Moving House With an EV Charger: Leave It, Take It, or Buy a Home With One

If you have a home charger and you are moving house, you may wonder whether to take it with you or leave it behind. Buyers moving into a home with a charger have questions too. This post covers both sides, so the charger stays safe, legal and useful whoever ends up using it.

Leave it or take it?

A charger fixed to the wall is usually treated as a fixture, so unless the sale contract says otherwise, the buyer may expect it to stay. If you want to take it, agree this early and make sure it is listed in the fixtures and fittings form. Many sellers leave the charger, as it can be an attractive feature for buyers, and fit a new one at the new home.

If you take it with you

• The charger must be removed safely by an electrician, and the circuit left made safe and labelled at the old property.
• At the new home, it needs a proper installation with its own circuit, the right protection and a check of the supply and earthing.
• Older chargers may not meet the current smart charger rules, so reinstalling one may not be allowed. Our guide on smart charger rules explains what applies.

If you are buying a home with a charger

• Ask for the installation certificate and any network operator notification.
• Ask for the charger's app account or reset instructions, so you can take over control and billing.
• Check it works with your car's connector and whether it is tethered or untethered. Our post on tethered or untethered chargers explains the difference.
• If there is no paperwork, an electrician can test the charger circuit as part of an EICR.

Paperwork for sellers

Keep the installation certificate, the manufacturer's warranty and any account details together for the buyer. Our main blog explains which certificates buyers usually ask for in selling a flat in London.

Energy North Ltd removes, installs and tests home chargers across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page.