Home EV Charger Installation Guide (UK 2026)

A standard 7 kW home EV charger install is one of the easier electrical jobs in a UK home — a competent OZEV-authorised installer can be in and out in 3–4 hours on a typical property. The complications come from the paperwork (DNO notification, Part P compliance) and from properties where the existing electrical supply needs work before the new circuit can go in.

What happens before the install

1. Quote / desktop survey — installer asks for photos of your consumer unit, meter, proposed charger location, and cable route. Often done online.
2. Pre-install site visit (for non-standard installs) — checks fuse rating, supply type (PME vs TN-S vs TT), cable routing options, drilling requirements.
3. DNO notification — installer submits G98 (fit-and-notify, up to 3.68 kW per phase) or G99 (pre-approval, above 3.68 kW per phase or with export capability).
4. Grant application (if eligible) — installer submits the EV Chargepoint Grant claim on your behalf.
5. Order and schedule — typically 2–4 weeks from deposit to install day for a standard G98 install; longer if DNO G99 approval or supply upgrade is needed.

What happens on install day

For a typical standard install (3–4 hours total):

1. Installer arrives, confirms charger location and cable route
2. Power is isolated at the consumer unit
3. A new dedicated circuit is run from the consumer unit to the charger location (usually a B-curve 40 A RCBO with Type A or Type B fault protection)
4. Cable is routed — surface clipped externally, through a wall, sometimes through a loft
5. Charger unit mounted to the wall, cables connected, tested
6. Power restored, charger commissioned via the manufacturer app
7. Installer demos the app, explains scheduling, walks through how to start a charge
8. Electrical safety certificate (EIC) issued under the competent person scheme; Part P notified
9. DNO notification submitted (if not already done pre-install)

The regulations the install must follow

Building Regulations Part P

Any new electrical circuit in a UK dwelling must comply with Part P (electrical safety). EV charger installs are notifiable work — the installer must either notify Building Control via a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA) or have Building Control inspect and sign off. The competent person scheme is the standard route — it gives you a certificate without requiring a council inspection.

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Section 722

The Wiring Regulations cover EV chargers in Section 722. Key requirements:

• Dedicated circuit (not shared with other loads)
• Type A or Type B RCD protection (Type A acceptable if the charger has built-in DC fault detection)
• For outdoor PME (TN-C-S) supplies: O-PEN protection (either built into the charger or via an external device, or supplementary earth electrode)
• Cable sized for the load and route — typically 6 mm² for short runs, 10 mm² for longer runs

DNO notification (G98 or G99)

Standard single-phase 7 kW (32 A) home charger: G98 — fit-and-notify, no pre-approval. Installer notifies the DNO within 28 days.

Three-phase install, or any install pushing total prospective demand above the supply rating: G99 — pre-approval required, 2–8+ weeks. The DNO can require a supply upgrade or refuse the application if the local network is constrained.

Planning permission

Planning permission is normally not required for a domestic 7 kW wall-mounted EV charger under permitted development, provided:

• The unit is below 0.2 m³ in size
• More than 2 m from a highway
• The property isn't listed, in a conservation area, or in flats
• Cross-pavement installs on public footways require highways authority permission

For listed buildings, always get advice from a conservation officer before committing. For flats and on-street parking, the application route is different and consent from the landlord/freeholder/managing agent is required.

The Smart Charge Point Regulations on install day

Every unit sold and installed in the UK in 2026 must be a smart charger compliant with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. This is the manufacturer's responsibility, but a few things the installer should explain to you:

• Default off-peak window: the unit ships with peak windows blocked by default (08:00–11:00 and 16:00–22:00 weekdays). You can override but must do so deliberately.
• Randomised delay: when an off-peak charging session starts, the unit waits a random delay of up to 10 minutes before drawing power. Prevents grid spikes.
• App / dashboard: you'll be able to see exactly how much energy was delivered, when, and at what rate. Useful for tariff arbitrage.
• Cyber-security and updates: the unit will receive firmware updates over the air. Don't disable connectivity unless you have a specific reason — the unit relies on it for tariff integration and security patches.

After install: what you should walk away with

• Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — issued under competent person scheme
• Part P Building Regulations compliance certificate
• Manufacturer warranty registration confirmation
• App login configured and tested
• DNO notification reference (or confirmation it'll be submitted within 28 days)
• EV Chargepoint Grant claim reference (if applicable)
• OZEV-authorised installer details for any future warranty issues

The 'gotchas' that catch people out

• Main fuse rating wasn't checked at quoting → install stalls waiting for DNO upgrade
• Cable route assumed straightforward; turns out the loft is full of insulation and the only practical route is a 30 m run around the house
• Earth rod required (charger without built-in O-PEN) but ground is paved or clay — installer didn't survey
• Charger ordered as untethered, but property owner needed tethered (or vice versa)
• Smart tariff requires a SMETS2 smart meter; existing SMETS1 not enrolled in the DCC, blocks tariff switching
• Grant claimed but property turns out to be ineligible (e.g. freehold house owner-occupier — see grant eligibility)