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21 Jun 26
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Installing an EV charger in a strata building takes more planning than installing one at a standalone home. Owners need to consider approval, common property, electrical capacity, costs and how the charger will be managed over time.
Electric vehicles are becoming a more common part of everyday life, and many apartment owners now want the convenience of charging at home.
In a strata building, however, EV charging is rarely just an individual installation. Car parks, electrical systems, switchboards, cabling routes and shared infrastructure may involve common property or other parts of the scheme.
That means owners should not treat EV charging as a standard home improvement. Before organising a contractor, the first step is to understand what approval process applies to the building.
National energy guidance includes specific information for EV charging in houses and strata buildings, reflecting the different approval and infrastructure questions that apply in apartment settings.
Before arranging an installer, owners should check the approval pathway for their building.
EV charging in a strata building can affect shared property, car park areas, electrical infrastructure or existing building rules. This means the request may need to be reviewed by the owners corporation, body corporate or committee before any work begins.
A typical process may include:
The exact process can vary depending on the building, car space arrangement, state or territory and type of charging setup.
For owners planning a personal EV charger, the national strata resident guidance recommends seeking approval and preparing the right information before installation.
Not every building needs the same charging setup. The right model depends on current demand, future demand, car park layout and electrical capacity.
A personal charger is usually installed for one owner’s use, often near their allocated car space.
This may suit buildings where only a small number of owners currently need EV charging. The owner will usually need to consider installation costs, electricity usage, access, maintenance and any conditions required by the scheme.
A shared charging station is installed for use by multiple residents, usually on common property or in a shared car park area.
This model can work well where a building wants a fairer long-term solution. The scheme will need to consider how access is managed, how residents are billed and who is responsible for maintenance.
Some buildings may choose to plan for broader EV readiness rather than approving one charger at a time.
This can involve assessing electrical capacity, planning cabling routes, considering load management and deciding how the building will handle growing demand over time.
Before submitting an EV charging request, owners should prepare enough information for the scheme to understand what the setup involves.
Useful questions include:
Older apartment buildings may not have been designed for EV charging, so an electrical assessment may be needed before the request can be reviewed properly.
The cost of EV charging in strata depends on the charger type, car space arrangement, power capacity and whether the setup is personal, shared or building-wide.
Grant availability and eligibility can change, so owners should check current government guidance before relying on funding.
Scheme rules or by-laws may need to cover:
For shared chargers, billing should be agreed upfront so usage costs are recovered fairly.
For more detail, read our Strata By-laws guide.
Before installation, owners and committees should check whether the proposed EV charger needs to be disclosed to the building’s insurer and whether any policy conditions apply.
Installation should be completed by a suitably licensed professional and supported by the correct electrical documentation. The building may also need to consider access to switchboards, meter rooms, fire safety systems and future maintenance.
For larger projects, especially shared or whole-building charging infrastructure, it may be useful to seek advice from electrical, fire safety or insurance professionals before the proposal is approved.
EV charging approval pathways vary by state, territory and building type.
This is general guidance only. Owners should check the process that applies to their building before arranging installation.
Before choosing an installer, speak with your strata manager, body corporate manager or building manager. They can help confirm the approval pathway, what information the committee may need and whether the proposal affects common property, shared infrastructure or existing scheme rules.
At Bright & Duggan, our strata managers help owners and committees keep EV charging requests organised and moving through the right channels.
Speak with your strata manager before arranging installation
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal, property, tenancy or compliance advice. Requirements can vary depending on the building, scheme, by-laws, state or territory, managing agent and individual circumstances. Owners, tenants and residents should seek advice where required.
