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My apartment complex says they'll 'consider adding chargers eventually' -- what's actually reasonable for renters to ask for here?

Been renting at the same complex for three years, finally bought an EV, and now I'm realizing there's zero charging infrastructure -- no outlets in the garage spots, nothing. Management's response was pretty vague: 'we're looking into it, maybe next year.' I don't want to come across as the entitled new EV owner demanding a renovation, but I also don't want to just accept 'maybe next year' indefinitely. What's the realistic range of what apartment complexes actually do about this -- is it reasonable to ask for anything in an existing older building, or is retrofitting basically always a landlord cost problem that doesn't happen until a building gets renovated anyway? And if nothing's coming anytime soon, what do renters in older buildings actually end up relying on in the meantime?
116 answers
6 ANSWERS
rsaldana
@rsaldanaOctober 01, 2026
Where are you? It matters a lot. In California, Civil Code 1947.6 says a landlord has to approve a tenant's request to install a charger at their assigned spot, with some exceptions (fewer than 5 parking spaces, rent control, a few others). You pay for the install and the electricity, and you may have to carry liability insurance. A few other states have similar laws now. If your state doesn't have one, you're stuck with "maybe next year."
jwozniak
@jwozniakOctober 01, 2026
Ask for a 120V outlet at your spot. That's it. 12A all night gets most people 35-45 miles. Most commutes are covered.
jwozniak
@jwozniakOctober 01, 2026
...and leave the EVSE plugged in. Don't unplug it every day.
rsaldana
@rsaldanaOctober 01, 2026
Honestly I think more landlords will come around once they figure out they can charge more for a spot with power. It's a selling point for new tenants. Doesn't help you this year, but I'd keep asking.
sandra_whitley
@sandra_whitleyOctober 01, 2026
I own a townhouse and have a L2 at home, but most of the time I charge at a county L2 a mile away because it's 13 cents per kWh vs 24 at home. For a while I walked there and back 5 days a week. It's doable if there's a public L2 within walking distance of your place. Check PlugShare before deciding you have nothing.
craig_denton
@craig_dentonOctober 01, 2026
Older buildings usually have more capacity in the house panel or garage subpanel than management thinks. A lot of them just assume it means a service upgrade and a big project, so they never get an electrician to look. If you want to be useful instead of just asking, offer to pay for a dedicated 20A 120V circuit at your stall, or offer to split the cost. That's an easy yes for a lot of landlords because it's cheap and it isn't a "charging station" they have to manage. If other tenants have EVs or are thinking about it, ask together. Five tenants asking gets a different answer than one.