Legal

Platform lift building regulations and standards

Platform lifts in the UK are governed by a clear set of building regulations and safety standards. This guide sets out the ones that matter — and explains when planning permission or listed-building consent is needed, which for most homes is not at all.

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The standards that apply

  • Part M of the Building Regulations — access to and use of buildings.
  • BS 6440:2023 — the code of practice for powered vertical lifting platforms.
  • BS 8300:2018 — designing buildings to meet the needs of disabled people.
  • EN 81-41 — the European safety standard for vertical lifting platforms, to which our lifts are built.
  • The Equality Act 2010 — the duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled access.

Every OnLevel installation is built and certified to these standards by our own SafeContractor-accredited engineers (CN8516).

Do I need planning permission?

For the great majority of homes, no. A lift installed entirely inside the house is permitted development and needs no planning permission. The exceptions are external installations and changes that alter the appearance of the building.

Conservation areas and listed buildings

In a conservation area, or where the home is listed, internal changes to a listed building can require listed-building consent, and external work can need permission. OnLevel's low-impact, reversible installation suits heritage homes well, and we confirm exactly where your property stands and handle the paperwork before any work begins.

Get a free, no-obligation quotation

Every property is different, so the surest way to a firm figure is a free survey. Our own SafeContractor-accredited engineers assess your home or premises and provide a written, no-obligation quotation. Get in touch to arrange a visit, or see the areas we cover across the UK.