Are You Overpaying for Lift Repairs? Here’s How to Avoid Unnecessary Costs

If you’re managing a lift or a portfolio of lifts, there's a good chance you're paying more than you should for repairs and remedial works. Lifts are technically complex, and with so many demands on your time, it’s not always possible to validate whether repair quotes are fully justified. Many landlords and property managers rely on contractor advice, but without independent technical input, it can be difficult to know whether the work is truly necessary or fairly priced.  

This blog outlines where unnecessary costs often creep in and how you can take control of your lift repair spend while keeping your lifts safe, compliant and reliable for users.  

The Real Cost Behind Lift Repairs 

Lift repairs can be highly variable and often difficult to predict. Costs can escalate quickly, particularly when urgent works are recommended without clear evidence, explanation or proper validation. 

Common warning signs that you might be overpaying include: 

• Repair quotes that lack supporting documentation or technical detail. 

• Invoices for "emergency" works that were not demonstrably urgent. 

• Repeated failures and breakdowns leading to frequent repair charges. 

• No visibility on whether faults are recurring or part of a wider issue. 

• Lack of a second opinion or benchmarking against typical industry pricing. 

Without proper scrutiny, repair costs can spiral and offer little in terms of long-term reliability or value. 

Understanding What You’re Paying For 

One of the most common challenges with lift repairs is the lack of clarity in what is being quoted. Many repair proposals include vague descriptions, limited detail and no supporting evidence, making it difficult to assess whether the work is genuinely required or accurately priced. 

It is important to know exactly what the contractor is proposing to fix, why the repair is necessary and how the cost has been calculated. Without clear justification, including fault logs, photographs or inspection reports, it becomes easy to approve work that may be excessive or avoidable. 

At Innovus, we help clients understand repair proposals by reviewing: 

• Whether the fault justifies the scope of the recommended work. 

• If the pricing reflects typical market rates for parts and labour. 

• Whether alternative options exist that would resolve the issue more efficiently. 

• If the same issue has occurred before and what was previously done to address, it. 

This level of insight allows property managers and landlords to make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary repair costs. 

How Innovus can Help You Regain Control  

At Innovus, we work with those responsible for managing lifts such as landlords and property management companies to bring transparency to lift repair costs. We review contractor reports, investigate recurring issues and make sure you are not paying for unnecessary or overpriced work. 

Here’s what we look at: 

• Does the quoted work comply with LOLER, PUWER, BS and EN standards? 

• Is the urgency of the repair justified by the available evidence? 

• Are there more cost-effective options that would achieve the same result? 

• Is the cost presented at market rate?  

• Has the same fault been reported or repaired before? 

We present our findings in plain language, supported by evidence, so you can make confident decisions. Across multiple portfolios, we’ve helped clients save more than £1.1 million by challenging poor value or unnecessary works. 

Practical Steps You Can Take 

If you suspect your lift repair costs are higher than they should be, consider the following: 

• Request an independent review of repair quotes and reports. 

• Ask for evidence before approving any major remedial work. 

• Benchmark pricing against current market rates. 

• Keep track of recurring issues and overall performance. 
• Review callout patterns and assess whether repairs are reactive or part of a wider problem. 

Our team provides clear, impartial advice to help you reduce costs and improve asset reliability. We don’t carry out repairs or maintenance ourselves, so our only interest is making sure you get value for money. 

If you’re unsure whether your current contractor is offering fair pricing and necessary repairs, talk to us. A simple review could reveal substantial savings across your portfolio.