Barriers to EV Home Charging for UK Residents Without Off-Street Parking

Project hypothesis (v3): Home EV charging permission checklist Target users: UK residents who own or wish to own an electric vehicle but lack off-street parking, particularly tenants or homeowners who park on the street and are dependent on landlord or local authority approval for installing cross-pavement home chargers. How it would work: The project will create and test a simple, step-by-step request protocol and checklist for residents to use when seeking approval from landlords or local authorities to install a cross-pavement EV charger. The protocol will clarify required documents, permissions, and practical steps, and provide a template letter and checklist to streamline the process. The output will be a field-tested guide and feedback on bottlenecks. First version: The first version will be a printable PDF and online checklist with: (1) a template request letter for landlords or local authorities, (2) a checklist of required documents (proof of residence, charger specifications, insurance, etc.), (3) a summary of the new legal permissions, and (4) a log sheet for users to record response times and outcomes. It will be piloted with 10-20 volunteer residents in one local authority area. Alternatives to investigate: Existing guides from EV charger manufacturers, local authority websites, or landlord associations; informal advice from EV owner forums; and commercial installation services that may already offer support. The project will compare the protocol's clarity and speed to these alternatives. Difference to test: Unlike generic online advice, this protocol is tailored to the new legal environment and focuses on practical, stepwise actions for tenants and homeowners without driveways. The test is whether it reduces confusion, speeds up approval, and identifies persistent bottlenecks for this group. Human responsibilities: Local EV owners or interested residents will test the protocol, with supervision from a partner local authority officer and a landlord representative. A legal advisor will review the template for compliance. Volunteers will log their experience and outcomes. AI contribution and limits: AI will not make decisions but can help draft the template letter and checklist, and analyze anonymized logs for common issues. AI will not interact directly with authorities or handle personal data without consent. Data and access needed: Access to current local authority and landlord requirements, consent from pilot participants to log their application process, and feedback on any obstacles encountered. No personal data will be published without explicit consent. Source-supported setting and capacity: Our research found that 60% of petrol and diesel drivers without off-street parking would never consider an EV . Being able to connect a car parked on the street to cheaper home electricity could help change that. It’s now up to local authorities and landlords to make these solutions easier to access in practice. Ordered steps and owners: 1. Confirm participation of a local authority and a landlord association partner. 2. Collect baseline data on current request processes and response times. 3. Draft and review the protocol, checklist, and template letter with legal input. 4. Recruit 10-20 residents for the pilot. 5. Support participants in submitting requests and logging responses. 6. Analyze results and update the protocol based on feedback. Minimum resources and dependencies: Existing legal documents on permitted development rights, sample charger installation guides, access to local authority and landlord contacts, volunteer participants, and basic printing or online publishing tools. Confirm all dependencies before starting. Confirm staff availability, partner permission and safe operating instructions before starting. Costs and affordability unknowns: Costs are unknown and not reported. Local partners must obtain quotes for printing, legal review, and any participant compensation, and verify affordability before committing to the pilot. How a newcomer can help: A newcomer or volunteer can help by testing the protocol as a resident, submitting a request, and logging their experience. This task is limited to 1-2 hours per week over a 2-month period, under supervision from the project coordinator. Pilot and success criteria: Proposed pilot target: At least 70% of 10-20 participants receive a clear response (approval or denial) from landlords or authorities within 30 days of submitting the protocol request, compared to a baseline (to be measured) of typical response times for similar requests before the protocol. Measured by user logs and response records over 2 months. Risks and safeguards: Risks include lack of cooperation from landlords or authorities, unclear or changing local rules, and participant privacy concerns. There is also a risk that the protocol does not address all practical obstacles, or that installation is still unaffordable for some users. When to stop or change direction: If fewer than 30% of participants receive any response within 30 days, or if major legal barriers are identified that the protocol cannot address, the project will halt and reassess the approach.