It’s easy to ignore a lift when it’s working. It goes up, it goes down, job done. But the minute it stops, you’ve got a problem on your hands. People stranded, deliveries delayed, angry customers tapping their feet in the lobby.
Whether your lift lives in a residential block, hotel, shopping centre or warehouse, keeping it running smoothly isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential. A reliable lift isn’t just about convenience, it’s about safety, compliance and reputation.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how often your lift should be serviced, what the law says, what real-world usage demands, and how to avoid costly breakdowns before they ever happen.
1. Legal Minimums vs. Best Practice
Not sure what’s legally required – or what’s just good sense? Let’s clear up the confusion around lift servicing rules and what you should really be doing to keep things moving.
What the Law Says
In the UK, lift inspections fall under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 – or LOLER (Read more about LOLER regulations here), if you don’t fancy repeating that mouthful. These rules say that:
🚻 Passenger lifts: must be inspected every 6 months.
📦 Goods-only lifts: need an inspection at least once every 12 months.
This is a legal requirement – not just a friendly suggestion. But here’s where things get muddy: a LOLER inspection is not the same as a maintenance visit.
LOLER is a formal check carried out by a competent person (usually independent from your service provider). It’s about ticking off safety-critical items and making sure your lift is fit for continued use.
Maintenance, on the other hand, is the regular care and attention that keeps everything running smoothly in between. Think of it like servicing your car between MOTs.
Who’s responsible for all this? That depends on the building – but it’s usually the owner, landlord, facilities manager, or duty holder. If you’re not sure who that is, chances are it might be you.
What We Recommend
The law sets the bare minimum – but for many lifts, especially the hard-working ones, that’s just not enough.
Lifts in busy environments wear down faster. You don’t want to wait for a major breakdown before giving it some TLC. So here’s a simple rule of thumb:
🏠 Low-use domestic lifts: service once or twice a year.
🏢 Moderate-use commercial lifts: aim for 4–6 services per year.
🏨 High-use lifts: in places like hospitals, hotels, shopping centres or warehouses should be checked monthly or more.
Frequent servicing doesn’t just keep the ride smooth, it also helps you spot minor issues before they become big, expensive problems. And let’s be honest – no one wants to be the person explaining why the lift’s out of action during peak hours.
2. Different Lifts, Different Demands
Not all lifts are built for the same job – and they certainly don’t wear out the same way. The type of lift you’re running has a big say in how often it should be serviced. Here’s a breakdown to help make sense of it all.
Passenger Lifts (Commercial or Residential)
These carry people, so safety takes top billing. But it’s not just about function – smoothness, comfort, and appearance matter too. A juddering ride or noisy doors doesn’t go unnoticed in an office block or flat.
Goods Lifts / Dumbwaiters
These move boxes, not bodies – but they work hard. Because they often shift heavy loads, they suffer more mechanical stress, especially in industrial settings. Less risk to people, but still a key bit of kit that can’t afford downtime.
Platform Lifts / Wheelchair Lifts
These fall under accessibility law, so reliability is non-negotiable. They might be used less frequently, but every single journey matters – especially in public buildings and private homes where they’re essential for independence.
Scenic or Glass Lifts
These are the lookers of the lift world. You’ll find them in shopping centres, hotels and public buildings. Any squeak, rattle, or scuffed panel is front and centre for customers. They need regular care to stay sharp as well as safe.
Service Lifts (e.g. Hotel Laundry)
Easy to forget, but always in demand. These workhorses quietly power the back end of hotels, hospitals and restaurants. Often overlooked – until they stop working and the dirty linen piles up.
3. What Can Go Wrong If You Skip It
You might be tempted to save a few quid and push that service visit back a month or two. But the truth is, lift problems don’t stay small for long. Here’s what can (and does) go wrong when you skip regular maintenance.
Mechanical wear builds up
Motors get tired, pulleys wear down, and bearings start grumbling. You’ll notice the ride getting jerky, slower or noisy. Keep ignoring it and you’ll end up with a full-blown breakdown.
Doors stop behaving
If the doors start sticking or fail to close properly, you’ve got a serious safety issue. Modern lifts won’t move with dodgy doors – and rightly so. But that also means it’s out of action until someone sorts it.
Control systems can fail
The brain of the lift (the bit that tells it where to go and when to stop) can throw a wobbly if left unchecked. This is when lifts get stuck between floors or refuse to move at all. Not a fun call to take at 2am.
Insurance may not cover you
Many building insurance policies require proof of regular lift servicing. Skip a visit and your claim could be denied – which makes an already expensive repair even worse.
It damages your reputation
If your lift serves the public – think hotels, offices, shopping centres – reliability matters. A lift that’s constantly out of order is not just inconvenient, it makes you look unprofessional.
No one wants their guests stuck between floors or to pay for an emergency callout on a Sunday night. Regular servicing keeps things ticking over – and stops small problems becoming big, expensive ones.
4. How Long Does a Lift Service Take?
A proper lift service doesn’t take all day – in fact, most are wrapped up within 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size, age, and condition of the lift.
For a small residential unit, you’re usually looking at the quicker end. Larger commercial lifts with more moving parts might take a bit longer, especially if the engineer spots anything that needs tweaking on the spot.
Worried about disruption? Don’t be.
Services can be scheduled outside peak hours – early mornings, evenings, or even weekends if needed. And no, you don’t need to shut down the whole building. Just the lift itself, and usually only for a short time.
It’s a small window of downtime to keep things safe, smooth, and running long-term – well worth it compared to dealing with a breakdown during the Monday morning rush.
5. When to Book an Extra Visit
Even if your lift’s on a regular service schedule, there are times when it needs a little extra attention. Here’s when to pick up the phone and get an engineer out – before it turns into a full-on breakdown.
1. Strange noises
Clunks, bangs, squeaks or grinding sounds? That’s your lift telling you something’s off. Don’t ignore it – early intervention is cheaper than a snapped cable or failed motor.
2. Sluggish movement
If your lift’s taking longer than usual to respond or feels slow between floors, it could be a sign of worn parts, electrical issues or lubrication problems.
3. Doors not closing properly
A common fault and a big safety risk. If doors won’t close smoothly – or open when they shouldn’t – it’s time for a check-up.
4. After long periods of disuse
If your lift’s been out of action for weeks or months (like during a closure or post-COVID lull), it’ll need a once-over before going back into regular use.
5. Before peak periods
Heading into a busy spell – like Christmas, school holidays or a big hotel event? Book a service in advance to avoid a meltdown during your busiest week.
A little foresight here saves you from awkward apologies later. If in doubt, give your service provider a ring – it’s always better to be safe than sorry when you’re dealing with several tonnes of moving machinery.
Keeping your lift in top nick isn’t just about ticking boxes – it’s about making sure your building stays safe, functional and frustration-free. Whether you’ve got a quiet residential unit or a busy commercial setup, regular servicing gives you peace of mind, fewer breakdowns, and a longer-lasting bit of kit.
Staying ahead of wear and tear costs less in the long run, keeps your insurance watertight, and saves you having to apologise when the lift packs in on a Monday morning.
Looking to book a lift inspection or chat about a maintenance plan?
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