Electric Vehicles, Mobility Vehicles and Batteries

How to keep your home safe when charging your electric vehicle or mobility vehicle

It's important when charging your electric vehicle or mobility vehicle, you do it safely to avoid the risk of a fire starting and putting your home at risk. 

Please note: residents are NOT permitted to store or charge electric vehicles or mobility vehicles in communal areas as any items left there can block emergency exit routes and create a fire risk.
If you live in one of our retirement living schemes, there may be an allocated mobility vehicle storage and charging area.

Safely charging your electric vehicle or mobility vehicle

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Always unplug your charger when its finished charging.
• Don’t charge electric vehicles or mobility vehicles in bedrooms or where escape routes can be blocked – for example, hallways.
• Don’t leave your battery charging unattended, when you are out or while you are asleep.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging
• Don’t overload sockets or use inappropriate extension leads
• Don’t charge or store batteries in direct sunlight or in hot locations (above 45⁰C)
• Don’t charge batteries close to combustible materials or hazardous substances.
• If your battery can be removed from your electric vehicle or mobility vehicle and charged separately, it should be charged on a hard flat surface where heat can disperse and in an area with good ventilation.

For more information on how to safely charge your electric vehicle or mobility vehicle please click here.

Permission

Permission must be granted by Platform Housing before acquiring a mobility vehicle and bringing it onto Group premises.  The Mobility Policy sets out conditions of use to residents who live in buildings with communal areas, such as retirement villages, retirement living schemes/community properties and blocks of flats with communal areas i.e. entrance hallways, staircases and landing areas. Please click here to view the Mobility Policy and access the permission forms.

Insurance

Insurance is not a legal requirement for electric/mobility vehicles, but it is compulsory if the vehicle is to be used and stored outside or inside a building belonging to Platform Housing Group. Customers will need to liaise with their insurance provider and respective cover may be available under a customer’s house contents policy, which may extend to have public liability included. Insurance must provide, as a minimum, third party cover for damage to property and claims from another person/third party.