Lift Insurance

Do you live in a block of flats or an apartment block? Does your property have a lift? If you have said yes to the above two questions then you need insurance for the lift in order to protect yourself and your family from any risks that might occur when using the lift to access your property. It is a legal requirement for lifts to be inspected by competent professionals. Lifts would include passenger lifts, hoists for window cleaning and winches fixed to the roof of the property. The standard requirements are that the lift is supposed to be inspected in every six months.

A record is then kept on the efficiency and safety of the lift and a certificate can also be issued. A lift might have maintenance agreement in place; this agreement may not include the statutory inspection requirement. It’s an important requirement that an independent lift engineer gets to inspect the efficiency of the lift. A certificate of inspection is hand when the engineer is satisfied by the condition of the lift. Insurers have traditionally offered an inspection service under the engineering policy in order to comply with LOLER requirements. The insurers have also been known to extend their policies so as to include the protection of damage to the lifts following a breakdown. In most cases, property owner’s will cover for the lift insurance policies as a result of the insured risks such as fire and other accidental damages. By providing insurance inspection and insurance policies is not only designed to provide statutory inspection by a qualified engineer but will also cover the following:

1. Sudden and unforeseen damage

The best way to define this kind of problem is the damage caused by something that is not gradual e.g. wear and tear. The damages should be unintentional and spontaneous in nature. For example, if the motor on the lift suddenly burnt out suddenly, this would cause damage to the lift or the stair lift; this would be covered by the insurer. However, it's important to note that damages caused as a result failure of the lift or stair lift will not be covered.

2. Collapse

This is the sudden and dangerous distortion which is caused by the rupture of any part of the lift machinery which is caused by a crushing force or steam or other fluid pressure. The lift might collapse down to the floor and the results can be catastrophic as it may lead to the death of anyone inside and an additional damage of property.

3. Breakdown

This is the actual failure breaking distortion or the burning out of any part of the lift which may result in sudden stoppage and necessitate the need to repair before the lift can resume work.

4. Explosion

This is an abrupt and violent rendering of machinery by the force of internal steam or any other kind of fluid pressure. The fluid gases ignite causing any bodily displacement of parts of machinery together with a forcible ejection of contents inside the lift.

Some engineering companies will include provisions within their maintenance contracts for the cost of repairs in the event of a breakdown. You are advised to carefully choose an insurance policy that will cover you completely if any accidents take place in the future.

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Elena M Johnson is an expert article writer who has written many articles related to flats insurance. Currently, he is writing content on block of flats buildings insurance.