As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates across the UK, homebuyers and renters can now search for properties that offer EV charging.

The new service comes thanks to a new collaboration between carmaker Vauxhall and property platform Zoopla.

It’s an initiative that aims to help drivers make informed decisions about their next move amid growing concerns over the UK’s charging infrastructure.

Four walls

Zoopla’s 2025 analysis revealed that just 1.6% of all property listings on its site explicitly mention access to EV charging, despite a surge in electric car ownership.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), one in four new cars sold in the UK is now electric, with registrations up by more than 34% compared to this time last year.

That surge is placing increasing pressure on the UK’s still-developing charging infrastructure.

A study by Vauxhall and CENEX, the Low Carbon and Fuel Cells Centre of Excellence, found that only 19% of UK households in need of charging access live near a public charge point.

Front door

This lack of accessible infrastructure is proving a significant barrier for prospective EV owners, particularly those without off-street parking.

To address the problem, Vauxhall and Zoopla have launched new features within the Zoopla app and website, enabling users to search for homes with either private EV chargers or easy access to on-street charging.

The feature is designed to work similarly to search filters that are already available to find properties near schools and transport links.

Steve Catlin, Managing Director at Vauxhall, highlighted the importance of charging access in modern property decisions. “Moving house is one of the biggest decisions most of us make in our lifetime,” he said.

“As EVs become an even more common sight on our roads, more and more people will be prioritising charging access when thinking about where to live. Whether charging at home or on-street, we hope the features we have worked with Zoopla to introduce go some way to make decisions around buying and renting a new home that little bit easier for millions across the country.”

Supply and demand

The integration is part of Vauxhall’s broader ‘Electric Streets of Britain’ campaign, which aims to support the expansion of EV infrastructure and educate consumers about the practicalities of EV ownership.

EV charging concerns are already shaping the housing market.

Vauxhall’s research found that 40% of drivers say proximity to EV charging will influence their next home purchase.

Another 33% said a lack of charging access would actively deter them from moving, a figure that jumps to a striking 84% among current EV drivers.

Daniel Copley, Consumer Expert at Zoopla, noted that buyer expectations are evolving.

“Buyer requirements are constantly changing as a result of lifestyle shifts, working patterns, and environmental awareness,” he said.

“By improving Zoopla’s search functionality, our aim is to empower more confident moving decisions, particularly for current and future EV owners.”

Public support

Currently, the UK has around 60,000 public EV charging points, but the government has pledged to increase that number to at least 300,000 by 2030 in line with its ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from that year.

However, progress is uneven, with many rural and suburban areas still lacking adequate infrastructure.

Meanwhile, data from the Department for Transport shows that more than 80% of EV charging in the UK is still done at home, underscoring the importance of driveway access and private chargepoints.

Yet, for those without the option to install a home charger, on-street access is often essential.

As the average UK homeowner stays in their property for 17 years, the current housing stock will play a critical role in the nation’s transition to electric mobility.

The collaboration between Vauxhall and Zoopla could be a small but meaningful step toward aligning housing and transport policy with the UK’s net zero ambitions.