Lift installation in London: how a new lift is planned, fitted and handed over

In short: lift installation in London starts with a survey of the building, then design to the right standards, approvals, building work, installation, testing and handover. London adds its own challenges: older buildings with little space, listed buildings and conservation areas, tight sites for deliveries, and the London Plan’s expectation of an evacuation lift in new developments. We install passenger lifts, platform and access lifts, goods lifts, service lifts and dumbwaiters, and we start every lift installation in London with a free survey.

This guide is for building owners, developers, architects, managing agents and facilities teams planning a new lift in London, whether in a new development or an existing building. For more about us in the capital, see our lift company in London page.

The lifts we install in London

• Passenger lifts for offices, blocks of flats, hotels and public buildings.
• Platform lifts and access lifts, including through-floor lifts, for step-free access where a full passenger lift isn’t needed or won’t fit.
• Goods lifts for shops, warehouses and commercial buildings.
• Service lifts and dumbwaiters for restaurants, pubs and hotels. See our dumbwaiter repairs in London guide.

8 essential steps in a lift installation in London

1. Survey. We visit the building to understand how the lift will be used, the space available, the structure, power supply and access.
2. Choose the right lift. Passenger lift, platform lift, goods lift or dumbwaiter; traction or hydraulic; machine room or machine-room-less. The right choice depends on the building, the users and the budget.
3. Design and standards. The lift is specified to the relevant standards, such as BS EN 81-20 and BS EN 81-50 for passenger and goods lifts, BS EN 81-70 for accessibility and BS EN 81-41 for platform lifts.
4. Approvals. Building Regulations, planning permission where needed, and listed building consent for listed buildings.
5. Quote and programme. A firm quote and an agreed programme, including what building work is needed and who does it.
6. Building work. The shaft or enclosure, the pit, any machine room, and the power supply are prepared to the lift’s design.
7. Installation, testing and commissioning. The lift is fitted, tested and commissioned. Where safety depends on how a lift is installed, LOLER requires a thorough examination before it is first used.
8. Handover and maintenance. You receive the documents and training on the lift, and it moves onto a maintenance contract so it stays safe and reliable.

Choosing the right lift for a London building

The right choice for a new lift installation in London depends on who will use it, how often, and the space available:

• Passenger lift or platform lift. A passenger lift is the usual choice for regular use between several floors. A platform lift, built to BS EN 81-41, travels more slowly and suits step-free access over a short rise, or buildings where a full lift won’t fit. A through-floor lift can serve two floors in a smaller space.
• Traction or hydraulic. Traction lifts suit taller buildings and frequent use. Hydraulic lifts suit lower rises and can avoid the need for a machine room at the top of the shaft.
• Machine room or machine-room-less. A machine-room-less lift puts the drive inside the shaft, which saves space in buildings where a separate machine room isn’t possible.
• Car size. BS EN 81-70 sets out accessible car sizes. A Type 1 car (1000 mm by 1250 mm) takes one wheelchair user; a Type 2 car (1100 mm by 1400 mm) takes a wheelchair user and a companion; a Type 3 car (2000 mm by 1400 mm) allows a wheelchair user to turn round inside.

A survey is the best way to compare the options for your building.

Lift installation in London’s existing buildings

Many lift installation projects in London add a lift to a building that never had one, or replace an old lift in a tight space:

• Space. Older buildings often have little room for a shaft. A platform lift or a compact passenger lift may fit where a standard lift won’t.
• Structure. The survey checks whether floors and walls can take the lift and its loads.
• Pit and headroom. Some lifts need a pit and headroom at the top of the shaft; low-pit and low-headroom designs can help in older buildings.
• Disruption. In occupied buildings, the work has to be planned to keep residents, tenants or staff safe and the building usable.

Lift installation in London blocks of flats

Adding or replacing a lift in a block of flats is one of the most common lift installation projects in London:

• Space. Some mansion blocks have room for a lift in the stairwell or an old light well; others need a platform lift or an external shaft.
• Residents. People still need to get in and out during the work, so access, noise and dust have to be planned, and residents kept informed.
• Funding and consultation. Where leaseholders pay through the service charge, Section 20 consultation is needed before major works.
• Phasing. In blocks with more than one lift, replacing one at a time keeps a lift running.

Lift installation in London offices and commercial buildings

Offices and commercial buildings need lifts that cope with busy periods. A new lift installation in a London office is usually planned around tenants, with noisy work out of hours where possible, and with clear agreement on who pays under the lease. Goods lifts for shops and warehouses need to suit the loads, trolleys and pallets they will carry.

Lift installation in London hotels, restaurants and pubs

Hotels need guest lifts that look good and run reliably, plus service lifts for housekeeping and luggage. Restaurants and pubs often need a dumbwaiter or service lift to move food and drink between kitchen, bar and cellar. For food lifts, stainless steel cars are easy to keep clean, and the hatches and shaft need to suit the building’s fire separation.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

London has a large number of listed buildings and conservation areas. If your building is listed, a lift installation that affects its character will usually need listed building consent from the local council, and work in a conservation area may need planning permission. Talk to the council early, and plan the lift so it fits the building’s character as well as its users’ needs.

New developments: evacuation and firefighting lifts

For new developments in London, the London Plan’s inclusive design policy (Policy D5) expects at least one suitably sized fire evacuation lift in each core where lifts are installed, so that everyone, including disabled people, can leave safely in an emergency. Taller buildings also need firefighting lifts. The relevant standards are BS EN 81-76 for evacuation lifts and BS EN 81-72 for firefighters lifts.

In high-rise residential buildings (18 metres or 7 storeys and over), the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require the responsible person to check firefighting and evacuation lifts monthly once the building is in use, and the Building Safety Act 2022 introduced further duties for higher-risk buildings.

Accessibility and Building Regulations

Approved Document M of the Building Regulations covers access to new buildings and material alterations in England. In non-domestic buildings a passenger lift is the usual expectation for access between storeys, and a lifting platform may be acceptable in some cases. BS 8300 gives guidance on accessible building design, and BS EN 81-70 covers lift accessibility. There is no blanket legal requirement for every existing building to have a lift, but the Equality Act 2010 requires service providers and employers to make reasonable adjustments.

Practical challenges of lift installation in London

• Deliveries and access. Central London sites often have limited parking and loading. Large lift components may need careful delivery planning, and skips or lifting equipment on the road may need a licence from the council.
• Building rules. Many London buildings have permits to work, set working hours and sign-in procedures.
• Neighbours. Noise and deliveries need to be planned around residents and nearby businesses.
• Leasehold blocks. Where leaseholders contribute to a new lift through the service charge, Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires consultation before major works where any one leaseholder’s contribution will be more than £250.

How long does a lift installation in London take?

There is no single answer, because every lift installation in London is different. The time depends on:

• Approvals, such as Building Regulations, planning permission or listed building consent, which can take longer than the installation itself.
• Manufacture. Lifts are built to order, so there is a lead time before installation can start.
• Building work, such as forming a shaft or pit, which must be finished before the lift is fitted.
• The lift itself: a platform lift is usually quicker to install than a passenger lift serving many floors.
• Access and working hours on the site.

After the survey we give you a programme for your lift installation in London, showing each stage, so you can plan around it.

Working with architects and developers on lift installation in London

On new developments and major refurbishments, a lift installation in London works best when the lift company is involved early:

• At design stage, to check the shaft, pit, headroom and machine room space suit the lift.
• On standards, such as accessibility, evacuation lifts under the London Plan and firefighting lifts in taller buildings.
• On the programme, so building work and lift installation happen in the right order.
• On maintenance, so the lift chosen can be maintained easily for its whole life.

What our free survey for a lift installation in London covers

• How the lift will be used: who will use it, how often, and what it needs to carry.
• Space and structure: where a shaft, pit and machine room could go, and whether the structure can take the loads.
• Power supply: whether the building has a suitable supply for the lift.
• Access and deliveries: how components can be brought in and installed safely.
• Approvals: which approvals are likely to be needed, such as Building Regulations or listed building consent.
• Options and budget: the lift types that would work, so you can compare them.

We carry out surveys for lift installation in London across every borough, from the City of London and Westminster to outer boroughs such as Havering, Redbridge and Bromley, as well as across Essex and the South East.

What affects the cost of lift installation in London

We don’t publish fixed prices, because every building is different. The cost of lift installation in London depends on:

• The type and size of lift, and how many floors it serves.
• The building work needed, such as a new shaft, pit or machine room.
• Whether it is a new building or an existing one, where space and structure are harder.
• Finishes, such as the car interior and landing doors.
• Approvals, such as listed building consent.
• Access and logistics for deliveries and installation.

Our free survey gives you a firm quote for your building.

Choosing lift installers in London

When you compare lift installers in London, ask:

• Do they survey the building first, and explain the options rather than selling one lift?
• Which standards will the lift meet, and who handles Building Regulations?
• What building work is included, and what do you need to arrange?
• How is the work programmed around the building’s users?
• What happens at handover: documents, training and the first thorough examination?
• Can they maintain the lift afterwards? We maintain all makes of lift, including the ones we install.

What you receive at handover

When a lift installation in London is finished, you should receive:

• The declaration of conformity. New lifts are placed on the market under the Lifts Regulations 2016, and the installer provides a declaration that the lift meets them.
• Operating and maintenance instructions for the lift.
• Keys and access for the machine room or control cabinet and any key switches.
• The logbook, started from the day the lift goes into use.
• Training for building staff on the alarm, what to do in a breakdown, and who to call.
• Details of the first thorough examination and the maintenance arrangements.

After your lift installation in London

A new lift needs looking after from day one:

• A maintenance contract with planned service visits and breakdown call-outs. See our lift maintenance in London guide.
• LOLER thorough examinations, normally at least every six months for lifts that carry people and are used at work. We arrange LOLER thorough examinations, carried out by an independent examiner, so every examination stays impartial. The HSE explains the duties in its guidance on lifting equipment at work.
• A logbook of every visit, fault and repair.

Lift installation words explained

• Shaft (or well): the enclosed space the lift travels in.
• Pit: the space below the lowest floor that the lift needs.
• Headroom: the space needed above the top floor.
• Machine room: a room, usually at the top or bottom of the shaft, that holds the drive and controller. Machine-room-less lifts don’t need one.
• Platform lift: a slower lift for short rises and step-free access, built to BS EN 81-41.
• Evacuation lift: a lift designed to help people, including disabled people, leave the building in an emergency.
• Commissioning: testing and setting up the lift before it goes into use.

Questions people ask