Preparing For EV’s In Your Condo
Ever since their introduction to the marketplace, electric vehicle demand has continued to climb. In 2017, electric vehicle sales in Canada experienced a 56% growth increase and this upward trend is expected to continue. The EV buying demographic leans toward well-educated, urban professionals and, ultimately, their choice of property will come down to whether or not they have access to EV charging. As of May 01, 2018, changes to the condominium act make it easier for condominium corporations and residents to install charging stations. Some of the changes include:
- The condominium Board is required to give residents access to the electrical information they need to assess whether or not charging is possible.
- Applications to the Board must include drawings and carefully informed plans that explain in detail how the installation of an EV charger will be reasonable and safe.
- The condominium corporation must reply to resident applications within 60 days. If the condominium corporation rejects the application they must provide the applicant with a report prepared by a qualified professional and demonstrate how the proposal would pose a serious health threat and/or safety risk to the residents and/or the property.
- The application must be sensitive to both the costs incurred by other residents, and the rights of residents to enjoy common spaces.
- If a building wants to install chargers at their cost, the building no longer has to seek the approval of all residents for as long as the condo notifies residents and the total cost is less than 10% of the annual budget.
