When a lift stops working, it is often treated as a short-term technical issue to be fixed and forgotten. But the longer a lift stays out of service, the more hidden costs begin to build up.
Whether in a residential block, office, or mixed-use development, lifts are not simply a convenience. They are a vital part of everyday access, particularly for those with mobility needs, families with children and residents living on higher floors. When a lift fails, it quickly becomes more than a technical issue, it becomes a human one.
If you manage a multi-story residential or commercial building, it’s worth understanding the full picture of what downtime really means, and how to avoid it.
Here are the key areas where downtime can cost you more than you might expect:
1. User Frustration and Safety Concerns
Lift users notice when a system is unreliable. For residents especially, this can lead to real concerns around safety and accessibility to their homes.
More generally, those with limited mobility, health conditions or young families may feel stuck or excluded. Even once a lift is back in use, some users may be left worrying about when it could fail again. If the problem persists, trust in the management of a building can start to break down, leading to increased complaints and strained relationships.
2. Downtime can Damage Reputations
In residential buildings where lifts are frequently out of service, users can begin to talk, leading to word-of-mouth complaints that can harm your reputation, as well as negative reviews and poor satisfaction scores.
In commercial spaces, this effect can be even more immediate. If customers, staff or deliveries are affected, the issue can interrupt business operations and reduce the perceived quality of a building. In both settings, frequent breakdowns can contribute to tenant turnover or difficulty in attracting new leases.
3. Hidden Financial Losses Add up Quickly
It‘s easy to focus only on the cost of repairs, but there are wider financial risks to consider. These might include:
- Temporary solutions like stair climbers or on-site support.
- Claims for inconvenience or loss of access.
- Rent reductions or loss of renewals.
- Longer-term impact on property value or insurance premiums.
4. Compliance can be Affected
Lift downtime can disrupt planned inspections or scheduled maintenance, putting you at risk of non-compliance with safety regulations such as LOLER and PUWER. If a lift is unavailable for testing, or documentation is delayed, this may raise red flags with insurers or regulators.
Repeated non-compliance, even if unintentional, can lead to enforcement notices or additional inspections. In some cases, you may even face liability if an incident occurs and proper steps were not taken.
The good news is that proactive management reduces these risks, and that most unplanned downtime is in fact preventable. With better oversight, regular condition surveys and professional contract reviews, you can catch problems early and address them before they become serious.
At Innovus, we help those responsible for maintaining lifts including landlords and property management companies to take control of their lift performance. Our expert approach is based on giving clients the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions, avoiding unnecessary disruption.
If you want to improve lift reliability across your portfolio or understand how to prevent these hidden costs, get in touch with our team. Innovus can help you put the right steps in place to keep your lifts running safely, smoothly and with full confidence from those who rely on them every day.
