For most housing societies, the lift is the single most important piece of shared equipment in the building. When it stops, elderly residents are stranded, deliveries pile up and the managing committee’s phone does not stop ringing. An annual maintenance contract (AMC) is how most societies keep that from happening — but the first decision is which kind of AMC to sign.
What a lift AMC covers
Every AMC should include scheduled preventive maintenance visits. On these visits a technician cleans and lubricates moving parts, checks ropes, brakes and pulleys, aligns and tests doors, inspects the controller and verifies that safety circuits work. The goal is to catch wear before it turns into a breakdown.
Where AMCs differ is in how replacement parts are handled.
Comprehensive AMC
A comprehensive AMC covers scheduled maintenance and most replacement parts within the annual fee. Certain items, such as major components damaged by misuse, water ingress or vandalism, are usually excluded — always check the list.
- Best for: older lifts, heavily used lifts, and societies that want a predictable annual budget.
- Advantage: no surprise bills for routine parts, and the service provider has a strong incentive to prevent failures.
- Trade-off: a higher annual fee.
Non-comprehensive AMC
A non-comprehensive AMC covers scheduled maintenance and labour, while parts are quoted and charged separately whenever they are needed.
- Best for: newer lifts in good condition, where few parts are expected to fail.
- Advantage: a lower annual fee.
- Trade-off: parts costs can be unpredictable, and each replacement needs committee approval.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many preventive visits are included each year, and what is checked on each one?
- Which parts are covered, and which are specifically excluded?
- How quickly will a technician attend a breakdown?
- Will you receive a written record of every visit?
- Who supports the society with inspection and licence paperwork?
Our recommendation
If your lift is more than ten years old or carries heavy daily traffic, a comprehensive AMC usually works out cheaper and far less stressful over time. For a recently installed lift in good condition, a non-comprehensive AMC can be a sensible way to save — as long as maintenance visits are never skipped.
Not sure which suits your building? Ask us for an inspection, and we will recommend the plan that fits your lift’s age, condition and usage.
