The demand for electric vehicle charging points (EV charging points) in commercial properties will continue to increase over the coming years.
The use of electric and hybrid vehicles is escalating rapidly further to the government's proposal to ban the production of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Both landlords and tenants looking to install these devices at their sites must consider several essential factors before doing so.
Landlords should firstly consider their relationship with a charging point operator.
A landlord can either enter into a lease or a commercial agreement with an operator to install, connect, operate, and maintain EV charging points.
Should a landlord be responsible for the cost of installation
The cost of operating EV charging points may be recoverable by a landlord through a service charge provision in the lease, although it is not expected that a landlord would be able to recover the costs of installing charging points through a service charge as the capital expense is high.
A landlord should check beforehand whether there is a service charge cap in the lease that would prevent them from recovering the costs of maintaining or installing an EV charging point.
Landlords may also want to check if they are eligible for government incentives, such as a grant, to help fund any initial costs or costs of upgrading devices as technology advances.
A landlord should also assess how they will charge for the day-to-day use of charging stations.
Does a system need to be established so that users can pay through their phone or through a card payment, and will the charging points be used purely by commercial tenants or be available to the public?
A landlord may consider deploying and managing charging stations themselves to maintain control and avoid any issues concerning reinstatement at the end of a tenant's lease, as a tenant may be entitled to remove the devices from the property.
In particular, a landlord will need to consider the extent of their responsibility at their sites about the health and safety risks of installing and using charging points.
What should a tenant consider before installing EV charging stations?
A tenant must consider an EV charging point's impact on their existing lease, as this may affect future rent reviews.
A tenant may have to obtain consent from their landlord and enter into a licence for alterations to carry out the works.
This means the tenant will be responsible for the works, installation, and negotiations with an operator.
The party responsible for the maintenance and repair of the charging points should be determined, particularly if this lies with the tenant under their lease's repair and insurance obligations.
Considerations for both parties
Both landlords and tenants must consider whether planning permission is required ahead of installing EV charging points.
Equally, obtaining consent from a superior landlord or where there is a mortgage on the property, obtaining consent from the bank in favour of the legal charge should be established beforehand.
Another important consideration is ensuring the necessary legal requirements are met.
Landlords and tenants should comply with the government regulations introduced on 30th June 2022 concerning EV charging points to avoid any sanctions.
Installing EV charging infrastructures allows properties to be' fit for the future' and, therefore, more desirable and sustainable.
Contact Our Commercial Property Lawyers
If you are a landlord or a tenant requiring specialist legal advice concerning EV charging points, please get in touch with our team of experienced commercial property solicitors by calling:
0161 941 400
More Commercial Property News
Purchasing a Commercial Property with Funding - What Buyers Need to Know
Purchasing a commercial property is a significant investment, and it is important to understand the requirements for a purchase with funding compared to a cash purchase. The key difference between a cash purchase and a purchase with funding is the involvement of a lender. As the lender will be providing funds for the purchase, they will require...
Read Blog
Buying Industrial Premises for Manufacturing: A Practical Legal Guide
For a manufacturing business, owning a site rather than leasing one offers several benefits. Although the due diligence required may be lengthy and the initial expense large, purchasing a site can give a buyer both more flexibility and certainty, without having to obtain a landlord's consent or the uncertainty that arises from lease renewals or...
Read Blog
Buying a Care Home? Key Property Considerations You Need to Know
Alongside the operational and regulatory considerations that come with running a care business, buyers must carefully assess whether the property itself is capable of supporting both current care standards and future operational needs. From title and planning issues to leasehold liabilities and regulatory compliance, property due diligence plays...
Read Blog
The Government Responds to its Minimum Energy Efficiency (MEES) Consultations
The Government has published an interim response to its 2019 and 2021 consultations on proposals to strengthen the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regime applicable to commercial properties in England and Wales. The announcement provides some clarity on the future direction of the regime and represents a departure from previous...
Read Blog
What Due Diligence Is Required for a Commercial Property Purchase?
Purchasing a commercial property can deliver strong returns, whether through rental income received from tenants or long-term capital growth. It does, however, entail a range of legal and practical risks that, if not addressed and managed before exchange of contracts, can significantly affect the property’s value. Our Commercial Property team...
Read Blog
Update: Upwards Only Rent Review Ban Receives Royal Assent
The Government’s proposed ban on upward-only rent reviews, introduced in July last year, received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. In our September 2025 blog , we discussed the Government’s proposed ban on upward-only rent review (“UORR”) clauses in commercial leases, as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act (the “Act”). We...
Read Blog
Emily Sutherland
Senior Associate
Emily is a Senior Associate specialising in commercial property, advising a wide range of clients including developers, investors, landlords, tenants, lenders, and corporate occupiers. She acts on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, delivering commercially focused and pragmatic advice.
About Emily Sutherland