Are Electric Cars a Strata Building Friends or Enemies?

Even though you might not buy one, very few people are opposed to electric cars.  After all, if they're going to reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions, it's gotta be a good thing ... right?

Well, in a bizarre twist of corporate (ir)responsibility  Colorado strata corporations might be opposing pro electric car legislation proposed for that US state.

Senate Bill 13-126 is designed to facilitate drivers and users ability to charge electric cars in apartments, condominiums and common interest communities by restricting strata corporations' ability to prevent owners from installing a level 1 or level 2 electric vehicle charging system in their property or in common areas,  It also requires strata associations to consent to such installations except in very limited circumstances.   

That means that the usual control that strata corporations exercise over common property alterations is reversed - and owners can expect consent in most cases.  So, despite any objections to the works, decision making powers of committees and managers are fettered.  It also means that, over time, multiple owner changes and car charging installations can leave the common property a mess and create potential problems over consequential damage and ongoing repair and maintenance.

It's another great example of how things that are good for the general property owning and living public might not work so well for strata corporations because of their peculiar co-ownership structures, shared space environments, stricter regulatory controls, day-to-day operational limitations and the longer term cumulative impacts of changes.  

You can read more about this dilemma in this article by strata lawyers Wizenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne.

It's a real shame since I believe that electric cars and strata buildings go really well together.  After all the buildings are good parking locations, have ready sources of electricity at bulk buying rates and contain many potential users who could share the vehicles.  

Let's hope a sensible compromise can be found so that strata building owners and managers can keep supporting electric cars and contributing to saving our planet.


Francesco ...