The UK government’s OLEV/EVHS grant has recently been updated. From the 1st April 2022, owners of single-use properties are no longer eligible to apply for the home-charge scheme, unless the property is classed as rented accommodation. However, even though single-use property home owners and mortgage owners are no longer eligible to apply, the government has introduced new grants that are now available for landlords of rented properties, flat owners, and tenants of rented accommodation.
In this post we will explain everything that you need to know about the recent changes made to the OLEV grant, who is eligible to apply, and how this grant can be claimed. Looking for a new charging cable? Check out our range of bestselling Type 2 charging cables, available with a free 5-year guarantee.
What is the OLEV grant?
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant is similar to the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) government grant. The OLEV incentive was created to help EV drivers with part of the installation costs of charging infrastructure at home, with the fitting of a smart wall box. This grant was created to help more drivers transition from fuelled to electric vehicles, in line with the UK government’s pledge to stop all sales of new fuelled vehicles in 2030, and transition to pure EV’s by 2040.
Similar to the previous home-charge scheme, the new OLEV grant offers drivers up to £350 off the installation costs of a domestic smart charger, and is available for one charge point per vehicle and household. However, unlike the former grant a second charge point will not be covered by this grant.
How long is the new OLEV grant available for?
The UK government have recently amended the OLEV grant, stating that this incentive is available from the 1st April 2022 for tenants and landlords of mixed-use accommodation buildings. All government grants for owned or mortgaged single-use properties have now expired.
The new grant applies to all occupants of rented accommodation, as well as owners of flats and apartment blocks. It is not clear for how long this offer will be available, as there is currently no expiration date for this grant, so it’s probably better to apply sooner rather than later.
Am I eligible for the new OLEV grant?
The new OLEV grant is open to all tenants and landlords who live in or own rented properties such as flats and apartment blocks, as well as occupants of rented single-use accommodation – all with reserved off-street parking. EV drivers are eligible for this incentive as long as they match the following criteria:
- You must live in rented accommodation or own a flat, or an apartment building.
- You should own/lease (for at least 6 months)/or have ordered a new or second hand pure electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle – with low emissions. You can check if your EV qualifies on OLEV’s eligible vehicle list.
- You should have access to off-street parking (such as a driveway, garage, or dedicated car park for the building).
- You must use an OLEV approved installer .
- You must not have already claimed this grant or the previous home-charge scheme grant.
Important details for Landlords
If you would like to apply for the new OLEV grant, you must first register with the DVLA before you can begin your application. Please see the EV charge point grant for landlords for more information, on the governments website.
The following points are also useful to note:
- Landlords must be registered with Companies House or be VAT registered.
- Landlords are not eligible if they live in the residence of the single-unit accommodation they are applying for.
- Holiday rentals are not eligible for rented property claims.
- Landlords do not require an eligible vehicle to claim the grant.
How do I claim the new OLEV grant?
Applying for the OLEV grant couldn’t be easier, and adheres to the same process as the former home-charge scheme grant. In order to claim this incentive, you must first choose an approved installer. Your installer will then check your information against the qualifying criteria and apply for the grant on your behalf.
The installer will then proceed to quote the costs of the invoice, subtracting the grant amount at the time of billing, before claiming back the costs offered by the grant.
How much does an EV home charging point cost?
The costs of an EV smart charger will vary depending on your chosen installer and their installation fees. Your chosen installer will most likely recommend either a 3.6kW or a 7kW EV charger. Both of these power outputs are usually eligible for the OLEV grant. The 3.6kW smart charger offers around 15 miles per hour charged, and the 7kW provides around 25 miles per hour charged. The average cost of an EV charger – including installation, in the UK, is around £1000 before the grant is applied.
In line with the recent updates to the government grants, it’s easy to feel lost in the details, so we hope that this article has helped you understand the latest changes to the OLEV grant.
If you’re a landlord or you live in rented accommodation, and you are considering upgrading to an EV, why not take advantage of the government’s incentives while they are available? Make the most of this grant while you still can, and save up to £1000 a year on EV charging when you charge from home.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like to read our article on how to get an EV charger installed at your workplace.