Installing an EV charger at home or at a commercial property is a straightforward job when it's done right — but it needs to be done right. As a qualified electrician working across Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Northumberland, Teesside, and Sunderland, I see homeowners and landlords make avoidable mistakes every week, mostly by going with whoever quotes cheapest or by not understanding what the installation actually involves. This guide covers what you genuinely need to know before you book anyone.
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EV charger installation isn't a job for a general handyman or a cowboy outfit with a van. A dedicated home charger draws up to 7kW continuously — that's a sustained load that needs to be properly designed into your electrical installation.
In the UK, EV charger installation falls under Part P Building Regulations, which means the work must either be carried out by a registered competent person or notified to your local authority. It must also comply with BS 7671 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, including the requirements introduced under 18th Edition Amendment 2, which tightened up the rules around RCD protection and protective earthing specifically for EV charging points.
Practically speaking, you need a contractor registered with a scheme like NAPIT or NICEIC. If you're claiming any grant funding through OZEV, it's a hard requirement — not optional. Beyond compliance, an unqualified installation can void your home insurance, create a genuine fire risk, and leave you liable if something goes wrong.
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The options are wider than most people realise, and the right choice depends on your vehicle, your grid connection, and how you use the car.
7kW AC home charger — This is the standard for domestic installations. A single-phase 7kW unit will charge most EVs overnight without any issues. It's what the vast majority of North East homeowners should be looking at.
22kW AC charger — Requires a three-phase supply, which most domestic properties don't have. It's more relevant for commercial premises, car parks, or larger workplaces. Worth checking your supply before anyone quotes you for this.
DC rapid charger — These are the fast-charge units you see at motorway services. Not relevant for home installation. The grid connection costs alone put them out of reach for most private premises.
On the charger brand side, we regularly install units from Pod Point, Zappi, Ohme, and Andersen EV. Zappi is popular with customers who have solar PV — it uses a CT clamp to monitor generation and can divert surplus solar energy into the car rather than exporting it at a low rate. Ohme integrates well with smart tariffs. Andersen is a premium product with a UK-made build quality that suits certain installations aesthetically as well as technically.
You'll also need to choose between tethered (cable permanently attached) and untethered (you plug your own cable in). Tethered is more convenient day-to-day; untethered is tidier and future-proof if you change vehicles.
Any smart charger installed in the UK must now comply with OZEV's smart charger requirements, which include scheduling, randomised delay functionality, and in some cases OCPP protocol compatibility for back-end management.
All outdoor units should be rated at minimum IP54 for weather resistance — anything less and you're taking a risk in a North East winter.
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Here's what a typical installation day actually looks like.
First, we assess the existing consumer unit and main incoming supply. Then we run a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit to the charger location — usually a garage wall, the side of a house, or a driveway post. That circuit needs its own RCD protection in line with BS 7671 requirements.
If load management is needed (for example, to prevent the charger and other high-demand appliances from overloading the supply simultaneously), we'll fit a CT clamp on the incoming tails and configure the charger's load management settings accordingly.
We notify the work through our competent person scheme, issue you an electrical installation certificate, and in some cases we need to notify Northern Powergrid as the DNO (Distribution Network Operator) for the region — particularly for 7kW+ chargers, which technically require notification under their G100 process. This doesn't usually delay anything but it's a step some less experienced installers skip.
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Sometimes, but not always. Older properties — particularly those still running a rewireable fuse board — will almost certainly need a new consumer unit before we can safely add an EV charger circuit. Modern all-insulated consumer units with RCBO protection are better suited to this kind of additional load.
If your board is already a relatively modern unit with spare ways, we can often work with what's there. We'll assess it during the survey. Don't let anyone quote you a consumer unit upgrade without inspecting the existing installation first.
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The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), administered by OZEV, no longer covers the general public as of 2022 — that changed. However, in 2024 it still applies to:
The grant currently covers up to £350 or 75% of the installation cost, whichever is lower. To claim it, the installer must be OZEV-authorised, the charger must meet OZEV's smart charger requirements, and there are eligibility criteria around the property and vehicle.
There are also separate grant streams for workplace charging and on-street residential charging that may apply to certain commercial or local authority projects.
If you're unsure whether you qualify, ask before you book — a reputable installer will tell you honestly rather than just assuming you do.
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For a straightforward domestic installation — consumer unit in good order, charger going on an external wall within reasonable cable run distance — allow half a day to a full day. More complex runs, consumer unit upgrades, or commercial installations will take longer.
Survey to installation is typically one to two weeks with us, though this varies with demand.
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Landlords in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham, and Teesside are increasingly asking about EV chargers as a way to improve property appeal and retain tenants. There are a few specific considerations.
EVHS grant funding is available to landlords, subject to conditions. The charger should ideally be untethered to allow different tenants with different vehicles to use it. Billing and access management is worth thinking through — OCPP-compatible smart chargers allow remote management if needed.
There are currently no mandatory obligations on landlords to install EV chargers, but that may change — the government has been consulting on minimum EV infrastructure standards for new tenancies.
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We're a local electrical contractor. We cover Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, County Durham, Teesside, Northumberland, and the surrounding areas. We're registered with a competent person scheme, OZEV-authorised, and we've installed chargers across all types of domestic and commercial premises.
We're not a national franchise with a call centre. When you contact us, you deal with qualified people who know the local grid infrastructure, know Northern Powergrid's processes, and can give you honest advice rather than just a sales pitch.
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How much does it cost to install an EV charger in North East England?
A standard domestic 7kW installation typically ranges from £500 to £1,000 fitted, depending on the complexity of the cable run, whether any consumer unit work is needed, and the charger model chosen. OZEV grant funding can reduce this significantly for eligible customers. Get a survey done before trusting any fixed price quoted sight unseen.
Do I need to upgrade my consumer unit before getting an EV charger fitted?
Not always. If you have a modern consumer unit with spare capacity and adequate protection, we may be able to work with what's there. Older fuse boards or fully occupied boards are more likely to need upgrading. We'll assess this at survey stage.
Can I get a grant towards my home EV charger installation in 2024?
The EVHS grant is currently available to flat owners, renters, and landlords — not to homeowners in houses. It covers up to £350 or 75% of the cost. You need an OZEV-authorised installer to claim it.
How long does a home EV charger installation take from start to finish?
The physical installation is usually half a day to a full day. From initial contact to installation, allow one to two weeks depending on scheduling.
Can a landlord install an EV charger for tenants in a rented property?
Yes, and EVHS grant funding is available for landlords doing exactly this. It's worth planning the access and billing arrangements carefully before installation.
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If you're based in the North East and want straightforward advice on EV charger installation — no hard sell, just honest information — get in touch with us at [energynorth.uk](https://energynorth.uk).