EV Charging for Serviced Accommodation, B&Bs and Guest Houses

Quick answer: Serviced accommodation, B&Bs and guest houses can offer EV charging and bill guests fairly for it without buying expensive charge-point management software. Connect an OCPP-compatible charger, set a per-kWh price within Ofgem's resale rules, and let guests pay by scanning a QR code. You get paid automatically and there's no front-desk involvement.

Guests increasingly expect somewhere to plug in overnight, and for serviced accommodation operators that creates both an opportunity and a billing problem. Unlike a single holiday let, you may have multiple units, repeat guests, and a small team — so the way you handle charging needs to be tidy and hands-off.

The problem with the "obvious" options

• Absorbing the cost works at one or two charging guests a month and quietly erodes your margin as EV adoption climbs.
• A flat nightly add-on is arbitrary, hard to defend when a guest barely charges, and a giveaway when they charge all week.
• Full CPO (charge point operator) software is built for forecourts and car parks — overkill, expensive, and far more than a B&B or serviced let needs.

What most operators actually want is simple, fair, metered billing that runs itself.

How metered guest charging works for accommodation

The model that fits serviced accommodation is per-kWh billing handled by the guest:

1. Connect your existing OCPP charger (or chargers) to the platform.
2. Set your per-kWh price — at or below what your supplier charges you, per Ofgem's Maximum Resale Price.
3. Display a QR code at each charge point.
4. Guests scan, pay by card for the electricity they use, and charge. No app, no account, no reception desk needed.
5. You're paid out automatically via Stripe, with a clear record of every session.

With GuestCharge there are no setup or monthly fees — just a 10% platform fee on charging revenue, with card fees paid by the guest. That keeps it viable whether you have one charger or several.

The two UK rules that apply

The same two rules apply to you as to any host reselling electricity:

• Ofgem Maximum Resale Price — your per-kWh rate to guests can't exceed your own supplier's unit rate.
• Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 (MID) — if you bill on measured usage, the meter must be MID-certified for billing. Some chargers include one; otherwise an MID sub-meter is fitted alongside.

Our complete 2026 guide and MID compliance guide explain exactly what to look for.

Multiple units and multiple chargers

Serviced accommodation often means more than one charge point. A few practical notes:

• Each charger can carry its own QR code, so usage and revenue are tracked per unit.
• Pricing can be consistent across the site, which keeps it simple to explain to guests.
• Because guests pay themselves, adding a second or third charger doesn't add admin for your team.

Make it a booking advantage

Charging is increasingly a reason guests choose one property over another:

• List EV charging clearly on your booking channels and your own site.
• State that it's fairly metered, pay-per-use — transparency reassures guests far more than a vague "charging available".
• Include the QR code and a one-line "how to charge" note in your welcome pack.

The bottom line

You don't need forecourt-grade software to offer EV charging at a B&B, guest house or serviced let. A standard OCPP charger plus automatic per-kWh billing gives guests a fair, familiar way to pay and gives you a clean, hands-off revenue stream that stays within UK resale rules.

See how the setup works for holiday lets and serviced accommodation, or estimate your potential charging revenue.