February 3, 2026

EV Charging is a Resident Retention Tool in Multifamily Housing

Alex Guidry

Head of Partnerships

Resident retention is one of the most important drivers of multifamily performance. Turnover is expensive, disruptive, and increasingly avoidable when properties align amenities with how residents actually live.

As electric vehicle adoption grows, EV charging is emerging as more than a convenience. For many renters, it is becoming a deciding factor in where they live and how long they stay. When implemented well, EV charging can be a powerful resident retention (and attraction) tool.

Why EV charging matters to today’s renters

EV ownership is no longer limited to early adopters. More residents now rely on EVs as their primary vehicle, and convenient charging is essential to daily life.

For these residents, access to reliable charging at home means not needing to rely on public chargers, lower fueling costs, and drastically more convenience.

When charging is unreliable or unavailable, frustration builds quickly, and that frustration can often lead to tenant turnover.

EV drivers are high-value residents

EV owners are often sustainability-minded residents who value convenience and are more likely to choose properties that support long-term lifestyle needs, such as reliable charging.

Moving becomes more complicated when convenient charging access is tied to the place they live. When a property supports EV charging effectively, it creates a strong incentive for residents to renew rather than relocate.

In this way, EV charging does not just attract residents. It helps keep them. That said, EV charging needs to be implemented with intent.

Reliability is what drives retention

Simply installing chargers is not enough. Retention depends on whether residents can rely on them.

Unreliable chargers lead to complaints, support tickets, and frustration. Over time, those issues undermine trust in property management. Properties that treat EV charging as managed infrastructure, rather than a passive amenity, see better outcomes.

Some ways that property managers can improve charger reliability are:

Remote monitoring: if your chargers are non-networked and cannot be monitored, consider using a charging management software (CMS). A CMS collects data from your chargers and allows you to track and identify issues remotely, saving your maintenance teams and drivers the pain of detecting issues only once someone fails to charge. Note that not all hardware is compatible with all software -- if you'd like a free consultation on whether your chargers can be networked and how to do it, let's chat!
Transparent pricing: one of the most common complaints we hear from drivers are unexpected charges and sessions being more expensive than they expect. Ensure that your tenants are aware of the charging rates you set, particularly if you charge time-of-use fees.
Manage charger access: tenants get frustrated if chargers are constantly occupied, especially if occupied by someone who doesn't live on the property. Ensure that your CMS has charger access management capabilities so your chargers are reserved for your tenants, reducing wait times and boosting satisfaction.

The bottom line

EV charging is often framed as a mere amenity or sustainability initiative. In practice, it's an effective tool to boost resident satisfaction and retention.

When charging is reliable, fairly priced, and easy to use, it removes a major friction point from daily life. For EV drivers, that convenience is hard to give up.

Multifamily properties that view EV charging through a retention lens are better positioned to reduce turnover, strengthen resident satisfaction, and stay competitive as renter expectations evolve.

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Want to get started with EV charging at your properties? Let’s connect!

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