Home EV Charger Installation in the North East: What You Need to Know
More drivers across Newcastle, Northumberland and the wider North East are going electric, and a home charger is usually the first thing they ask us about. Here is what the job involves, what the rules say, which grants are still available in 2026 and how to get your home ready.
Why fit a dedicated home charger?
A dedicated charger is faster and safer than plugging into an ordinary socket. A typical 7kW home charger adds around 25 to 30 miles of range an hour, so most cars are full by morning. You can also set it to charge overnight on a cheaper off-peak tariff.
What we check before installing
Your supply. We check your main fuse and how much electricity your home already uses, to make sure it can take the extra load. Home chargers also have to be notified to the local network operator, which in the North East is Northern Powergrid.
Your consumer unit. Older fuse boxes and units without suitable RCD protection may need upgrading, or the charger may need its own supply.
Earthing. BS 7671, the wiring regulations, has a dedicated section on EV charging (Section 722). Depending on your supply, this can mean an earth rod or a charger with built-in protection.
Where you park. We plan the best spot for the charger and the neatest cable route from your consumer unit.
Every new home charger must be a smart charger
Under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, home chargers sold in Great Britain since 30 June 2022 must be smart. In plain terms, they have to connect to the internet, come with default off-peak charging hours (which you can change), include a randomised start delay to ease pressure on the grid, and meet cyber-security standards. We set this up with you on the day.
Are there grants for home chargers in 2026?
If you own a house with a driveway, there is no longer a government grant: that scheme closed in 2022. But the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) still offers grants to some households, and from 1 April 2026 the maximum went up to £500 per socket, covering up to 75% of the cost:
Renters and flat owners with private off-street parking.
Residential landlords fitting chargers at their rental properties.
Households without a driveway who install an approved cross-pavement cable channel, with permission from the council.
These schemes are open until 31 March 2027. Grants cannot be backdated and are claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer before the work starts, so check your eligibility before you book.
What happens on installation day
A straightforward installation usually takes around half a day. We mount the charger, run a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit, fit the required protection and earthing, test everything and show you how to use the app. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate for the work.
How to get your home ready
Send us a photo of your consumer unit and electricity meter. It helps us give you an accurate quote.
Decide where you usually park and which side of the car the charging port is on.
Look at EV-friendly energy tariffs. Cheaper overnight rates make the biggest difference to running costs.
Book your home charger survey
A-Lek Technical is a NAPIT-registered electrical contractor based in Morpeth, installing home and workplace EV chargers across Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham. Find out more about our EV charger installation service, request a quote or call 07525 792 529.