Does a stairlift need a LOLER inspection?

It depends where the stairlift is... A stairlift used at work, in a care home, office, school or anywhere staff use it, needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months. A stairlift in a private home usually isn't covered by LOLER, but that doesn't mean it can be left alone.

LOLER applies to lifting equipment used at work. That's why the same stairlift can need a 6-monthly examination in one building and fall outside LOLER in another.

Does your stairlift need a LOLER inspection?

Where the stairlift is	Is it covered by LOLER?	What we'd recommend
A care home, nursing home or supported living service	Yes. Staff use it as part of their work	A thorough examination at least every 6 months
An office, shop, school or other workplace, used by staff	Yes	A thorough examination at least every 6 months
A workplace where visitors or the public use it (a hotel, church hall, community centre, shop)	Often not by LOLER itself, but your general duty to visitors applies	A 6-monthly thorough examination. HSE says this may be a way to meet that duty
A council or housing association home	Usually not LOLER, but the landlord is responsible for equipment it installed	Ask your landlord. Some examine every 6 months, others service once a year
A private home, owned by the person who uses it	No	A regular service, following the manufacturer's instructions
A private home where paid carers use it	The carers' employer has duties to its staff	Expect the care provider to ask for proof it's been checked

Stairlifts at work: every 6 months

A stairlift carries a person, so wherever LOLER applies it needs a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 6 months (LOLER Regulation 9). That's the same interval as a passenger lift.

It also needs examining after it's installed and before it's first used, because a stairlift's safety depends on how it's fitted to the stairs (Regulation 9(2)). The same goes if it's moved to a different staircase.

HSE is clear on this: stairlifts provided for staff "will be subject to the requirements of LOLER".

Stairlifts used by visitors and the public

LOLER covers equipment used at work, so a stairlift that only visitors use isn't strictly covered. But whoever runs the building still has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to keep visitors safe.

HSE says a 6-monthly thorough examination may be a way to meet that duty, even where LOLER doesn't apply. In practice, if your building is open to the public and has a stairlift, treat it the same as a staff one. A visitor stuck halfway up a staircase in a church hall or a hotel is your problem, whatever the regulations call it.

Stairlifts in people's homes

HSE says LOLER and PUWER generally don't cover stairlifts in private homes. But the businesses providing them still have safety responsibilities, including keeping them maintained.

For council and housing association tenants, the landlord is responsible for equipment it installed, and landlords don't all do the same thing. Derby Homes, for example, services its tenants' stairlifts once a year. Oxford City Council checks them every 6 months as its own policy. If you're a tenant, ask your landlord when yours was last checked.

For stairlifts you own, the law doesn't require an examination. Get it serviced as the manufacturer recommends, and don't ignore new noises, jerky starts or a seat belt that won't latch.

If paid carers use the stairlift as part of their job, their employer has to make sure the equipment its staff use is safe. Expect them to ask when it was last checked.

Is a service the same as a LOLER inspection?

No. A service is maintenance: cleaning, adjusting and replacing worn parts, usually by the company that installed the stairlift. A thorough examination is an independent check that it's safe, with a written report.

HSE's Approved Code of Practice says the examiner should be "sufficiently independent and impartial". When the firm that services a stairlift also examines it, it's checking its own work. Read more on why independent examination matters.

What a stairlift examination covers

• the rail, its fixings to the stairs and the end stops

• the carriage, drive and gearing

• the seat, swivel and footrest

• the seat belt and how it latches

• the safety edges and sensors that stop it when something's in the way

• the controls, call stations and key switch

• the batteries and charging points

• the overspeed governor and safety gear

You get a written report showing whether it's safe to use, any defects with a date to fix each one, and when the next examination is due. See what a LOLER report must include.

Book a stairlift inspection

PULO examines stairlifts for care homes, housing providers, hotels, schools and other workplaces across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and the rest of the Midlands. We don't sell, install or service stairlifts, so a defect is reported because it's there.

See our stairlift inspections page, or call 07412 957 441.

Running a care home? Read about LOLER inspections for care homes. Running a hotel or venue? See LOLER inspections for hotels, pubs and restaurants.

FAQs

Does a stairlift need a LOLER inspection?

If it's used at work, yes. A stairlift in a care home, office, school or other workplace needs a LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months. A stairlift in a private home is generally not covered by LOLER, but should still be serviced regularly.

How often should a stairlift be inspected?

Every 6 months where LOLER applies, because a stairlift carries a person. Stairlifts in private homes aren't covered by LOLER, so follow the manufacturer's service schedule.

Do stairlifts in private homes need a LOLER certificate?

No. HSE says LOLER and PUWER generally don't cover stairlifts in private homes. The businesses providing them still have safety responsibilities, including keeping them maintained.

Does a council or housing association stairlift need a LOLER inspection?

Usually not under LOLER itself, but the landlord is responsible for equipment it installed. Landlords set their own regimes: some examine stairlifts every 6 months, others service them once a year.

Does a stairlift used by visitors need a LOLER inspection?

LOLER covers equipment used at work, but whoever runs the building has a duty to keep visitors safe. HSE says a 6-monthly thorough examination may be a way to meet that duty, even where LOLER doesn't apply.

Does a new stairlift need inspecting before use?

In a workplace, yes. A stairlift's safety depends on how it's installed, so LOLER requires a thorough examination after installation and before it's first used.

Is a stairlift service the same as a LOLER inspection?

No. A service is maintenance, usually by the installer. A thorough examination is an independent safety check with a written report. Where LOLER applies, you need both.