Avoid a Missed Delivery: HIAB Offload Checklist for UK Homeowners
Book a HIAB or lorry loader to offload your garden building, and ask for a contract lift if you cannot guarantee the ground or access conditions on the day. Every lifting operation at work must be planned by a competent person under LOLER, so insist on a written method statement and recent thorough examination records. Expect your chosen provider to ask for site photos and measurements before giving you a firm quote.
TL;DR:
- Contract lifts place full planning, risk assessment, and legal responsibility on the provider, especially for soft or difficult ground conditions.
- Request recent LOLER examination records, proof of competent planning, operator training certificates, and insurance before booking a HIAB service.
- Site surveys should cover route clearance, gate widths, overhead hazards, ground load capacity, and should be supported by photos and measurements to prevent delays.
- Overhead power lines within 10 meters require consultation with the local Distribution Network Operator, and clearance depends on line voltage.
- Early communication and site preparation, such as clearing routes and providing measurements, significantly reduce the risk of delivery delays and additional charges.
Table of Contents
- Quick checklist: contract lift versus kerbside offload
- How to choose a HIAB provider: questions and documents to ask for
- Site survey and access checks: what the pre-lift survey must cover
- Safety and regulation: the key UK rules you need to know
- Costs and scheduling: what affects your quote and timing
- Preparing your garden for delivery day
- Publisher view: what we have learned from garden building deliveries
- How we help with delivery and installation
- FAQ
- Sources
Quick checklist: contract lift versus kerbside offload
These two services sound similar but carry very different responsibilities. A contract lift means the HIAB company plans the whole lift, supplies the method statement and risk assessment, and takes legal responsibility for how the job is carried out. A kerbside offload is simpler: the driver lifts your garden building off the lorry, but you are responsible for making sure the ground and access are suitable beforehand.
For a straightforward driveway delivery on firm, level ground, kerbside offload usually works fine. If your garden has soft lawn, a sloped drive, or awkward access past a house corner, a contract lift is the safer choice because the provider owns the risk.
| What you get | Contract lift | Kerbside offload |
|---|---|---|
| Who plans the lift | Provider, under LOLER | You arrange site prep |
| Method statement | Always supplied | Not always included |
| Risk assessment | Provider’s responsibility | Your responsibility |
| Best for | Soft ground, tight access | Firm, level, clear sites |
Before booking, ask for:
- A written method statement and risk assessment.
- Proof of operator competence and training.
- Current public liability insurance certificate.
How to choose a HIAB provider: questions and documents to ask for
Picking the right HIAB company matters as much as picking the right garden building. Here is what to check before you hand over a deposit.
- Ask for LOLER thorough examination records for the crane, dated within the last 12 months.
- Request proof that an Appointed Person has planned the lift, not just the driver on the day.
- Check operator training certificates and current public liability insurance.
- Ask whether the company follows ALLMI guidance or references BS 7121 lifting standards.
- Confirm they will produce a written method statement before the job, not on arrival.
Watch for warning signs. A provider who refuses to inspect your site, gives vague answers about how ground load spreads under outriggers, or will not put anything in writing is one to avoid. These are the same gaps that cause failed deliveries and last-minute cancellations.
Site survey and access checks: what the pre-lift survey must cover
A proper site survey is the single biggest reason deliveries go smoothly. HSE guidance on planning lifting operations treats this stage as critical, and we see why every time a job runs late because something was missed.
Your survey, or the one your provider carries out, should cover:
- The full route from the road to where your garden building will sit.
- Gate and access widths, plus the lorry’s turning circle.
- Headroom clearance for the crane jib, not just the lorry itself.
- Overhead hazards such as trees, wires, or roof overhangs.
- Any trenches, drains, septic tanks, or basements near the lift path.
Ground-bearing capacity is often misjudged. Outriggers spread huge loads through small pads, so soft lawns or recently dug ground may need mats or a sleeper grillage to spread the weight safely. If you are unsure, a contract lift shifts that judgement onto the provider.
Pro Tip: Send clear photos and exact measurements of your access route before you ask for a quote to avoid delivery delays with photo verified site prep from experts Avoid delivery delays: photo verified prefab site prep for homeowners. It saves time and avoids a surprise call-out charge on the day.
Our delivery access guide walks through the same checks in more detail if you want a head start.
Safety and regulation: the key UK rules you need to know
A few pieces of legislation and guidance sit behind every lawful HIAB lift, and knowing them helps you ask the right questions.
- LOLER requires that lifts be planned by a competent person, supported by a method statement, and that lifting equipment undergoes periodic thorough examination.
- PUWER covers the safe use of work equipment generally, and overlaps with LOLER where lifting gear is involved.
- ALLMI’s safe use guidance sets out contract lift responsibilities and ground assessment duties for lorry loader operators.
- BS 7121 lifting standards and SWL (safe working load) markings on the crane are worth asking about directly.
Overhead power lines deserve special attention. If a lift could come within around 10 metres horizontally of an overhead line, your provider should consult the local Distribution Network Operator. Clearance distances vary by voltage, and the crane’s jib height during the lift matters as much as the lorry’s footprint on the ground.
GS6 guidance explains that exclusion zones depend on line voltage, and that temporary switching off or insulating shrouds may be possible where lines cannot be avoided, though this usually adds cost and time to the job.
Costs and scheduling: what affects your quote and timing
Several things shape what a HIAB offload will cost and how long it takes to book in.
- Crane class. A heavier garden building needs a larger tonne-metre capacity crane, which costs more to hire.
- Site preparation. Mats, sleepers, or a grillage to spread load on soft ground add to the price.
- Labour time. A contract lift with full planning takes longer on site than a simple kerbside drop.
- DNO involvement. If overhead lines are near your garden, consulting the network operator can add fees and delay.
- Access difficulty. Narrow gates, slopes, or long carry distances usually push both price and lead time up.
Book with a flexible delivery window where you can, and check the provider’s cancellation and damage terms before you confirm. A rushed date with no flexibility is often where problems start.
Preparing your garden for delivery day
A little preparation on your end makes the biggest difference to how smoothly the day goes.
- Clear the full route from the road to the siting spot, including gates, paths, and overhanging branches.
- Move cars and bins so the lorry has an unobstructed approach.
- Mark out exactly where you want the garden building to sit.
- Send the provider accurate photos and measurements in advance, along with anything you know about drains, septic tanks, or buried cables.
- Lay boards or mats over lawns or paving you want to protect.
- Remove loose garden furniture, pots, and washing lines from the work area.
- Tell your neighbours ahead of time if the lorry needs to use the kerb outside their property.
Our garden room delivery access checklist covers the same ground if you want a printable version to work through.
Publisher view: what we have learned from garden building deliveries
Most failed deliveries we have seen trace back to one thing: nobody checked the access properly before the lorry turned up. A narrow side gate, a soft lawn, or an overhanging tree branch that nobody measured causes the delay, not the crane itself.
The fix is almost always early communication between you, us, and the lifting provider. A quick site survey and a few honest photos sent in advance solve most problems before they become a missed delivery slot. Our delivery access blog has more on the patterns we see repeated across different gardens.
— Martin
How we help with delivery and installation
We supply garden log cabins and know that getting one safely into your garden matters just as much as the build itself. We offer UK mainland delivery alongside our Bespoke Log Cabin Service and Professional Installation Service, so the whole process stays in one place rather than juggling separate suppliers.
We can help coordinate a site survey and liaise with lorry loader providers on your behalf, which cuts down the chance of a no-show or an unexpected extra charge on the day. This matters most with larger or heavier builds where access and ground conditions need proper planning.
If you are browsing options, our garden log cabins range covers most standard sizes and layouts. For something larger or custom, our bespoke cabin design service lets you specify exact dimensions to suit your access and delivery route.
- Delivery and optional professional installation coordinated together.
- Bespoke sizing to match tricky access points and gardens.
- One point of contact for the cabin order and the delivery plan.
Get in touch through our custom build service page to talk through your garden, your access, and what delivery option suits you best.
FAQ
What is the difference between a contract lift and a HIAB hire?
A contract lift means the HIAB company plans the whole operation and takes legal responsibility for it, supplying a method statement and risk assessment under LOLER. A standard hire or kerbside offload puts the responsibility for site preparation and ground suitability on you.
Do I need planning permission for a garden log cabin?
Many garden buildings under 15 square metres do not need building regulation approval, but size, position, and local rules can change that. Check the Planning Portal’s outbuildings guidance for your specific situation, and see our multi-room cabin planning guide for larger builds.
What documents should a HIAB provider give me before the job?
Ask for a written method statement, a risk assessment, proof of LOLER thorough examination for the crane, and current public liability insurance. A provider following ALLMI guidance should supply these without hesitation.
What happens if there are power lines near my garden?
If the lift could come within around 10 metres horizontally of an overhead line, the provider should consult the local Distribution Network Operator before proceeding, as set out in HSE guidance on overhead power lines. This can involve temporary isolation or shrouding, which may add time to the schedule.
Does Log Cabin Kits arrange the HIAB delivery for me?
We offer UK mainland delivery and can help coordinate the site survey and liaison with lorry loader providers as part of our bespoke cabin and installation service. Exact arrangements depend on your chosen build and access, so it’s best to discuss this directly with us.
Sources
This article draws on HSE and ALLMI safety guidance, Planning Portal rules for outbuildings, and GS6 guidance on overhead power lines and DNO consultation.
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) - HSE
- Working near overhead power lines - HSE
- Guidance on the safe use of lorry loaders - ALLMI
- Avoiding danger from overhead power lines (GS6) - HSE
- Outbuildings guidance - Planning Portal