Lift Inspections Improve Compliance for Housing Service

TÜV SÜD LIFT INSPECTIONS IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE COMPLIANCE FOR NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL HOUSING SERVICES

Client Name: Nottingham City Council Housing Services

Dates: 2022 - Present

Services Provided: LOLER Inspections

CHALLENGE

Following a decline in performance by their incumbent LOLER inspection provider, Nottingham City Council (formerly Nottingham City Homes) decided they needed to address the situation and proceeded to conduct some market research with a view to switching providers.

TÜV SÜD SOLUTION

After a successful procurement exercise, TÜV SÜD were successfully awarded the LOLER contract and began working with Nottingham City Council (NCC) in July 2022 carrying out statutory inspections of lifting equipment, passenger lifts; domestic, heating, pressure and fleet equipment. NCC immediately saw improved results with an impressive +10.72% increase in compliance achieved in just two months. A 12-month project plan was then formed so that NCC would be fully compliant and back on track by June 2023. The increase in completion statistics has been attributed to TÜV SÜD’s person-centred, joined-up, tenacious and committed approach to conducting LOLER and PUWER inspections.

Prior to awarding the Inspection Services contract, NCC already had a successful relationship with TÜV SÜD’s lift consultancy and maintenance management teams and so it has come as no surprise that they have also now reported on the successful performance and excellent service received from the LOLER inspection team.

BUSINESS BENEFITS

Andrew Filer, Mechanical Manager, Nottingham City Council Housing Services, commented:

“Nottingham City Council Housing Services’ mission includes a key statement around keeping our residents safe. A key element of this is that we maintain and inspect equipment within the buildings we manage. Working closely with TÜV SÜD since July 2022 following a procurement exercise, has seen the compliance levels improve and we are on track to meet our targets at the end of the first full 12 months of the contract.

We have used other parts of the TÜV SÜD business for many years. They provide a high-quality professional service, and their expertise is exceptional.”

Michael Hargreaves, Technical Director, Inspection Services at TÜV SÜD, said:

“NCC, like all our Inspection Services customers, benefit from having a dedicated account management team. As NCC have engaged several of our services, they benefit from an extended combined team consisting of consultants and maintenance management staff. TÜV SÜD also have a policy of not charging for inspections that don’t take place, unlike many LOLER inspection businesses, which saves our customers money. We are able to do this due to the confidence and commitment we have in our approach to managing, planning and conducting inspections.

Our proactive, person-centred approach means we work to fit in with residents’ schedules when booking lift inspections. Our coordinators have experience working within housing and social care which is useful when it comes to liaising with people with varying needs such as dementia, disabilities or even childcare issues.

I’m really pleased to see the significant improvement in compliance that we have achieved for NCC and I’m confident that we will help them achieve full compliance by June 2023. Part of our success is we are proactive and take ownership of lift inspections so we can complete most inspections on the first attempt.

NCC were already employing TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman’s maintenance management and consultancy services on projects such as a high-rise tower block located above a shopping centre. So, the decision to also use our LOLER team ensures a holistic approach is taken in the management of their lifting equipment portfolio. Customers who engage a number of our lift and escalator services find this is a more cost-effective and efficient solution.”

TÜV SÜD gives back to the communities we work in where we can, so we’re proud to also support NCC by volunteering on a garden project for residents of Victoria House.

Find out more about LOLER inspections and other lift consultancy services in the UK.