EV Charging for Holiday Lets and Airbnb Hosts in London

More guests now arrive in London by electric car, and many filter booking sites for places with charging. If you run a holiday let, serviced apartment or Airbnb with off-street parking, a home charger can help your listing stand out. This post covers what hosts should think about before adding one.

Who pays for the electricity

Decide whether charging is included in the price, charged as an extra, or paid by the guest through an app. Many smart chargers let you set a price per kWh or lock the charger so only approved users can start a session. Whichever you choose, state it clearly in your listing to avoid disputes. Our guide to smart charger rules explains the features.

Choosing the right charger

• An untethered charger works with any car and avoids a cable being damaged by careless use.
• A tethered charger is simpler for guests but the cable needs checking between stays.
• App or RFID card access stops passers-by or neighbours from using it.
• A model with energy reporting makes it easy to track how much guests use.

See our guide to tethered or untethered chargers.

Safety checks between stays

Add the charger to your cleaning checklist: look for a damaged cable, cracked casing or a plug left on the ground. Leave simple instructions in the welcome guide, including how to start a charge and who to call if it does not work. Our post on charger maintenance lists the checks.

Permissions and insurance

If you rent the property or it is leasehold, you may need consent from the freeholder or landlord. Tell your insurer that guests can use the charger. For the wider electrical and fire safety rules for short lets, see our main blog's guide to short lets and holiday lets.

Supply and installation

A survey checks that the supply and consumer unit can take a charger alongside the rest of the property's load. Installation can usually be planned between bookings. See our post on installation day.

Energy North Ltd installs chargers for hosts and landlords across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page to book a survey.