Lift LOLER Inspection Overdue? What Duty Holders Must Do Now

If your passenger lift has gone past its 6-month LOLER thorough examination, it is no longer compliant. The safest course is to stop using it until a competent person has examined it. Then book that examination as soon as you can and keep the report.

That's the short answer - The rest of this post covers what the rules say, who is responsible, and what to do today.

What the rules require

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), lifting equipment has to be thoroughly examined at set intervals. For equipment that lifts people, which includes passenger lifts, that interval is every 6 months. Other lifting equipment is generally every 12 months, unless it follows a written examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.

A thorough examination is a detailed check by a competent person, and it is not the same as a service. It is also different from the maintenance visit your lift engineer carries out.

Who is responsible?

The legal duty sits with the person or organisation that controls the lift. That is usually the building owner, landlord, managing agent or employer. If you manage a block, an office, a care home or a hotel, the duty is probably yours, whoever holds the maintenance contract.

Your lift contractor may remind you when an examination is due. The duty to make sure it happens is still yours.

What to do today

1. Check the date of your last report - Find the last thorough examination report and note the date it was carried out. The 6-month period runs from that date, so you can work out exactly how long the lift has been overdue.

2. Decide whether the lift stays in use - An overdue lift hasn't had its required examination. The safest option is to take it out of service until it has been examined. If residents or staff rely on it for access, plan alternative arrangements for the short term.

3. Book an independent examination - Look for someone who is competent and independent of your maintenance contractor. Tell them the lift type, the site, when the last examination was, and that it is overdue, so they can prioritise it.

4. Keep the report - After the examination you will receive a written report. Keep it with your lift records. It is the proof that you have met your duty.

5. Act on anything it finds - If the examiner records defects, the report will say how urgent each one is. Some need fixing before the lift goes back into use, and others within a set period. Our post on what happens if your lifting equipment fails a LOLER inspection explains what each outcome means.

Isn't my insurance inspection enough?

Not usually. Many insurers send an engineer to inspect equipment, and that can look like a LOLER examination on paper. The two don't always cover the same ground, and the insurance version doesn't automatically meet your legal duty. We explain the difference in Insurance Inspections vs LOLER Thorough Examinations.

How to avoid it happening again

Most overdue lifts aren't ignored. They slip through the gaps: a contractor change, a new managing agent, a missed reminder. A few habits help:

• Put the next due date in a shared calendar the day you receive the report.

• Set a reminder 4–6 weeks ahead, so there is time to book.

• Keep one named person responsible for lift compliance.

• If you manage several sites, plan the examinations together. See our guide to multi-site lift inspections.

  
  

FAQs

How often does a passenger lift need a LOLER inspection?

Every 6 months, because it lifts people. Lifts examined under a written scheme may follow a different timetable set by the competent person.

Can my maintenance engineer do the thorough examination?

They can only do it if they are competent and sufficiently independent of the maintenance work. In practice, many duty holders use a separate examiner so the checks are impartial.

What if I'm only a few days overdue?

The 6-month period is still the requirement. A short delay is less serious than a long one, but the lift should still be examined as soon as possible.

Do I need to tell tenants or staff?

If you restrict use of the lift, yes. Tell them early and explain the alternative arrangements.

What does the report include?

It records the equipment examined, the date, any defects found and how urgent each is, and the date by which the next examination is due.

We have several lifts. Can they be done together?

Yes. Examining them in one visit is often more practical, and it puts all your due dates on one cycle.

Need a lift examined? PULO Compliance carries out LOLER thorough examinations across the Midlands and the rest of the UK, including Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Get in touch and we'll arrange it.