Switzerland plans a legal right for tenants to demand EV charging where they park

Switzerland's Federal Council proposes amending the Energy Act so tenants and condominium owners can require their building's owner to install basic charging infrastructure: a power line to the parking space, a system to allocate electricity use and, where needed, load management. The right applies only to residents whose parking space is rented with their home from the same landlord, and only where installation is reasonable. In tenancies, the costs could generally be passed on through the parking rent. Civil courts would settle disputes. The public consultation closed on 12 October 2026.

The Federal Council says missing charging infrastructure is still one of the most common reasons vehicle owners do not buy an electric car. A right to charge tackles that barrier through private law rather than subsidy. The design choices to watch are the reasonableness test, which sets how far owners can refuse, and the shift of costs to tenants through parking rent.