In March 2026, a resident living in a council property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, questioned a £22.80 fee they received after using a standard plug socket to charge their electric car. The tenant argued that the charge was unfair because they already pay full rent and council tax to the local authority.
The City of Wolverhampton Council is now looking into the complaint, which has sparked a wider debate about rules for electric vehicle owners in social housing. It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of residents in council-managed homes may be affected by these policies as more people switch to electric cars.
Standard housing agreements often include rules that stop tenants from using electricity supplied by the council for their own private equipment without permission. This usually includes using communal sockets or external plugs to charge a car due to safety and cost concerns.
Wolverhampton is currently working to improve car charging options through a government-funded scheme for residents who do not have their own driveways. According to Invest Wolverhampton, this project uses money from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to install more public charging points across the city.
While the council continues to build this new infrastructure, the recent £22.80 penalty has highlighted a lack of clear guidance for people living in existing council homes. The fee appears to be an administrative charge rather than a standard payment for the electricity the car used.
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