The OZEV grant keeps shape-shifting. What started as the EVHS (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme) is now tightly targeted — flats, rental properties, and landlords, not homeowners with a drive. Every week I get asked "can I still get £350 off?" and every week the answer depends on who's asking.
The short version
- Homeowners with off-street parking: no grant. Full price.
- Renters (any type): grant available, up to £350 off.
- Flat owners: grant available.
- Landlords: up to £30,000 per year across multiple properties.
- Small and medium businesses: workplace charging scheme still active.
Who qualifies in practice
The "EV Chargepoint Grant for renters and flat owners" replaced the old homeowner scheme. To qualify you need to be either renting the property, owning a flat in a block, or leasing a property from a landlord. You also need dedicated off-street parking — street parking doesn't count, even if it's right outside your door.
For landlords, the grant applies to up to 200 properties per year (with a combined £30,000 cap). If you're running a rental portfolio and your tenants are starting to ask about EVs, this is genuinely useful money.
What you'll actually pay
A typical 7.4 kW OZEV-compliant install in Watford is £799–£1,150 before the grant. If you qualify, deduct up to £350 off the unit cost, so you're looking at £449–£800 all in — including OZEV-compliant Type A + 6 mA DC protection, Mode 3 commissioning, and the DNO notification where required.
The solar-diversion angle
If you have solar PV, a Zappi with a CT clamp on the incoming tails will divert surplus generation straight to your car. On a sunny week in summer, you can genuinely get a full charge "for free" — at least in marginal electricity terms. It adds around £200 to the bill but typically pays for itself within a year on a two-car household.
What changes after the grant ends?
Nothing urgent. Even without the grant, a dedicated 7.4 kW install remains dramatically cheaper and safer than a granny cable, and the reliability difference alone is worth it. The grant is a nice discount if you qualify; the rest of the case for a proper charger is independent of it.
“Zappi with solar diversion, OZEV paperwork handled, and a neat tidy-up afterwards. Worth the wait.”
