Stair lift for elderly mother needed

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It seems to me that there is much confusion when it comes to buying a stair lift. As a stair lift engineer of many years experience, here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.


There are two main types of stair lift. Straight stair lifts or curved stair lifts.


Straight stair lifts are for straight stairs and are usually the simplest and cheapest to buy.
Curved stair lifts are more complex to make and fit and so are much more expensive.


If there are any issues or questions not covered here or if you have an issue with your existing stair lift email me at *for free advice.


If possible, always consult one of your local Occupational Therapists that are employed by your local Social Services. They will be able to give you advice on the type of stair lift best suited to your needs.


Here is a rough guide to the price you can expect to pay (in my part of the country anyway)


A new basic straight stair lift should cost you in the region of £1400 to £1800 (Depending on the make and model). As a bare minimum you should expect the following for your money.


Free survey
Stair lift installation
Full user instructions
2 Years parts and labour warranty
2 Years breakdown cover
2 Annual services


In short, once you have paid for your new stair lift you should not have to pay a single penny more for the first two years, regardless of any technical issues.


A new basic curved stair lift is more difficult, but expect to pay a minimum of £3500 and anywhere up to around £4700 (depending on make and model)


Again you should expect the following for your cash
Free survey
Stair lift installation
Full user instructions
2 Years parts and labour warranty
2 Years breakdown cover
2 Annual services


Again for the first two years you should not have to pay out a single penny more if your stair lift goes wrong.


Prices for a used stair lift vary considerably depending on the make, model, condition and age of the unit you are offered. As a rough guide expect to pay around £600 - £700. As a bare minimum you should get the following included in the purchase price.


Free survey
Stair lift installation
1 Year parts and labour warranty
1 Year breakdown cover
1 Annual service


Be very careful if you are considering buying a used curved stair lift. All curved rails are custom built to exactly fit the staircase they are to be used on. So if you buy a used curve the chances of the rail fitting your stairs properly are not good. Some companies will offer a used curved lift and provide you with a new custom built rail. This is perfectly acceptable if done properly. Beware of "cut and shuts" ! this is where two or three different rails have been cut and re-joined to make one complete rail. In our view you are asking for trouble if you buy a cut & shut curved rail. :eek:


In all cases you should also expect a same day, or next day response to any technical issues with your stair lift. After all, what is the point in having a stair lift if it is broken and they take a week to get out to you?


When you agree to buy a straight stair lift some companies will require you to pay a deposit of around 25%. Some companies will not require any deposit.


If you agree to buy a curved stair lift virtually every company will require an upfront deposit of between 25 -30%.


In all cases, upon completion of the installation you will be required to pay the outstanding balance in full (usually within 30 days)


An alternative option to buying is to consider stair lift rental. This is a good option only if your requirements are short term (12 months or less). Most stair lift companies will only rent you a straight stair lift. If you are offered a curved rental be careful - the rail will not be correctly sized for your stairs.
Typical costs to rent a straight stair lift are around £350 to have the stair lift installed. This figure will also include your first months rental fee. From month 2 you will usually pay around £10 to £15 per week. Rental stair lifts are usually used units. When you no longer need the stair lift it should be removed and taken away at no extra cost to you.
As a minimum you should expect the following when renting a straight stair lift,


Supply and installation of the unit
Breakdown and service cover included
Removal included


In all cases you do not have to pay any VAT on the purchase price if you or the person you are buying for is registered as disabled or is chronically sick. You can read all about it on the HMRC website.

If you require more options on the stair lift such as a powered swivel or folding rail then prices will rise accordingly.


You should always get at least 2 (preferably 3) quotes. Make sure the quotes are like for like i.e for similar stair lift, warranties and after sales service. You would be surprised at the price ranges quoted.


You may be eligible for a grant to pay for your stair lift. To find out if you are eligible for grant funding you should contact your local council and ask for an assessment from an Occupational Therapist (O.T). If your O.T considers that you are eligible for a grant they will usually put the wheels in motion to secure the money. In my part of the country if your stair lift purchase is grant funded you will still be required to pay for repairs and servicing etc. after the initial warranty period has expired.


When obtaining quotes, going directly to the large national companies will not always result in the best price. Some of these national companies will quote you a high price then pass the job down to their local agent / sub-contractor. For example, The national company quote you £2500 for a new stair lift. If you had gone directly to the local stair lift company you may have got exactly the same unit with exactly the same guarantees, fitted by exactly the same engineers for £1800, saving you £700 !


If you have any questions that are not covered here, or if you want free advice about a technical issue with your current stair lift please email me and I will do my best to help. You can contact me at *


Finally, buying a stair lift is no different to buying a car or television. Do your research, get quotes and make sure you get what you want at the best price.