Do not buy a wall charger first. Begin with written approval and an electrical assessment of the building, then agree on cable routing, load management, metering, billing, ownership and maintenance. A licensed electrician must install permanent charging equipment.
Charging in a shared building is possible, but it is a property project as well as a vehicle accessory. A well-prepared proposal makes approval easier because it answers the questions a landlord, strata committee or owners corporation is likely to ask before work begins.
Who needs to approve it?
Seek owners-corporation or body-corporate approval before altering common property, running cables or connecting to shared power.
Start with the landlord or property manager. Approval from the building may also be needed after the owner agrees.
Get the landlord's written consent before switchboard work, a new circuit or a fixed wallbox installation.
Rules and voting thresholds differ by state and territory and depend on whether the work touches common property. Government strata guidance notes that some changes may require a special resolution. Ask the building manager which approval process applies before commissioning detailed work.
Start with an electrical assessment
A licensed electrician should inspect the switchboard, available supply, earthing and protection, distance to the parking bay, cable route and communications signal. In an apartment building, the assessment should also consider existing and future EV demand—not only one charger.
| Question | Why the building needs an answer | Possible approach |
|---|---|---|
| Where does power come from? | A private meter, common supply or new EV distribution board changes billing and approvals | Use the simplest compliant source with a documented cable route |
| Can the building handle it? | Several cars charging together may exceed spare capacity | Use dynamic load management rather than assuming every charger runs at full power |
| Who pays for electricity? | Common-property energy should not be silently shared by all residents | Sub-metering or networked pay-as-you-go billing |
| Who owns the equipment? | Faults, upgrades and removal need a responsible party | Record ownership and maintenance in the approval |
| Will future chargers work? | A one-off installation can block a scalable building plan | Choose compatible equipment and reserve a sensible expansion path |
Load management is often the key
Dynamic load management monitors building demand and reduces EV charging power when other loads are high. It can then increase charging overnight when capacity is available. This can allow several bays to share limited supply and may avoid or defer an expensive incoming-power upgrade.
Ask whether the proposed charger communicates with the building's chosen system, what happens if the internet connection fails and whether residents are locked to one software provider. The cheapest standalone wallbox may be poor value if the building later adopts a different platform.
Metering and billing options
Connected to the resident's meter: simple billing when technically practical, but long cable runs can be costly.
Common supply plus sub-meter: the building records the charger's use and recovers the cost under an agreed process.
Networked charging service: software identifies users and can automate billing and load management, usually with ongoing fees.
Put the electricity rate, service fees and reconciliation process in writing. Also ask how a new tenant, changed parking bay or sale of the apartment will be handled.
What to include in the written proposal
- Licensed electrician's scope, switchboard assessment and charger specification.
- Marked-up cable route, mounting location and any penetrations through common property.
- Load-management, metering and billing method, including ongoing fees.
- Who pays for installation, electricity, maintenance, repairs and eventual removal.
- Evidence of electrical compliance, testing and the required safety certificate after installation.
- Confirmation that the building insurer will be informed where required.
After installation
Keep the approval, invoice, equipment details, test results and safety documentation. Confirm that billing and load management work before regular use. The building should also know who to contact if the charger faults, a cable is damaged or the parking allocation changes.
Sources and methodology
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