Guide for presidents and residents
Electric car charger in a Spanish community of owners: what the law requires
What article 17.5 of the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (LPH, Spain's Horizontal Property Act) says about installing a charging point in a garage space, who pays and how to notify the community, with a downloadable template.
By the Vecinar team · Updated on
What article 17.5 says
“Installing an electric vehicle charging point for private use in the building's car park, provided it is located in an individual garage space, shall only require prior notice to the community. The cost of that installation and the corresponding electricity consumption shall be borne in full by the person or persons directly concerned.”
Steps to install the charging point
Step 1
Notify the community before installing
The law requires prior notice to the community, not an agreement of the owners' meeting. Send it to the president by a means that leaves proof of receipt: this guide includes a downloadable template.
Step 2
Cover the cost and the consumption
The cost of the installation and the electricity used are borne in full by the person or persons directly concerned (art. 17.5).
Step 3
Commission the installation
The law regulates who decides, not the technical requirements or the permits that technical regulations or the town hall may require. Consult an authorised installer.
What if the space is not individual?
Art. 17.5 refers to individual garage spaces and says nothing more about other cases. If your car park does not have individual spaces, consult a property law professional or the property manager before installing anything.
Downloadable templates
For guidance only: adapt them to your community's bylaws. Fields in square brackets are filled in by hand.
Prior notice template for an electric vehicle charging point
Content required by art. 17.5 of the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal.
PRIOR NOTICE OF INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINT
To the community of owners [BUILDING NAME AND ADDRESS], for the attention of the president.
Mr/Ms [FULL NAME], owner of the home [UNIT] and of the individual garage space [SPACE NUMBER],
GIVES NOTICE of their intention to install an electric vehicle charging point for private use in the garage space stated.
Description of the planned installation: [POWER, LOCATION, INSTALLER, PLANNED DATE].
Under art. 17.5 of the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, this installation only requires prior notice to the community, and the cost of the installation and the corresponding electricity consumption will be borne in full by the person concerned.
In [TOWN], on [DATE].
Signature: [SIGNATURE]
Send it by a method that leaves proof of receipt.
Get started today
Vecinar keeps a record of what is communicated and decided in the community.
- Community documents in folders: notices, quotes and installation.
- Announcements to all residents of the power cuts needed for the works.
- Garage incidents with photos and status.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the community's permission to install an electric car charger?
No, if it is an individual garage space and the charging point is for private use: it only requires prior notice to the community (art. 17.5).
Who pays for the charger and the electricity?
The person concerned: the cost of the installation and the electricity used are borne in full by those directly concerned (art. 17.5).
Is there a template for notifying the community?
This guide includes a downloadable prior notice template. The law does not set a format: it is best to send it by a means that leaves proof of receipt.
Sources
This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Check your community's bylaws too. The Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (LPH, Spain's Horizontal Property Act) is national law: in Catalonia, Book Five of the Civil Code of Catalonia applies instead.