Do hotels need LOLER inspections?

Yes. Passenger lifts, platform lifts, stairlifts, pool hoists, dumb waiters and goods lifts in a hotel are lifting equipment. LOLER requires a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 6 months for anything that lifts people, and at least every 12 months for equipment that lifts goods.

Does a dumb waiter need a LOLER inspection?

Yes. A dumb waiter or kitchen service lift is lifting equipment, so it needs a thorough examination at least every 12 months, or more often if an examination scheme says so.

Does a pub cellar lift need a LOLER inspection?

Yes. Cellar lifts, keg lifts and drop hoists are lifting equipment and need a thorough examination at least every 12 months, with a written report each time.

Who is responsible for the cellar lift in a tenanted pub?

It depends on your agreement. The pub company often replaces lifts and hoists when they wear out, but routine inspections and testing are commonly the tenant's job. On Stonegate's retail partnership tenancy, for example, lift and hoist inspections sit with the publican. Check your repairs schedule.

Do lifts used only by hotel guests need examining?

Yes, in practice. Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act covers guests, and HSE says applying LOLER's examination regime to public-use lifts may be entirely reasonably practicable. Treat a guest lift the same as a staff lift.

How often does a hotel pool hoist need examining?

Every 6 months, because it lifts people. Any slings used with it need their own examination every 6 months too.

Who enforces health and safety in hotels, pubs and restaurants?

The environmental health team at your local council, not HSE. They can inspect, ask for your examination reports and serve improvement or prohibition notices.

Is the insurance inspection the same as a LOLER examination?

Usually, yes. An inspection supplied with a hospitality or engineering policy is normally a LOLER thorough examination by the insurer's surveyor. It's tied to the policy, so the examiner and report format change if you change insurer. An independent examiner stays the same.

What happens if our lift fails its examination?

If there's a dangerous defect, we tell you immediately and the lift must not be used until it's fixed. Where there's an existing or imminent risk of serious injury, LOLER also requires us to send the report to the enforcing authority.

How much does a LOLER inspection cost for a hotel or pub?

It depends on how many lifts and other items you have, what type they are and where you're based, so every quote is worked out for you. Once agreed, the price stays fixed for all your ongoing examinations.

Independently certified and accredited

Who's responsible for the lifts?

Hotels and restaurants you run: You’re the employer whose staff use the lifts, so the duty is yours. LOLER also covers anyone who controls lifting equipment “to any extent”, so a building owner can share it.

Lifts only guests use: Still covered. Your general duty to keep the public safe applies, and HSE says using LOLER’s examination regime “may be entirely reasonably practicable”. Treat a guest lift like a staff one.

Tenanted and leased pubs: Check your agreement. The pub company often replaces worn-out lifts, but the inspections can be yours. On Stonegate’s retail partnership tenancy, lift and hoist testing sits with the publican.

Managed pubs: The pub company is the employer, so its facilities team books the examinations. As manager, report faults straight away and keep a faulty lift out of use until it’s fixed.

Which one are you?

What needs examining, and how often?

Passenger lifts, platform lifts and stairlifts: every 6 months, because they carry people (LOLER Regulation 9(3)).
Pool and spa hoists: every 6 months, and each sling separately.
Access platforms and scissor lifts (for high ceilings, function rooms and signage): every 6 months, because they lift people.
Dumb waiters and kitchen service lifts: at least every 12 months.

Cellar lifts, keg lifts and drop hoists: at least every 12 months.

Goods lifts (laundry, deliveries): at least every 12 months.

Slings, chains and other lifting accessories: every 6 months.

New or moved lifts and hoists: before first use (LOLER Regulation 9(2)).

Kitchen and laundry machinery: inspected under PUWER at intervals set by risk assessment.

A competent person can set different intervals in a written examination scheme (Regulation 9(3)(a)(iii)). Without one, these are the maximum gaps.

Who checks up on you?

For hotels, pubs, restaurants and leisure venues, it's the environmental health team at your local council, not HSE. They can visit, ask to see your examination reports, and serve improvement or prohibition notices just as HSE can.

The question they'll ask is simple: when was the lift last examined, and what did you do about the defects?

Insurance inspection or independent examiner?

Many hospitality policies come with an engineering inspection, sometimes bundled with breakdown cover. It's sometimes the same LOLER examination, but it's tied to the policy. Change insurer and your examiner, schedule and report format change with it.

With PULO:

The same engineer every visit, who gets to know your building
Booked around service, not a slot that suits a national schedule
A fixed price that's not hidden in a premium
You speak to the engineer who examined your lift

Renewal coming up? Send us your last reports beforehand, and we'll quote so you can compare like for like.

Get in Touch

Your lift contractor shouldn't examine its own lifts

The firm that maintains your lift is the right one to service and repair it. The thorough examination is the check on that work, and HSE's Approved Code of Practice says the examiner should be "sufficiently independent and impartial" to make objective decisions.

PULO doesn't sell, install, service or repair lifts or hoists. Read why independent examination matters.

If we find a defect

Danger now: we tell you on the spot, and the equipment stays out of use until it's fixed (LOLER Regulation 10)
Serious risk of injury: the law requires us to send a copy of the report to the enforcing authority too
Everything else: listed with notes, photos, and a date to fix it, so you know what's urgent and what can wait

If the guest lift or the only route to an accessible room has to come out of use, we tell the duty manager straight away, so you can look after guests. We don't do repairs, so a defect is reported because it's there, not because there's work to sell.

LOLER inspections for hotels, pubs and restaurants

Hotels, pubs and restaurants need their passenger lifts, platform lifts and pool hoists thoroughly examined under LOLER every 6 months, and dumb waiters, cellar lifts and goods lifts at least every 12 months. Kitchen and laundry machinery falls under PUWER. PULO examines the lot in one visit, booked around your service, across Nottingham, the Midlands and the UK.

✓ Independent: we examine, we don't sell, service or repair anything
✓ Lifts, hoists, dumb waiters and kitchen kit in one visit
✓ Booked before you open or on your quietest day
✓ One quote, fixed for all your ongoing examinations

5.0* rated · 14 years in the industry · 3 ISO certifications · UK-wide coverage

BOOK AN INSPECTION

Why hospitality venues choose PULO

Independent. We never sell, service or repair the equipment we examine.
A named engineer. Every examination is carried out and signed by Ryan Leavesley MSOE MBES, an engineer surveyor for 14 years.
We notify you. Booked in before each examination falls due.
Fixed quotes. Agreed once, fixed for all your ongoing examinations.
Accredited. ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified, CHAS Advanced accredited, INITA members.
Rated 5.0* on Google.

If We Find a Defect

Danger now: we tell you on the spot, and the lift stays out of use until it’s fixed (LOLER Regulation 10)
Serious risk of injury: the law requires us to send a copy of the report to the enforcing authority too
Everything else: listed as a dated action for your lift contractor, so you know what’s urgent and what can wait

Where we cover

Based in Nottingham, we examine lifts and equipment for hotels, pubs and restaurants across Nottinghamshire, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough, Lincoln and the wider Midlands. We travel anywhere in the UK, so groups can use one examiner for every site.

REVIEWS

SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

I had a brilliant experience with the Pulo Compliance Team. They recently carried out a LOLER inspection on our lift, and the service was fantastic. The inspector was professional, efficient, and caused minimal disruption to our day. Highly recommend them for any compliance and safety needs!

Mohd Alali

Ryan arrived punctually and demonstrated a high level of professionalism. His extensive knowledge and technical expertise were truly impressive. I highly recommend PULO Compliance for their exceptional service.

lee chapman

Thank you Ryan. What a pleasure to work with. PULO compliance is an incredibly professional company and your knowledge of LOLER, PSSR and especially lift inspections is remarkable. It has been an absolute dream to work with you and I hope we are fortunate to work together in the future.

lee charnock

VIEW ALL REVIEWS