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What is the average age of lifts before they need replacing and approx. How much does this cost if there are 3 lifts.
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Flat Chat’s May 2026 article says passenger lifts are typically designed to last 20–30 years, with condition, use and maintenance affecting that; it suggests assessing them from around 15–20 years. There’s no reliable standard replacement price, and costs for three lifts can’t safely be estimated by simply multiplying a single-lift figure.
The article shares one building’s example: a provider proposed $260,000 for a full replacement of one lift. An independent consultant later found a tender $100,000 below the provider’s original quote—a useful illustration of why independent assessment and competitive quotes matter, not a price guide for your building. See The ups and downs of strata lift maintenance.
For a realistic budget, ask for a lift consultant’s condition assessment and separate tenders for all three lifts, then have the strata manager include the expected work in the capital works plan.
About 2 years ago we paid $330k for a replacement for 6 floors. At the time it was very difficult to get quotes, only 2 of the majors quoted. It was also a full replacement and we had the controller moved from the roof, where it got wet and failed, to the upper basement carpark. Our original lift is what they called a Frankenlift, it was cobbled together using parts from different manufacturers and those were lucky to last 20 years.