A new rule affecting homes across the United Kingdom has come into force, targeting individuals who have been reluctant to switch to an electric vehicle (EV) due to the lack of a driveway. The change, effective from Wednesday, April 1, 2026, sees an increase in a government grant from £350 to £500.
Who Can Apply?
Renters, flat owners, businesses, schools, and other organisations are eligible to apply. The government stated that it would typically cover half the cost of having an EV charger installed at home. For those without a driveway, the grant will contribute towards alternative options such as cross-pavement chargers. Eligible applicants include renters, flat owners, landlords, homeowners without driveways, and businesses.
Minister's Statement
Keir Mather, the minister for decarbonisation, discussed the changes on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme at the end of February. He said: "We think it will make a big difference. We are working as hard as possible so that as many people as possible can make the switch to an electric vehicle, but we can only do that if we make it cost-effective to charge from home."
He added: "So by uplifting this grant from £350 to £500, that's going to cover almost half the cost of the typical install of a charge point, about 42% of the cost. But the important point is installing those charge points unlocks those massive cost savings that you can get through home charging of around 2p a mile. So that's the equivalent of driving from London to Birmingham for about £3.50. We want as many people as possible to be able to access that, and that's why we're extending the grant today."
Business Perspective
Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, commented: "Many small businesses want to switch to electric vehicles, with half of small businesses (51%) saying that more charging infrastructure would incentivise them to make the switch. Small firms want to cut their emissions and reduce their fuel bills and removing or lowering the barriers which currently tip the scales against electric vehicle adoption can only be a good thing – for small businesses, for the economy and for the planet."
Landlord Viewpoint
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: "Almost nine in 10 landlords with a suitable property would install EV charge points if a tenant asks them to undertake this work. Given the extent of landlords' willingness to provide them, we welcome the government's plans to encourage more widespread installation of these points across the sector. We urge landlords to make best use of the grants now available where it is feasible for them to do so."
Details on how to apply can be found at gov.uk.
