by Innovus on 7 July 2025
The Client
A national residential property management company responsible for lift maintenance and compliance across multiple developments.
The Challenge
Following a routine LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) examination, the property manager received a defect notice for apparent splintering on the lift’s main hoisting ropes. The inspector recommended replacing the ropes within 90 days. The current contractor quoted £9,624 plus VAT for the replacement. However, the ropes had been installed by a different contractor only six to twelve months earlier, leading to a request for a further review.
Our Solution
Our Lift Team reviewed all relevant documentation, including Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) records, past LOLER reports and details of the previous rope replacement. All records indicated the ropes had been replaced recently and were still within expected operational life. We contacted the original contractor, who confirmed the ropes remained in good condition and provided supporting data and rope test certificates.
To validate these findings, we arranged a joint site inspection with the original contractor, the LOLER examiner and our technical team. During the visit, we inspected the ropes directly and reviewed the documentation on site. It was identified that the visible wear was due to natural settling following the re-rope process, likely influenced by the use of rope clamps during installation.
Following the inspection, the examiner agreed the ropes were not defective and reissued the LOLER report without the defect.
The Result
Thanks to the site inspection and evidence-led approach, the lift remained in service with no further work required. The client avoided unnecessary downtime, replacement costs of £9,624.00 plus VAT and maintained full compliance. The collaborative, transparent process ensured confidence across all parties while preventing avoidable spending.
