Can I install an EV charger in my apartment block?
Yes — you have a right to charging in a shared building, and the house association cannot simply refuse. After an amendment to the Multi-Unit Housing Act no. 26/1994 by Act no. 67/2020, an owner needs no one else's consent to install charging equipment on their own parking space or a space belonging to their unit. If an owner who has the right to use a shared, undivided space asks for charging equipment there, the house association, board and other owners are obliged to comply. The myth that stops many: that the house association can say no or that you need everyone's consent. That is wrong — the main rule is a right to charge, not a ban. There are limits, though: if more than half of the shared undivided spaces would go to charging only, two-thirds of owners must approve, and if more than two-thirds of spaces would, all owners must. Decisions on the type of equipment and cost sharing are taken at a house meeting by simple majority of those who share the cost.
📋 The rules
- An owner needs no one else's consent to install charging equipment on their own parking space or a space belonging to their unit (Act no. 26/1994, cf. 67/2020).
- If an owner asks for charging equipment on a shared, undivided space they may use, the house association and board are obliged to comply.
- If more than half of the shared undivided spaces would go to charging only, two-thirds of owners must approve (by both number and ownership shares).
- If more than two-thirds of such spaces would go to charging, all owners must approve.
- Decisions on the equipment type and cost sharing are taken at a house meeting by simple majority of those who share the cost.
🔓 Exceptions
- If more than half of the shared undivided spaces are given over to charging only, the main rule yields to a requirement for a greater majority (two-thirds or all).
- The house association may set reasonable technical requirements on safety, metering and layout of the equipment, as long as it does not obstruct the right in practice.
- The cost of charging equipment that serves only one owner falls on that owner, not on the whole house association.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If the house association or board refuses a legitimate request for charging, the owner can refer the matter to the housing appeals committee, which assesses whether the refusal stands up under the law, and from there it can go to the courts. Since the main rule is a right to charge, the house association usually loses such disputes, but litigation costs time and money on both sides. The hidden cost lies in the preparation: charging equipment in an older building can require upgrading the electrical panel and supply cable, and that shared cost is divided under the rules of the Act and a house-meeting decision. Wrongly installed or illegal equipment can create fire risk and liability, so professional installation and inspection matter for insurance. To avoid disputes, the wisest course is to submit a written request for a house meeting, with a description of the equipment and cost, because the process is then clear and the house association must take a position rather than dragging the matter out.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Multi-Unit Housing Act no. 26/1994 →
- Althingi · amendment no. 67/2020 (EV charging equipment) →
- The Homeowners Association · EVs in multi-unit housing →
❓ Frequently asked
Can the house association refuse me a charger?
No, the main rule after the 2020 amendment is a right to charging, not a ban, so the house association cannot simply refuse a legitimate request. If you ask for charging equipment on a space you may use, the board and other owners are obliged to comply, within the limits the law sets.
Do I need everyone in the building to agree?
Not for equipment on your own space or a space belonging to your unit, where you need no consent at all. A greater majority is needed only if more than half of the shared undivided spaces would go to charging only, then two-thirds, or all owners if more than two-thirds of spaces would.
Who pays for the charging equipment?
Equipment that serves only you falls on you, while shared equipment is paid for by those who benefit, following a house-meeting decision. Decisions on the type of equipment and cost sharing are taken by simple majority of those who share the cost, not by the house association unilaterally.
What if the older building cannot handle the load?
Then the electrical panel or supply cable may need upgrading, and that shared cost is divided under the rules of the Act and a house-meeting decision. This does not change the right to charge, but it can delay the work and raise the cost, so it is wise to have a professional assess the system's capacity first.
What do I do if the board drags its feet?
Submit a written request for a house meeting with a description of the equipment and cost, because the house association must then take a position. If the request is refused without valid grounds, you can refer the matter to the housing appeals committee, which assesses whether the refusal stands up under the Multi-Unit Housing Act.
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