An overall view of the existing lift.

A condition survey helps property managers, facilities teams and lift owners understand an existing installation. It can provide a starting point when taking responsibility for a building, reviewing older equipment or deciding which concerns need attention.

The focus is the lift’s overall condition. Tell us what prompted the survey, which lifts are involved and how you intend to use the findings. We agree the equipment, available records and checks to include before attendance.

The scope can cover accessible components, observed wear, upkeep and relevant operating functions. Service history, reported faults and previous findings provide context. The lift’s operating state, access arrangements and any restrictions affect what our engineer can establish.

Share the make, model and site details so we can confirm suitability. Stairlift support is limited to commercial or managed environments; private-home stairlifts are outside our scope.

A useful record of the findings.

We agree the detail of the written findings around your purpose. The record identifies the equipment assessed, observations, relevant limitations and recommended next steps. It distinguishes what was observed from matters needing further investigation.

Use it to discuss priorities with your facilities team, maintenance provider or other decision-makers. Further fault finding, specified tests, repair quotations or an upgrade proposal are separate work unless expressly included in the commission.

Illustrative scope and output

This example shows how a brief could be defined. It is not a client case or a standard package.

  • Question: A new building manager wants a clearer record of one lift’s condition and the matters to follow up.
  • Agreed scope: Review the available service and fault history, accessible equipment and selected operating functions, with access limits recorded.
  • Useful output: An identified installation, recorded observations, assessment limitations and recommended next steps, including any further investigation.

Know what the survey can establish.

The findings reflect the agreed scope and what could be assessed at the visit. They do not establish that every concealed or intermittent fault has been found, or provide blanket safety certification.

A condition survey does not replace a LOLER thorough examination. Forge does not carry out LOLER examinations in-house; we can arrange an independent third-party provider or make an introduction.

If your concern is maintenance quality or a completed repair, compare the assessment options so the visit targets that question. For proposed upgrades, see modernisation planning surveys.

Some checks may require the lift to be taken out of use. We discuss access, expected disruption, the quotation and any exclusions before confirming the visit.

Prepare your enquiry

What to send us.

  • Site postcode, number of lifts, and the make, model or lift IDs if known.
  • The reason for the survey, who will use the findings and any decision deadline.
  • Available service history, fault records, examination reports and previous survey findings.
  • Site contact, access restrictions and suitable periods for taking the lift out of use.

Existing reports and photographs taken from safe, accessible areas are useful. You do not need to open equipment or enter a lift shaft to make an enquiry.

Discuss a condition survey

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