A charging station for the electric car in the parking garage at an apartment building. It sounds logical, but in practice it is often quite complicated to realize. About 1,2 million homes in the Netherlands are affiliated with an association of owners (VvE). The cabinet wants to make it much easier for the residents of those houses to drive electrically. That is why associations of owners (VvEs) can now receive advice from an expert with a subsidy. Charging point advice can help to arrive at a balanced and positive decision within a VvE. The government is also working on simplifying rules.
“More and more people want to become more sustainable and we are happy to support them in doing so. Installing a charging station is part of that.”
“Many people like to charge their car at home. Even if you live in an apartment or upstairs apartment, I want you to be able to choose that. It's getting easier now, and that's a good thing."
Good plan makes the difference
Many people would like a charging point in their parking lot, but run into various problems when they want to arrange this with their VVE. How and where do you do that, for example in a parking garage? What is the best option and what is a fair distribution of costs? How can it be done safely, even in the event of a fire? A good plan for the longer term makes the difference, and saves unnecessary research and costs for people.
To help VvEs with this choice, they can now receive a subsidy for advice from an expert. They can get 75% of the costs back through the SEEH scheme, with a maximum of 1500 euros. The advice should in any case address the answers to the above questions. Applications can be submitted from January 2022, with retroactive effect to October 6, 2021. State Secretary Van Weyenberg is allocating a total of 900.000 euros for this.
Regulations made easier
In addition to offering a subsidy, the cabinet is working on simplifying regulations so that individual apartment owners can soon decide more easily to install a charging point in their own private parking space or in the communal parking. A majority decision of the owners' meeting is now required. It will soon be sufficient if individual apartment owners inform the other VvE members that they want to place a charging point, provided that a number of conditions are met, including in the field of (fire) safety. The envisaged entry into force of the legislation is provisionally foreseen from 1 July 2023.
Much need for
About 1,2 million homes in the Netherlands are part of a VvE, which is approximately 17% of all homes. Kees Oomen of VvE Interests representative is therefore pleased with the step that the cabinet is taking: “Many VvEs are really struggling with the question of how to install a charging point safely and properly. We get a lot of questions about that; there is a great need for good advice. I expect that this measuring rule can lower the threshold for homeowners' associations to get started with installing charging points. We are therefore pleased that the government is taking this step.”
More possibilities
The government wants to offer people more opportunities to contribute to the climate themselves. If people insulate their home, or buy an electric car or solar panels, they often earn back after a few years. Often people are hesitant about the purchase costs. That is why there are subsidies for, for example, making homes more sustainable and the switch to electric driving National government.
