UK Limiting power from sockets

[Central]

Hi
I have an Airbnb and some guests are charging their cars off of power sockets in my kitchen. So not only is this outwith my insurance coverage it is costing me a lot of money.

Are there sockets which can either

1) limit current?
Or
2) time out automatically after 30 minutes or so

I can have sockets added with USB outlets for phone charging.

Or should I have kitchen and other appliances hard wired in or changed over to 5A sockets as I don’t have any worktop appliances which take more than that. Is that feasible?

Any other ideas?

 

[littlespark]

You could replace the circuit breaker in the consume unit with one of a smaller size….. but that might not be enough for normal kitchen usage.

A simple label… but there’s no way to police that unless you are there to catch them in the act.

Put in a dedicated charge point, with a pay-for-use system.


Along with the cost of electricity, a standard socket isn’t built to take prolonged high load such as a car.

 

[Vortigern]

Get an EV charger for your guests is my thought on the matter.

 

[snowhead]

It doesn't take much Googling to find it's a Worldwide problem, no surprise there, more so in places like the U.K where energy costs are high.

Changing sockets won't work, you'd have to eliminate all 13amp sockets in the property as it seems Airbnb guests are sometimes using extension leads as well, where sockets are out of reach.

Fitting a prepayment card meter might deter people but may also lead to annoying phonecalls in the middle of the night demanding a resolution when the credit runs out.
Even putting it in the house rules won't stop people.

If I was an Airbnb guest and found out the previous guests had been charging an EV car, or 2, I'd be demanding a refund for half a tank of petrol for my car/s.

Pay as you charge might work for some, but there will always be people who won't use it and will expect and even intentialy arrive low charged, free charging.

Airbnb are going to have to address it somehow regarding a specific extra charge for E.V

As someone on a thread I read pointed out, what's going to happen when a relative or friends come to stay at your own house with you and ask to plug in their E.Vs ?

 

[ferg]

Put in an EV charging point then factor it and it's usage in to your pricing.

It's the same issue with tourists having the heating on full and the windows open.

Unfortunately some guests will be more expensive than others.

On the plus side you can get more for a week than you would for a month long letting.

 

[SJD]

If someone arrives with an EV, from some distance away, they are going to need to charge it, either with or without your help. Putting obstacles in they way will just mean they need to be more creative in achieving that.

So I'd suggest putting in an EV charger, it will also be an added feature of the property. As to whether you make a separate charge for using it (and how to enforce that), or whether you just build the electric cost into the overall fee is up to you.

 

[littlespark]

As someone on a thread I read pointed out, what's going to happen when a relative or friends come to stay at your own house with you and ask to plug in their E.Vs ?

Tell them where the nearest public charge point is....

If you already have a charge point for your own car, spin them some B.S that it's set up for your car, and your car only. Any other car, it won't work... so don't try.
Wouldn't be difficult for the software to have a handshake protocol between charge point and one specific vehicle written in by design.


Back to the OP's issue.
Just a label to say they can't charge vehicles from the house sockets and put it in the paperwork.... get them to agree and sign a document....

It might stop some of them, but there will always be ones that try it on.

A smart energy monitor on the property, so that you can see what's being used by each guest over the duration of their stay... Give them a quota... or "fair use" policy on energy usage.... Break the quota, and they get charged more.

Do you have a cleaner or caretaker that can drop by when asked to catch them out?
(I'm presuming you don't live nearby yourself?)

 

[LewisM]

Get one of those car chargers fitted that takes payment by card or by the app that way if they want to use it they'll get a proper fast charge and they'll have to pay for it

 

[westward10]

Put in a specific EV point which requires additional payment they will generally use another socket. Put in a free to use EV point and put an extra cost to all tenants, you don't have to state why. Some will use it some won't so in the long run you will be quids in.

 

[nicebutdim]

Put in an EV charging point then factor it and it's usage in to your pricing.

It's the same issue with tourists having the heating on full and the windows open.

Unfortunately some guests will be more expensive than others.

On the plus side you can get more for a week than you would for a month long letting.

This seems the most effective solution as it provides a safe means of charging and including the cost in overall rental price deters those who would avoid using a charger that requires additional payment (of which I'd expect there to be quite a few).

Of course if the OP believes their 'guests' are decent people, they could fit a payment facility for the charger. I'd be inclined to err on the side of caution and offer 'free' charging, believing that risks from a small number of freeloaders outweigh any concerns about fairness.

 

[DefyG]

A prepayment fast charger might not stop the vistors still using the 13A sockets from the kitchen though! ...... a 'Free' one might!

 

[plugsandsparks]

Put in EV charge point giving 7KW (32A) will be much better than a socket, advertise the facility and put your rates up. If you get regulars and you know they dont have an EV, you have negotiation room.

 

[Rockingit]

As others have said - take the lead on the issue and monetise it in your favour.

There are engineering solutions that could be built/installed to do as your OP asked but after some costly works with a lot of infrastructure required you’d not be on a cost-effective path.

 

[Jamie sparky]

You can buy sockets and plugs that have a different pin configuration so that you can control exactly what can be plugged in. Only the appliances fitted with the right plug will be usable, you have to replace the outlets and appliances with these special plugs and standard ones won't fit. Wouldn't cost too much either

 

[littlespark]

You can buy sockets and plugs that have a different pin configuration so that you can control exactly what can be plugged in. Only the appliances fitted with the right plug will be usable, you have to replace the outlets and appliances with these special plugs and standard ones won't fit. Wouldn't cost too much either

Until some clever dick guest disconnects the special plug off the toaster and attaches it to his charge cable….. and puts it back.

Adding a free to use charge point, and increasing the rate for everyone seems the best choice. Although expensive to implement, and might put off non EV drivers.

Cheap first step is a polite notice. If 2 or 3 guests are doing this, and the notice stops just one… then you’ve saved a bit.