LOLER Inspections

Every building owner and facilities manager with a passenger lift on their premises has a legal obligation under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). Failure to hold a current thorough examination report leaves you liable to enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive and exposes your occupiers to risk. London Lifts carries out statutory LOLER inspections across London, issuing the required written report promptly and advising on any defects found.

This page explains what LOLER requires, who bears the duty, how often inspections must take place, what our engineers examine, and what happens if defects are found. For an immediate inspection booking, call 0800 000 0000. Book a LOLER inspection online.

What Is a LOLER Inspection?

LOLER uses the term thorough examination rather than inspection or service. A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed investigation carried out by a competent person to determine whether the lifting equipment is safe to continue in use. It is not the same as routine maintenance. The thorough examination must be carried out even if the lift is well maintained and has no known defects.

The competent person must be independent of the organisation responsible for maintenance of the lift. Our LEIA-member engineers meet this requirement and carry the technical knowledge to assess all lift types found in London's commercial and residential building stock against the requirements of LOLER 1998 and BS EN 81.

Who Is the Duty Holder Under LOLER?

LOLER places the duty on the person who has control of the lifting equipment. In a commercial building this is typically the employer who uses the lift, the building owner, or the facilities management company acting under a management contract. In a residential block, the freeholder or managing agent normally holds the duty.

The duty holder is responsible for arranging the thorough examination at the required intervals, keeping the written report, acting on any defects identified and notifying the HSE if a dangerous defect is found. Ignorance of LOLER is not a defence. Our inspections include a clear summary of any duty holder actions required, with recommended timescales.

How Often Are Inspections Required?

Under LOLER, passenger lifts used for carrying people must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding six months. Lifts used solely for carrying goods must be examined at intervals not exceeding twelve months. A new lift must be examined before it is put into service for the first time. A lift that has been out of service for a significant period must be examined before it returns to use.

A written scheme of examination can set different intervals if a competent person determines that a different frequency is more appropriate for a specific piece of equipment. In practice, six months is the standard interval for passenger lifts in UK commercial buildings. Our maintenance contracts coordinate LOLER inspection scheduling with planned service visits.

What Does a Thorough Examination Cover?

Our engineers follow a structured examination methodology covering every safety-critical element of the lift. The examination includes visual inspection and functional testing of the items below.

• Suspension ropes or hydraulic ram: condition, diameter, broken wires, corrosion
• Overspeed governor: trip speed and mechanism operation
• Safety gear: engagement and release function
• Buffers: condition and type compliance
• Door locking devices and interlocks: correct operation at all landings
• Final limit switches: correct position and function
• Car and counterweight guide rails: alignment, fixings, wear
• Emergency alarm and telephone: operation and connection
• Structural condition of the car, landing doors and shaft
• Rated load and speed compliance with the manufacturer's data plate

Where a defect is found that presents an imminent danger, the lift must be taken out of service immediately and the HSE notified. Where a defect is found that could become dangerous within a specified period, the report sets a timescale for remediation. Our engineers advise you at the time of inspection and in the written report.

Record-Keeping and Written Reports

LOLER requires the person who carries out the thorough examination to send a written report to the duty holder promptly after the examination. The report must include specific information set out in Schedule 1 of LOLER, including the date of examination, description of the equipment, defects found and required remediation timescales.

We issue written reports in digital format within 48 hours of the inspection. Reports are formatted to meet the Schedule 1 requirements and are suitable for submission to insurers and HSE inspectors. HSE statistics show that lift-related incidents resulted in 13 enforcement notices in a single recent year (HSE Workplace Transport and Lifts Statistics, 2023), underscoring why current documentation matters. We recommend storing reports in your building's compliance management system alongside maintenance records and insurance documentation.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

Operating a lift without a current thorough examination report is a breach of LOLER 1998 and can result in an HSE improvement notice, prohibition notice or prosecution. A prohibition notice requires the lift to be taken out of service immediately until compliance is achieved. Prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 can result in unlimited fines and, in serious cases, custodial sentences for company directors.

In addition to regulatory risk, an uncertified lift exposes the building owner to civil liability if an occupier or visitor is injured. Insurers may also decline to pay out on a claim if the building owner cannot demonstrate that LOLER obligations were being met at the time of the incident. Book your LOLER inspection now to protect your building and your occupiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between a LOLER Inspection and a Lift Service?

A LOLER thorough examination is a statutory inspection carried out by an independent competent person to confirm the lift is safe. A service or maintenance visit covers routine adjustment, lubrication and preventive work. Both are legally required but serve different purposes. One does not substitute for the other, and they should both appear in your compliance records.

Can the Same Engineer Who Services the Lift Carry Out the LOLER Inspection?

LOLER requires the thorough examination to be carried out by a competent person who is sufficiently independent of the maintenance arrangement. In practice, this means the examining engineer should not be the same person routinely responsible for the lift's maintenance. Our inspection team operates separately from our maintenance teams to maintain this independence.

What Happens If the LOLER Inspection Finds a Defect?

Defects are reported in two categories. An immediate danger defect requires the lift to be taken out of service at once. A category-two defect requires remediation within a stated timescale, typically 28 days. Our engineers identify who is responsible for the repair, and our repair team can carry out the remediation work if you do not have an existing contractor. A follow-up examination confirms the defect has been rectified.

Do Platform Lifts and Goods Lifts Also Need LOLER Inspections?

Yes. LOLER applies to all lifting equipment used to lift or lower people, including platform lifts, stairlifts and inclined platform lifts. Goods lifts that carry people at any point also fall within LOLER. Goods-only lifts require examination every twelve months rather than six. Our engineers are competent to carry out thorough examinations on all these equipment types.

How Do I Know If My LOLER Certificate Is Still Valid?

A LOLER thorough examination report for a passenger lift remains current for six months from the date of examination. If the examination date is more than six months ago, the report has expired and the lift is technically operating outside LOLER compliance. Check the date on your last report and book a new inspection before the expiry date. We can schedule inspections in advance so you never fall out of compliance.