The OZEV Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant is the main UK home-charging subsidy in 2026. As of 1 April 2026 the headline value increased from £350 to £500 per socket, per gov.uk's guidance on changes to electric vehicle chargepoint grant schemes. But the eligibility rules are tight — and changed substantially from the old EVHS scheme that ended in 2022. Most Cornwall homeowners with a driveway no longer qualify; flat-owners, renters, and landlords do. Here's exactly how it works in 2026.

What the grant actually is

The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) Chargepoint Grant is a contribution toward the purchase and installation of an eligible smart EV charger. Funded by the UK government, administered by approved installers who deduct the grant directly from your invoice — so you never see the money, the installer claims it back from gov.uk after fitting.

  • Grant value: Up to £500 per socket from 1 April 2026 (up from £350)
  • Coverage: Up to 75% of the cost of buying and installing the chargepoint, capped at £500
  • Scheme duration: Confirmed until 31 March 2027 (so April 2026 - March 2027 at the current rates)
  • Sockets per claim: Multiple allowed depending on the scheme variant (see below)

Who qualifies in 2026

This is the bit most people get wrong. There are four separate grant streams; you must fit at least one.

Stream 1: Renters and flat-owners

You may be eligible if you:

  • Rent a residential property (any type), OR
  • Own and live in a flat (leasehold or freehold)

You must also:

  • Have private off-street parking dedicated to you (driveway, allocated parking bay, garage)
  • Own, lease, use, or have ordered an eligible electric vehicle (or be installing for one)
  • Have obtained any required third-party permissions (landlord, freeholder, managing agent of the block) BEFORE applying

Note the order — you can't apply and then ask the freeholder. Get the permission letter first.

Stream 2: Residential landlords

Landlords providing chargepoints for tenants can claim:

  • £500 per socket (so a dual-socket unit = £1,000)
  • Up to 200 grants per financial year
  • Properties must be rented out (not the landlord's primary residence)

Stream 3: Commercial / workplace

Run via the separate Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) — also £500 per socket from 1 April 2026, capped at 40 sockets per applicant. Covers businesses, charities, and public authorities. See our WCS employer guide.

Stream 4: Anyone else

If you own and live in a house with a driveway — you're not eligible. The old EVHS grant for homeowners ended in 2022 and was not reinstated. Your install is full-price (typically £800-£1,200, see our cost guide).

Cornwall reality check: If you own a holiday let or second home with off-street parking, you do NOT qualify under the renter/flat-owner stream (it's not your residential property). You may qualify under the residential landlord stream if it's let to long-term residential tenants — not short-term holiday lets. Holiday-let owners typically need to look at the WCS commercial route instead.

What the grant covers — and doesn't

Covers:

  • Purchase of an OZEV-approved smart chargepoint
  • Standard installation labour (charger to consumer unit, basic cable run)
  • Commissioning and certification

Doesn't cover:

  • Consumer-unit upgrades (these can add £300-£600)
  • Groundworks, trenching, ducting
  • Cable runs above the installer's standard included length
  • The charger itself if it isn't on the OZEV-approved list
  • Tesla Wall Connector — does NOT qualify as it doesn't meet UK Smart Charge Point Regulations 2021

How to apply, step by step

  1. Confirm eligibility. Use the gov.uk "Find a grant" service — search "Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Renters and Flat Owners" or "for residential landlords".
  2. Get third-party permissions. If renting: written permission from landlord. If a flat: permission from freeholder/managing agent. Save the letters/emails.
  3. Confirm you have or have ordered an eligible EV. Most BEVs and PHEVs qualify; check the OZEV-approved vehicle list (very broad).
  4. Choose an OZEV-approved installer. They MUST be on the OZEV-approved list — not all electricians are. We connect you with vetted OZEV-approved Cornwall installers via the quote form.
  5. Choose an OZEV-approved chargepoint. Your installer will recommend from the approved list (Zappi, Easee, Ohme, Pod Point, Hypervolt, Wallbox among others). Tesla Wall Connector is excluded.
  6. Installer submits the grant claim. They deduct the grant from your invoice upfront. You pay the net amount. They reclaim from gov.uk after installation.
  7. Receive commissioning certificate. Keep this — needed for warranty claims and any future house sale.

Common reasons applications fail

  • No off-street parking. The vehicle must be charged on private land, not the public highway.
  • Missing third-party permission. Flat-owners often forget the managing agent step. Get this in writing first.
  • Non-approved installer. Many Cornwall electricians are excellent but not on the OZEV-approved list. Check explicitly.
  • Non-approved charger. Tesla Wall Connector, some imported brands, and older models don't meet the UK Smart Charge Point Regulations 2021.
  • Homeowner with driveway. Sadly, you're not eligible — the EVHS grant for homeowners ended in 2022.

Cornwall-specific notes

Cornwall has a high proportion of older rental stock (Victorian terraces, mid-century semis, granite cottages let to locals) — many of which are excellent candidates for the renter/landlord stream. If you're a tenant who's about to buy an EV and you have a driveway: ask your landlord. They may say yes; you save £500; they get a value-adding property feature.

If you own holiday cottages let short-term, the OZEV renter grant doesn't apply — but the Workplace Charging Scheme might. Many holiday-let owners are now claiming WCS at £500/socket; see our holiday let EV economics piece.

What if you're not eligible?

If you're a homeowner with a driveway — you're paying full price, but the install is still worthwhile economically. A 7kW charger at home charging on Intelligent Octopus Go or EDF GoElectric (off-peak rates around 7p/kWh in May 2026) recovers its £1,000 install in under three years at typical driving mileage versus paying around 70p/kWh on public rapid chargers.

Want to apply for the OZEV grant on a Cornwall install? Submit your postcode and we'll match you with a vetted OZEV-approved local installer who handles the grant paperwork end-to-end.

Disclosure

EV Charger Cornwall is a lead generation service. We connect you with vetted local OZEV-approved installers. Grant administration and final eligibility are determined by the installer and OZEV.