Acquisition of charging points in housing companies
To install charging points for electric cars, the owner of the property must take a decision on the matter – in a housing company, this means a joint decision of the shareholders of the housing company in a general meeting. In decisions taken by housing companies, it is important that all shareholders are treated equally when costs and responsibilities are allocated.
| Control and project type | Decision-making | Allocation of costs |
|---|---|---|
| The parking spaces are under the control of the housing company and are all converted into electric car charging points | Simple majority in general meeting | The housing company charges the building and maintenance costs as consideration. Electricity is metered according to consumption, the user pays |
| The parking spaces are under the control of the housing company and the number allowed by the capacity of the electricity connection are converted into electric car charging points | Simple majority in general meeting | The housing company charges the building and maintenance costs as consideration. Electricity is metered according to consumption, the user pays |
| The parking spaces are under the control of the housing company and only the parking spaces of those who request it are converted into electric car charging points | 2/3 majority in general meeting | The acquiring shareholders bear the building and maintenance costs. Electricity is paid by the user |
| The parking spaces are under the control of the shareholders themselves | Permission granted by the housing company | The shareholders bear their own costs |
The housing company's process should be started with a preliminary study
The purpose of the preliminary study is to collect information for the general meeting, where a decision on the acquisition of charging points can be taken.
The free capacity of the housing company's electricity connection is clarified in the preliminary study. This information can be obtained without a visit by a professional, however, it is advisable to also examine the housing company's internal electrical system. This provides more specific and more reliable information as a basis for alternative solutions.
In addition, the preliminary study provides an initial estimate of the appropriate allocation of the excess capacity between parking spaces. It is also useful to illustrate what the solution means in terms of available charging power. The easiest way to get started is if the solution does not require an increase in the capacity of the electricity connection.
The preliminary study can be initiated in three different ways:
A. The board of the housing company, together with the building manager, decides to study the matter
B. Shareholder(s) request the board to study the need for alterations
C. If the board does not act on the request, the shareholder can conduct the study themselves and include the matter on the agenda of the general meeting
The results of the study are reviewed at an information session of the housing company
You can present charging options for electric cars and prepare the ground for the project by organising an information session before the general meeting.
The information session should cover the basics of electric car charging, the process and its principles, and present the study and the details that emerged. The session should also provide examples of the processes and costs of installing charging points in similar housing companies.
The general meeting takes decisions
If the parking spaces are under the control of the housing company the housing company promotes the project, the general meeting addresses the preliminary study and the proposal for allocation of capacity.
The decision to acquire charging points can be taken by a simple majority. If additional capacity is needed, it can also be decided by a simple majority, as long as the shareholders' obligation to pay is not excessive.
If charging points are acquired for all parking spaces of the housing company with funds of the housing company, all shareholders must agree to the project. The project can also be implemented among minority shareholders so that only those shareholders who wish to have access to charging will share the costs. In this case, the decision must be taken at the general meeting with a 2/3 qualified majority.
If the parking space is under the control of the shareholder and the power and condition of the electrical system suffice, the shareholder only needs the permission of the general meeting to install charging equipment. The general meeting also establishes an agreement between the housing company and the shareholder, defining responsibilities and conditions for acquiring a charging point. The shareholder then acquires the charging point, sees to installing it, and bears the costs. Usage is charged as described in the agreement.