Electric vehicle chargers:

What the legislation says about apartment buildings

Notification of the other owners at least 30 days before installation and approval by the majority (50% + 1) is required for the installation of an electric car charger in an apartment building, according to Dimitris Micharikopoulos, who specializes in electrification issues. "In case of objection, a study by an engineer may be required to prove that the installation does not interfere with the use of the other co-owners or endanger the safety of the building," according to the specialist.

At the same time, he said, speaking to ERT, the distribution networks should be prepared to have the strength to power the many many thousands of electric cars that are expected in the coming years that will be on the roads.

"The real problem arises when the majority does not agree on the placement of the charger, which requires the consensus of the majority in the general assembly", noted Manos Kranidis, Civil Engineer and Information Secretary of POMIDA, speaking to ERT.

"The difficulties begin when residents wish to place chargers in a common area. In this case, a decision must be taken at the general meeting and a majority must be reached. If there is no agreement, tensions may arise as to who will pay the charging costs and who will take over the installation," he said.

Specifically as explained if it is a common area, a small scale permit or certificate of work is required. "The installation must comply with the technical specifications and have an electrician's certificate for its safety. Also, the legislation on common installations must be followed," he stressed.

Asked what electric vehicle owners should do, he said the best approach is to go to a certified installation company to ensure the safety and regularity of the process.

"It is very important to ensure that charging is done on the correct clock, and that the power consumption is only recorded for the owner's vehicle. The shared clock cannot be used because it can create problems and misunderstandings about cost sharing," he said.