EV Charger Installation for Apartments & Strata Melbourne

The Strata EV Charging Challenge

Installing an EV charger in an apartment or strata-titled property is more complex than in a standalone home - but it’s absolutely achievable with the right approach. The challenges are real (shared infrastructure, body corporate approvals, cost allocation), but they’re solvable, and Melbourne strata buildings are increasingly getting it done.

Carlin Co specialises in strata electrical work across Melbourne and has navigated the body corporate process for numerous EV charger installations. As NETCC Approved Sellers and Tesla Certified Installers, we provide the technical expertise and professional documentation that strata committees need to approve installations confidently.

Understanding the Key Challenges

Shared Electrical Infrastructure

Most apartment buildings have a common electrical supply that serves common areas (lifts, lighting, fire systems) and individual lot supplies that serve each apartment. EV chargers draw significant power (up to 32 amps continuously), and the building’s common or individual supply may not have sufficient spare capacity.

Solutions:

• Individual lot supply: If your car space has access to your apartment’s electrical meter, the charger can be connected to your private supply - you pay for your own charging, and the body corporate’s common supply isn’t affected. This is the simplest approach but requires cable routing from your meter to your car space.

• Common area supply with sub-metering: The charger connects to the building’s common supply, with a sub-meter to track your individual usage. You reimburse the body corporate for electricity consumed. This works well when individual lot supplies aren’t accessible from the car park.

• Dedicated EV charging infrastructure: For buildings planning multiple chargers, a dedicated supply from the main switchboard (or a new supply from the grid) with load management across all chargers is the most scalable approach.

Body Corporate Approval

In Victoria, installing an EV charger on common property (which car park areas often are) requires body corporate approval. The process depends on whether the charger is on your lot or on common property:

On your lot (private car space with exclusive title): You generally have the right to install within your lot boundaries, but you may still need permission for any works that affect common property (cable routing through common areas, connection to common switchboard).

On common property: You’ll need a special resolution at a general meeting (typically requiring 75% of votes). A well-prepared proposal significantly increases your chances of approval.

What Your Body Corporate Proposal Should Include

Based on our experience with successful strata EV charger approvals, your proposal should cover:

• Technical scope: A detailed description of the installation, including charger location, cable routes, switchboard modifications, and any structural work (core drilling, conduit installation)
• Electrical assessment: A professional assessment of available electrical capacity and confirmation that the installation won’t compromise existing building services
• Cost breakdown: Who pays for what - installation costs, ongoing electricity, maintenance
• Safety compliance: Confirmation that the installation will comply with AS/NZS 3000 and all relevant building regulations
• Insurance implications: Confirmation from the body corporate’s insurer that coverage is maintained
• Future-proofing: How the installation considers future EV charger requests from other residents
• Installer credentials: Licensed, insured, and accredited installer details

Carlin Co provides comprehensive proposals and technical documentation for body corporate submissions. Our track record and credentials (NETCC Approved, Tesla Certified, CEC Accredited, Master Electricians) give strata committees confidence in the quality and safety of the installation.

Installation Options for Different Building Types

Low-Rise Apartments (1-3 Storeys)

Smaller buildings often have simpler electrical infrastructure and shorter decision-making processes. Cable runs from individual meters to car spaces are usually shorter and more straightforward. A single 7.4kW charger on your apartment’s supply is often the simplest solution.

Typical cost: $2,000-$4,500 installed, depending on cable run length and switchboard work.

Mid-Rise Apartments (4-10 Storeys)

These buildings typically have more complex electrical distribution and larger body corporates. Load management becomes important if multiple residents want chargers. A shared charging infrastructure with smart load management is often more practical than individual installations.

Typical cost: $3,000-$6,000 per charger for individual installations; $2,000-$4,000 per point for shared infrastructure projects.

High-Rise Apartments (10+ Storeys)

Large buildings require careful electrical engineering. Existing supply capacity is often limited, and adding multiple EV chargers may require a supply upgrade from the electricity distributor. Centralised charging hubs with smart management software are typically the most practical approach.

Typical cost: Varies significantly - a comprehensive feasibility study ($1,500-$3,000) is recommended before committing to a design approach.

Smart Charging and Load Management

For buildings with multiple EV chargers (or planning for them), load management is essential. Smart systems share available electrical capacity across all chargers, ensuring no single charger overloads the building’s supply while still fully charging all vehicles overnight.

Key features of strata-suitable charging management systems:

• Dynamic load management: Adjusts charging speed based on real-time building load
• Fair scheduling: Ensures all residents get equitable charging access
• Individual metering: Tracks energy usage per charger for accurate cost allocation
• Access control: RFID or app-based access to prevent unauthorised use
• Reporting: Provides usage data for body corporate reporting

Costs and Who Pays

Cost allocation is often the most contentious aspect of strata EV charging. Common approaches:

User pays (most common): The requesting lot owner pays all installation costs and ongoing electricity. This is the simplest model and easiest to get body corporate approval for.

Shared infrastructure + user pays: The body corporate invests in shared charging infrastructure (conduits, switchboard capacity, management system), and individual lot owners pay for their charger connection and ongoing electricity. This approach future-proofs the building and shares the infrastructure cost across all owners.

Common property investment: The body corporate funds the entire installation as a building improvement, with charging costs recovered through individual sub-metering. This treats EV charging as a building amenity that increases property values.

Getting Started With Your Strata EV Charger

The first step is always a professional electrical assessment of your building. Carlin Co provides strata EV charging feasibility assessments that cover available electrical capacity, recommended installation approach, indicative costs, and body corporate documentation.

Call us on 0432 632 346 to discuss EV charging options for your apartment or strata building. We’ll guide you through the technical and body corporate process from start to finish.

For information on EV charger models and costs, see our EV charger installation cost guide and EV charger comparison.