EV charging for housing associations: funding, installation and resident billing

Housing associations face a particular challenge when introducing EV charging.

Residents need convenient access to charging where they live, but every development has different parking arrangements, electrical capacity, levels of demand and funding requirements.

The right solution is not simply to install as many chargers as possible. It is to create a managed charging network that works for residents today and can grow as more people switch to electric vehicles.

This guide explains the main options available to housing associations, including fully funded EV charging, zero-upfront-cost installations, government grants, resident billing and ongoing network management.

Can housing associations install EV chargers?

Yes. Housing associations can install EV chargers at apartment blocks, housing estates and other residential developments with suitable off-street parking.

The design will depend on several factors:

• Whether parking spaces are shared or allocated.
• The number of residents currently driving an EV.
• Expected future demand.
• The electrical capacity available at the development.
• Whether the chargers will use the building supply or require a separate connection.
• How residents will access and pay for charging.
• Whether the housing association wants to fund and own the equipment.

A site assessment can bring these considerations together and identify the most suitable approach.

Where should a housing association begin?

The first step should be understanding the housing association’s portfolio rather than immediately choosing a charger.

A useful initial review should identify:

1. Developments with communal or allocated off-street parking.
2. The number of homes and parking spaces at each location.
3. Existing resident requests for EV charging.
4. The number of EVs already registered on site.
5. Any chargers or electrical infrastructure already installed.
6. The available building or grid connection.
7. Planned refurbishment or electrical work.
8. Developments where demand is likely to increase first.

This allows sites to be prioritised using genuine demand, suitability and available capacity.

For larger portfolios, it may be more practical to begin with a small number of suitable developments and use those projects to shape a wider rollout.

What parking arrangements can support residential EV charging?

Housing association developments can include a mixture of communal, allocated and demised parking.

Each arrangement requires a slightly different approach.

Communal parking

Shared chargers can provide access for multiple residents without assigning a charger to every home.

This can work well where parking spaces are unallocated or visitor and resident parking are combined. Clear signage and a fair-use policy may be needed to keep charging bays available for genuine EV drivers.

Allocated parking

Where residents have dedicated spaces, chargers can be assigned to individual users. The shared electrical infrastructure can be installed first, with live chargers added as residents request them.

In some client-funded schemes, the housing association can install the main infrastructure and allow residents to pay for an individual charger when they need one.

Mixed parking

Some developments contain both shared and allocated spaces. In this situation, the charging network can combine communal bays with infrastructure serving individual parking spaces.

The important thing is to design around the way residents actually park rather than applying the same solution across every site.

Does every parking space need an EV charger?

No. Installing a live charger in every parking space from the beginning is rarely necessary.

A development can begin with enough chargers to serve current demand, while putting the right infrastructure and capacity planning in place for future expansion.

This phased approach can:

• Reduce unnecessary initial expenditure.
• Match the installation to genuine resident demand.
• Limit disruption to the development.
• Make it easier to expand the network over time.
• Avoid installing equipment that may remain unused for several years.

The initial design should still consider future demand. Otherwise, each new charger request could require additional cabling, surveys or electrical work.

Can housing associations get fully funded or zero-cost EV charging?

Eligible developments may qualify for a fully funded EV charging model.

Fully funded EV charging is sometimes described as zero-cost EV charging. More precisely, it means the agreed charging infrastructure and live chargers are provided at zero upfront cost to the housing association.

Under Roam’s fully funded model:

• Roam funds the agreed electrical infrastructure.
• Roam funds the live chargers included in the installation.
• Roam manages and maintains the charging network.
• Charging software, electricity procurement and resident billing are included.
• Residents receive 24/7 driver support.
• Roam controls the tariff and offers residents a competitive charging rate.

Residents still pay for the electricity used during their charging sessions, and the housing association enters into a long-term commercial agreement. Fully funded should therefore be understood as a zero-upfront-cost option for the eligible development, rather than charging being free for residents.

Not every housing development will qualify. The decision will consider factors including the size of the development, resident demand, expected usage, parking arrangements and the commercial viability of the site.

Read more about how fully funded EV charging works for apartment blocks.

What is the alternative to fully funded charging?

Housing associations can also choose a client-funded installation.

Under this model, the housing association funds and owns the charging infrastructure and live chargers.

This gives the housing association greater commercial control:

• The housing association owns the equipment.
• It decides the tariff residents pay.
• It receives the charging revenue.
• It can determine how quickly the network expands.
• Eligible government grants may contribute towards installation costs.

Roam can then provide the ongoing network management, software, maintenance, reporting, resident billing and 24/7 driver support through a monthly management charge.

The right option depends on whether the housing association prioritises avoiding upfront expenditure or retaining ownership and control.

What grants are available to housing associations?

Registered providers of social housing can be eligible for the Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for residential landlords.

As of September 2026, the grant provides 75% towards eligible chargepoint purchase and installation costs, up to £500 per socket. An eligible organisation can receive support for up to 200 sockets per year across one or multiple properties.

The grant applies to existing residential properties and cannot be claimed retrospectively after a charger has already been installed. The parking spaces must also meet the Government’s eligibility requirements.

The former Residential Landlord Infrastructure Grant closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.

Government grants cannot be combined with Roam’s fully funded model. They may instead support a client-funded installation where the housing association purchases and owns the equipment.

Funding rules can change, so always check the latest GOV.UK guidance for residential landlords before making investment decisions. GOV.UK specifically includes registered providers of social housing among the organisations that may apply, subject to the full eligibility criteria.

How should resident demand be measured?

Resident demand should be assessed before deciding how many chargers to install.

A survey can establish:

• How many residents already drive an EV.
• How many expect to switch within the next one, two or three years.
• Where those residents park.
• Whether they have an allocated space.
• How frequently they expect to charge.
• Whether they would prefer shared or dedicated charging.
• Any accessibility requirements.
• Whether residents have previously requested chargers.

Demand should not be judged only by the number of EVs currently on site. Residents may be delaying the switch because they do not have anywhere convenient to charge.

Combining resident feedback with vehicle data, parking information and a technical site assessment provides a more reliable basis for investment.

What happens if there is limited electrical capacity?

A site assessment can establish how much power is available and whether the proposed number of chargers can be supported.

Where capacity is limited, the answer is not always an expensive immediate upgrade.

Smart load management can balance the available power between the building and its EV chargers. Charging can also be managed across multiple vehicles so that demand remains within the site’s agreed limit.

Other options can include:

• Beginning with fewer live chargers.
• Installing infrastructure in phases.
• Scheduling charging around periods of lower building demand.
• Upgrading the electrical connection where necessary.

The most appropriate solution will depend on the building supply, parking layout and expected charging demand.

How do residents pay for EV charging?

Residents should pay for the electricity used during their own charging sessions.

A managed charging platform records each session and associates it with the correct user. This removes the need for housing teams to read meters, calculate individual costs or divide electricity charges between residents.

With Roam, residents can start and manage their charging through the Roam app. The property team can view charging-session information through the management portal, while Roam handles payments and driver support.

This creates a clear separation between communal building electricity and each resident’s personal charging use.

Who sets the charging tariff?

The answer depends on the funding model.

With Roam’s fully funded model, Roam sets and manages a competitive resident tariff. This reflects the electricity, infrastructure and ongoing service required to operate the charging network.

With a client-funded model, the housing association sets the tariff and receives the revenue generated from charging sessions.

Whichever model is chosen, residents should be able to see the applicable tariff before charging and understand how they will be billed.

How can housing associations make access fair for residents?

Residential charging should be planned around the people who will use it.

Housing associations should consider:

• Whether chargers will be shared or assigned to individual residents.
• How charging bays will be kept available for EV drivers.
• Whether time limits or fair-use rules are needed.
• How accessible charging spaces will be provided.
• What happens when demand exceeds the number of chargers.
• Whether residents without smartphones need another way to start a session.
• How payment and support information will be communicated.
• How requests for additional chargers will be handled.

Resident communication is important throughout the process. Explaining the proposed location, payment system, funding model and rollout plan early can help address concerns before installation begins.

What ongoing management is required?

Installing the equipment is only the beginning.

A residential charging network needs ongoing management to provide a reliable experience for residents. This can include:

• Remote charger monitoring.
• Planned and reactive maintenance.
• Charging software.
• Electricity procurement.
• Resident billing.
• Usage and revenue reporting.
• Tariff management.
• 24/7 driver support.
• Planning for additional chargers as demand increases.

Without a clear management arrangement, responsibility can fall back on housing teams that may not have the time or specialist knowledge to manage charging infrastructure.

When comparing providers, housing associations should check which services are included and which are charged separately. All these management points are covered by Roam through our zero-cost, fully funded model.

What should housing associations ask an EV charging provider?

Before selecting a provider, ask:

1. What experience do you have with apartment blocks and social housing?
2. Can you support communal, allocated and mixed parking?
3. How will you assess resident demand?
4. Who will fund and own the infrastructure?
5. Is a fully funded or zero-upfront-cost option available?
6. What makes a development eligible for fully funded charging?
7. Can government grants be used?
8. Who sets the resident tariff?
9. Who receives the charging revenue?
10. How are residents billed for their own usage?
11. How is the network monitored and maintained?
12. Is 24/7 driver support included?
13. How can additional chargers be added?
14. What information will be available through the management portal?
15. What are the housing association’s long-term responsibilities?

Clear answers make it easier to compare the total service rather than looking only at the cost of the chargers.

For a more detailed comparison, read our guide to choosing an EV charging provider for an apartment block.

How can housing associations plan a portfolio-wide rollout?

A housing association does not need to electrify every development at once.

A practical portfolio approach could involve:

1. Reviewing parking and property data across the portfolio.
2. Identifying developments with current resident demand.
3. Completing initial technical assessments.
4. Grouping sites by parking type and electrical requirements.
5. Comparing funding options.
6. Selecting an initial group of suitable developments.
7. Measuring resident uptake and charger utilisation.
8. Applying what has been learned to the next phase.

This approach allows the charging strategy to develop using real demand and operational evidence.

It can also identify where fully funded EV charging may remove the need for upfront investment and where a client-funded installation offers better long-term control.

How can Roam support housing associations?

Roam provides residential EV charging for apartment blocks and multi-dwelling developments across the UK.

Support can include:

• Portfolio and site assessments.
• Resident-demand planning.
• Charging-network design.
• Fully funded and client-funded options.
• Installation and activation.
• Smart load management.
• Resident billing.
• Management reporting.
• Ongoing maintenance.
• 24/7 driver support.

Roam has delivered residential charging at developments including Royal Wharf, where 216 fully funded 7kW sockets were installed across six locations, and Beaufort Park, where the charging network includes both live and passive infrastructure for residents.

Every development is different. The right starting point is understanding the parking, power and resident demand before deciding how the network should be funded and installed.

Explore Roam’s residential EV charging solutions or speak to the team about assessing your housing portfolio.