A neighbor connected a charging station for his car to the building's common electrical grid. What to do
A resident of an apartment building installed an electric vehicle charging station and connected it to the building's common electrical grid without permission from the house committee. Attorney Karin Shimon explains that such actions are illegal and recommends the committee demand cessation of use, check connection safety, install a separate meter, and if refused, go to court.
A resident of an apartment building installed an electric vehicle charging station and connected it to the building's common electrical grid without permission from the house committee (vaad-bayit) or other neighbors. The situation raised questions from one resident, who sought advice on social media. Attorney Karin Shimon, an expert in resolving neighbor disputes from the firm "Shimon — Shuval," explains that such actions are illegal. The resident is not entitled to connect to the common grid unilaterally. The installation affects safety issues and the interests of all residents, as well as electricity costs — the expenses for charging a personal vehicle should not fall on all apartment owners. The attorney recommends that the house committee demand an immediate cessation of use, check the safety of the installation, and determine who pays for the electricity consumed. When connecting to the common grid, a separate meter must be installed. The house committee can convene a meeting of owners for a vote. If the resident refuses to cooperate, the committee has the right to go to court.