One group of drivers ‘locked out’ of electric car ownership after April rule change

Experts have warned that one group of motorists have been “locked out” of making the transition to electric cars under new rules which came into effect this month. Many home and workplace charging grants have been extended for another year, but some discount schemes were axed.

Among the projects ended was the residential landlord infrastructure grant which provided money to install crucial cabling for electric car charging plugs. Previously, apartment buildings could claim discounts of up to £500 per parking space, or £30,000 £30,000 per building, to cover the cost of works.

Experts at ChargeGuruUK have warned the decision has left many buildings unable to move forward with EV charging plans without the need for private investment which could be a serious blow to EV owners living in apartments.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Denis Watling, Managing Director of ChargeGuruUK explained: “If flat residents aren’t able to charge at-home, we’re effectively locking them out of the EV transition.”

The residential landlord infrastructure grant came to an end on 31 March, 2026, meaning it is no longer available this April. ChargeGuruUK has warned that the rule means motorists without a driveway now face even higher costs and fewer options than before to make the switch to an EVs.

This is because apartment blocks will likely have to rely on private capital or third‑party investment to ensure projects get off the ground. Motorists without access to their own private charging plugs will be forced to top-up their vehicle at public plugs.

These generally cost more to use than private charging stations, with drivers paying 20% VAT on public bays instead of 5% on private electricity supply. Higher charging costs or difficulties with topping up at home are likely to be a major barrier preventing road users from buying EVs in the first place.

Alternatively, experts have stressed that those desperate to make the switch could take matters into their own hands and improvise, which could lead to serious safety concerns.

Denis told Express.co.uk: “As Government support shifts, our advice to building owners and managers is to reach out to EV charging experts now to discuss scalable, building‑wide EV charging solutions, before residents start doing their own thing. Effective and safe solutions are still achievable, especially through fully‑funded models that remove upfront costs.”