An Aussie apartment owner whose building’s strata committee is blocking their attempts to install a charger for their new electric vehicle is vowing to fight the common issue affecting numerous others across the country.
The NSW resident had thought the installation of a charger in their designated parking spot would be a formality but was shocked to hit fierce opposition from the building’s strata committee.
The resident said the whole situation made them feel like they were stuck paying for a car they can’t properly use.
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Strata committees are starting to clash with residents on EV charging infrastructure more and more.
“I recently bought an electric vehicle and wanted to install a charger in my NSW apartment parking spot, but my strata committee has pushed back and made it feel almost impossible,” the resident told Yahoo News.
“I understand there are rules in apartment buildings, but it’s frustrating because more Australians are being encouraged to switch to EVs while people in units seem stuck in the past.
“I’ve been told concerns range from electricity use to fire risks and insurance, but no one can give me a straight answer on whether they can actually stop it altogether.
“Can strata legally refuse an EV charger installation? And what rights do apartment owners have if they want to future-proof their property?”
Maurice Blackburn legal expert Jillian Barrett said the EV charger issue wasn’t a simple one to resolve but the strata committee could be fought through various channels on the matter.
“Governments are encouraging people to switch to electric vehicles, yet many unit owners find themselves blocked by strata committees when they try to install a charger in their own car space,” she told Yahoo News.
“The short answer is, in New South Wales, strata can regulate EV chargers, but they cannot simply say “no” without a lawful and reasonable basis.”
EV chargers in apartment blocks is becoming more of an issue as electric vehicles grow in popularity.
Ms Barrett said strata approval was definitely needed in the form of either an application to changes of common property or an application for minor renovations.
While EV chargers could be refused on legitimate grounds, questionable refusals could generally be addressed with sufficient expert evidence.
“Strata committees often raise concerns about fire risk, electrical capacity and insurance,” Ms Barrett said.
“These are legitimate considerations, but the law does not allow a blanket refusal just because something is new or inconvenient.”
Electrician reports, clear planning and metering/payment methods to track energy usage were all things that could be used address strata concerns.
NSW Fair Trading and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal could be utilised to resolve the conflict if all other avenues failed.