19(2) LTA 1927. The FTT Property Chamber handles administration-charge reasonableness (e.g. challenging an excessive Licence to Alter fee) — that's a different question. Costs awards are governed by Rule 13 (FTT, fees from May 2026: £200 application + £300 hearing, awards in exceptional unreasonable-conduct cases only) or standard County Court costs rules. The FTT generally does not award damages — that's a separate County Court claim. Most disputes settle on a 'letter before action' citing s.19(2), giving 14 days to respond.
Does communal/unallocated parking work for the grant?
Generally no — the OZEV Renters & Flat Owners scheme requires parking that is allocated to your specific lease/tenancy. Shared first-come-first-served parking is NOT eligible for individual leaseholder applications. In communal-parking blocks, the better route is your RTM company, RMC, or freeholder applying under the OZEV LANDLORD scheme (£500 per socket × up to 200 sockets per year) to install communal charging infrastructure. See our communal charging guide for the technical and legal route.
What if my building has a Right to Manage (RTM) company?
If your block is RTM-managed, the RTM company replaces the freeholder for alterations consent. RTM decisions are usually faster than absent freeholders because the directors are typically other residents in your building — find out who they are and approach them directly. RTM companies are themselves treated as 'landlords' under the OZEV scheme and can apply for up to 200 sockets per year covering communal parking — often a far better solution than each leaseholder applying individually. If you're approaching your RTM officers, the OZEV Landlord scheme makes the case for collective installation.
Can the RMC apply for the landlord scheme on behalf of all residents?
Yes. RMCs and RTM companies are explicitly listed as eligible 'landlord' types under the 2026 OZEV Residential Landlord scheme. They can claim £500 per socket × up to 200 sockets per year for communal EV charging infrastructure — a theoretical maximum of £100,000 per year per RMC entity. The RMC then either includes EV charging in service charges, charges residents per-kWh via smart billing, or recovers cost over time via a small service-charge addition. This is structurally cleaner than 20 individual leaseholders fighting for individual installations.
Listed building or conservation area — do extra rules apply?
Yes, three separate consents may apply. (1) Listed Building Consent from your local authority — required for any external change to a Grade I, II*, or II listed building. (2) Planning permission if the charger is on a street-facing wall in a conservation area. (3) Freeholder consent (Licence to Alter) — same as any leasehold. A leaseholder in a listed Bath, Edinburgh, York or Oxford property who skips Listed Building Consent risks legal enforcement, including reversal of the install at the owner's cost. Always check with your local authority's conservation officer before submitting the freeholder consent request — typical decision time 8 weeks, fee £200–£500.
How much does it actually cost in total?
Three components to budget: (1) Install cost after £500 grant — typically £150–£400 for the charger work itself. (2) Licence to Alter fee — many freeholders charge £150–£500 for the formal consent document and their solicitor reviewing your install plans. (3) Optional property solicitor — £80–£150 to confirm your lease classification and review the licence terms before signing. Realistic total leaseholder cost after all grants and fees: £300–£1,000 depending on lease complexity and freeholder fees. Hidden costs that catch leaseholders out: the Licence to Alter fee, and occasionally Section 20 consultation costs if the install affects communal areas.
Leasehold flat charging by city
Section 19 consent practice and tribunal precedent vary by area. Pick your city for local notes.