The condo has EV charging. Can you use it on moving day?

Get the station identifier before you get the moving truck.

“EV charging available” may mean a charger at the parking space you're buying, shared chargers elsewhere in the garage, or infrastructure intended for a future installation. Only the first two describe equipment you might use now, and neither tells you whether your own account will have access when you arrive.

For an existing installation, start the handover before closing. Management may need to approve your access, and the operator may need a new account. Leaving those requests until you arrive with a low battery gives you little room for a delay.

Before committing: establish what comes with the home

Ask property management to identify the relevant parking space and charging equipment. Is the charger dedicated to that space, or do residents use a shared pool? Who owns the equipment? Is its use included with the purchase, subject to a separate arrangement, or available only after registration?

Give your lawyer the answer along with the applicable charging agreement and condo records. The Condominium Authority of Ontario's EV charging guide explains that an owner-initiated installation involves an agreement with the corporation allocating installation-related costs, registered on the title of the owner's unit. That is a reason to investigate the actual agreement attached to this installation, rather than rely on the seller saying the board approved it years ago.

Have the lawyer determine which obligations bind the buyer and whether any assumption, consent or other step is needed. Separately, ask management how operating access changes when the resident changes. A legal obligation and an app login are different parts of the handover. Neither should be assumed to transfer simply because the charger remains on the wall.

For shared chargers, ask how residents obtain access, whether there is a waiting list, and what governs bookings, time limits and moving a vehicle after charging. An available shared service may suit you perfectly, but it isn't a reserved charger in your own space.

Before closing: set up your own access

Get the operator's name, equipment model, station identifier and the building's onboarding instructions. Ask who approves new users and when that person can process a request. If registration requires proof of ownership after closing, build that delay into your first week's transport plans.

Networked equipment can require more than downloading an app. For example, ChargePoint's Connections instructions, updated June 16, 2026, say some workplace and residential stations require a connection request. A driver searches for the organization or enters its Connections code, supplies any requested information and waits for an approval email. Creating a ChargePoint account alone doesn't complete that process.

If your building uses another operator, get its onboarding instructions instead. Create your own account and payment arrangements; don't take over the seller's personal credentials.

At the same time, confirm the connector against your vehicle and the manufacturer's instructions. If an adapter is needed, establish that it's suitable for the vehicle and equipment. Look at cable reach with the car parked in its permitted position, rather than assuming a compatible connector will reach the charging port.

Ask management or the operator how the installation is configured to deliver power, including any sharing or scheduling that affects charging. A model's advertised maximum doesn't establish what you'll receive in this garage. Explain your usual arrival time, departure time and driving needs so the answer addresses your routine.

Put the bill beside the access instructions

Request the current charging tariff and identify who issues the bill. Ask which charges apply: electricity, time, a subscription, an account fee or an idle fee after charging ends. There may be only some of these, or a different arrangement entirely. The point is to obtain this building's actual terms, not to assume a standard menu.

Also separate usage charges from ownership obligations. Who pays for maintenance, a failed cable, replacement equipment or damage? Management's operational explanation and the lawyer's review of the agreement should tell a consistent story. Resolve any gap before treating charging as a known monthly cost.

Arrange a seller demonstration, if permitted, to see the existing charger start a session. That can establish that the equipment operated at that moment under the seller's access. It cannot establish that your new account has been approved.

Once authorized: run a complete session

At the earliest time you're permitted to use the installation, try it with your own vehicle and account:

1. Locate the correct station and confirm its identifier matches your instructions.
2. Start a session using the approved method, and confirm in the vehicle that energy is being delivered.
3. End the session normally, release the connector and return the cable as instructed.
4. Check that the session appears in your account or the building's billing system, with the expected tariff.

If it fails, note the station identifier, time and error message for management or operator support. Don't reset equipment or interfere with another resident's session. A garage-entry problem, an unapproved account and a charger fault require different fixes.

Have an alternative charging location for move-in day until that test succeeds. This doesn't diminish the value of a functioning building installation; it keeps a routine onboarding delay from becoming a transport problem. The handover is complete when you can reach the charger, use it under your own authorization and understand the resulting bill.