The OZEV EV chargepoint grant gives eligible UK residents up to £500 towards the cost of buying and installing a home EV charger. The grant was increased from £350 to £500 per socket in April 2026 and is confirmed until 31 March 2027. Renters, flat owners, households with on-street parking, landlords, and businesses can all apply, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
Key Takeaways
- The grant increased from £350 to £500 per socket from 1 April 2026.
- Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2027.
- Renters, flat owners, on-street parking households, landlords, and businesses are all eligible under different schemes.
- You must use an OZEV-authorised installer and fit a smart charger from the approved product list.
- If you claimed the old Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), you cannot claim again.
- Figures verified against GOV.UK guidance, April 2026. Verify current rates at publish time.
What the OZEV grant is and who runs it
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is the government body responsible for EV policy in the UK. Its EV chargepoint grant scheme covers the cost of purchasing and installing an approved smart home charger. You apply through the GOV.UK Find a Grant portal and your OZEV-authorised installer typically handles the paperwork on your behalf.
The scheme replaced the earlier Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and Domestic Recharge Scheme. If you already claimed under either of those predecessor schemes, you cannot claim again.
How much is the grant in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the grant is worth up to £500 per socket — covering 75% of the combined purchase and installation cost. This is an increase from the previous £350 cap that applied to most applicants before that date.
If you applied before 1 April 2026 but your charger has not yet been installed, you can re-apply under the new higher rate by registering for an account on the updated platform.
| Scheme | Max grant per socket | Max sockets |
|---|---|---|
| Renters and flat owners | £500 | 1 |
| On-street parking households | £500 | 1 |
| Residential landlords | £500 | 200 |
| Workplace Charging Scheme | £500 | 40 |
| State-funded education institutions | £2,000 | 40 |
Who is eligible for the residential grant?
The residential grant is aimed at renters and flat owners who do not own a house outright. To qualify, you must:
- Live in a flat you own (including shared ownership), or rent a residential property
- Have private, off-street parking that is accessible to you at all times
- Own, lease, or have on order an eligible electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle from the OZEV approved list
- Not have previously claimed the EVHS or Domestic Recharge Scheme
You cannot apply if you own and occupy a house (unless it is converted into flats and you occupy one unit), if you are in a lodging arrangement where the homeowner also lives, or if the property is unoccupied or under construction.
Parking requirements
Your parking space must be off-street, clearly defined, and either owned by you or subject to documented legal rights. If you live in a block of flats, you will need written permission from the freeholder or managing agent before you apply. Your installer will visit to confirm the space is suitable before any work begins.
The April 2026 changes explained
On 1 April 2026, OZEV made three significant changes to the scheme:
- Grant amounts increased from £350 to £500 per socket for residential and landlord grants (and from £2,500 to £2,000 for education, reflecting a separate adjustment)
- Landlord and renter applications moved to a new platform. Customers who applied before 1 April must re-register to access the higher rate if their charger has not yet been installed
- Several grants closed: the staff and fleets grant, commercial landlord chargepoint grant, and residential landlord infrastructure grant all ended on 31 March 2026. Claims can still be submitted until 26 May 2026, with final resubmissions by 6 July 2026
The new platform operates a 10-working-day assessment timeline. Installers no longer have portal access but receive email notifications when applications are approved.
How to claim the OZEV grant
You do not apply for the grant directly yourself in most cases. The process works as follows:
- Choose an OZEV-authorised installer — you can verify installers on GOV.UK
- Confirm your preferred charger is on the OZEV approved product list
- Your installer assesses your property and parking space
- They submit the grant application on your behalf (or direct you to the new portal for renter/landlord applications)
- The grant is deducted from your final invoice — you pay only the remaining balance
You never receive the money directly. The installer claims it from OZEV once the installation is complete and verified.
What charger do you need to qualify?
Only smart chargers from the OZEV approved product list qualify for the grant. A smart charger must be able to:
- Schedule charging to avoid peak demand hours (08:00–11:00 and 16:00–22:00 on weekdays by default)
- Communicate via Wi-Fi or mobile data
- Meet the cybersecurity requirements of the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021
Most mainstream brands — including Ohme, Hypervolt, myenergi Zappi, and Pod Point — appear on the approved list. If you have solar panels and want to charge from surplus generation, the myenergi Zappi is worth considering, as it is both grant-eligible and solar-compatible.
Grants that are no longer available
From 1 April 2026, the following grants closed:
- Staff and fleets grant — for workplace chargers used by employees driving plug-in company vehicles
- Commercial landlord chargepoint grant — for commercial property landlords
- Residential landlord infrastructure grant — for cable and supply infrastructure in rental properties
If you applied for any of these before 31 March 2026, you can still submit claims until 26 May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the OZEV grant if I own my house outright? No. The residential grant is only for renters and flat owners. If you own a house outright (including through a mortgage), you do not qualify for the residential scheme. You may still be eligible through the on-street parking grant if you lack a private driveway.
Does the OZEV grant cover installation costs or just the unit? It covers both. The grant applies to the combined cost of buying the charger and paying for installation. The 75% subsidy, up to £500, is applied to your total invoice.
How long does it take to get the grant approved? The new platform launched in April 2026 operates a 10-working-day assessment timeline. Your OZEV-authorised installer will receive an email notification once the application has been approved.
Can I use any installer? No. You must use an installer who is registered with OZEV as an authorised installer. You can check the register on GOV.UK. Using an unauthorised installer means you will not be eligible for the grant.
What happens if I already claimed the old EVHS scheme? You cannot claim the current chargepoint grant if you previously received funding through the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) or the Domestic Recharge Scheme.
Useful Resources
- OZEV EV chargepoint grants guidance — GOV.UK
- April 2026 grant changes — GOV.UK
- EV chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners — GOV.UK
- Become an authorised installer — GOV.UK