How often does a platform lift need servicing?
There are two distinct obligations, and it is worth being clear about the difference:
- LOLER thorough examination — every six months. Because a platform lift carries people, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 require a thorough examination at least every six months. It is a statutory safety inspection, not a service.
- Routine service — typically annual. A planned maintenance visit keeps the lift running smoothly, catches wear early and protects your warranty. For a home lift once a year is usual; a busy commercial lift may be serviced more often.
The two are complementary. The LOLER examination confirms the lift is safe to keep using; the service keeps it from needing repairs in the first place.
What is a LOLER thorough examination?
A LOLER thorough examination is a systematic inspection of the lift and its safety-critical parts, carried out by a competent person who is independent and impartial — deliberately someone other than the engineer who services the lift, so nothing is marked as its own homework. They check the platform, the drive and suspension, the safety devices, the controls and the structure, then issue a written report. For any commercial or public-building lift this report is a legal record you must keep and act on.
| LOLER thorough examination | Routine service | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Confirm the lift is safe to use | Keep the lift reliable and in warranty |
| Frequency | Every 6 months (carries people) | Typically annual |
| Who does it | Independent competent person | Your maintenance engineer |
| Legal status | Statutory under LOLER 1998 | Best practice / warranty condition |
| Output | Written report of thorough examination | Service record |
What does a routine service involve?
A service is a planned check and adjustment: the engineer inspects the drive and guides, tests the safety systems and battery lowering, checks the controls and levelling, lubricates where needed and confirms the lift is running as it should. One of the advantages of the OnLevel system is how quick this is — the annual service is usually completed in under 30 minutes through the front-access panel, with no scaffolding, no crane and no need to dismantle the surround. Simpler machinery running at low speed means fewer wearing parts and lower lifetime running costs than a high-speed traction lift.
Whose responsibility is it?
For a lift in a workplace, commercial premises or public building, the duty holder — usually the building owner or employer — is legally responsible for arranging both the six-monthly LOLER examinations and routine maintenance, and for keeping the reports. In a private home there is no statutory LOLER duty, but regular servicing is still strongly recommended: it keeps the lift safe and reliable for the people who depend on it, and keeps the manufacturer warranty valid. Whichever applies to you, we can hold the schedule so nothing lapses.
How Base OnLevel keeps you covered
We offer ongoing service and LOLER support for the lifts we install, so your six-monthly examinations and routine services stay in date without you having to track them. Our warranty covers the lift by type, confirmed in your quotation, and our engineers know the OnLevel system in depth because it is all we install. Ask us about a service and maintenance plan for your lift.
Find a platform lift installer in your area
We install and service OnLevel platform lifts across England, with dedicated local pages for hundreds of towns. Explore the areas we cover — including London, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Essex — or browse the full list of locations across the UK.
Request a no-obligation quotation
Every property is different, so the surest way to a firm figure is to tell us about your project — the property, the floors you need to serve and what you want to achieve. Send us those details and our SafeContractor-accredited team will prepare a written, no-obligation quotation. Request your quotation on our contact form, or see the areas we cover across the UK.