6 things you need to know about buying a stairlift

A stairlift can be a game-changer, but it’s a big investment and you’ll need a skilled company to assess you in your home and provide support if anything goes wrong. 

As one stairlift owner we surveyed said: 'A stairlift is worth almost anything for the freedom it can give to someone with mobility impairment.' 

If you're considering getting a stairlift, read our advice to help you find a stairlift that has an after-care service you can rely on and offers great value for money. 

Check out the best stairlift brands to see how companies including Acorn, Handicare, Stannah and TKE are rated and if any impressed enough to become Which? Recommended Providers

1. Consider stairlift brand and retailer carefully 

You’ve got two main considerations when buying a stairlift: what brand of stairlift and which company you buy it from. This is because most stairlift companies sell directly or through an authorised distributor. 

For example, you might buy a Stannah stairlift direct from Stannah, or you might buy through one of its authorised dealers. 

Or you could buy a Handicare stairlift through Handicare's sister company Companion or through Age UK, both of which exclusively sell Handicare. 

We’ve found some big differences in the way companies do business, and some are prepared to haggle on price whereas others aren’t.

It's worth looking around for the best deal, but bear in mind it can be more difficult to navigate any issues if you don't buy directly from a manufacturer, and what you'll get in terms of a warranty and after-care support differs depending on the retailer.

There could also be significant differences in terms of response times and callout charges if your stairlift breaks down.

2. How much does a stairlift cost?

Stairlift prices really depend on your stairs. While there's no question that stairlifts are a big expense, it’s going to be cheaper if you’ve got simple straight stairs compared to a curved staircase that requires a bespoke stairlift. 

As a rule of thumb, every corner in your staircase will double the initial price.

Our survey of stairlift owners* revealed that the average price paid for a new stairlift was £3,867. The average price paid for a new straight stairlift was £3,371, and this increased to £4,728 for a curved stairlift. 

Our guide to the best stairlift brands breaks down costs for four of the most popular stairlift companies.

3. How to get money off a stairlift 

You can buy a reconditioned stairlift from most manufacturers and suppliers, and these can be cheaper than new ones.

As with buying a used car, you’ll want to check your stairlift’s history and maintenance record, and you’ll also want a warranty included.

It’s also worth seeing if you might be eligible to have a stairlift provided by your local council. You’d have to be assessed by your local Social Services department in England or equivalent in other UK countries. 

Other local authorities might expect you to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, which is a means-tested grant for adults with a permanent disability and helps you make adaptations to stay living at home.

For more on cost, plus advice about help from your local council, buying second-hand and renting, take a look at our guide to buying and installing a stairlift

4. Look at ongoing stairlift costs and maintenance 

There are some key considerations when you buy a stairlift, including: What do you do if it breaks down? How do you organise its annual service? Is it worth buying a warranty beyond the life of the one you get when you buy it?

The answer is that you need to weigh up the one-off costs you could incur if it needs repairing and for an annual service, against the costs of paying for a service package (each provider tends to have a range of service packages).

The bigger retailers usually offer one or two years' warranty as part of the sale of new stairlifts.

With call-out fees as high as £275 (plus parts), if you’re out of warranty it could get expensive if things go wrong. 

Of the people we surveyed, 37% needed to have a professional in to repair the stairlift during their ownership (up to 10 years), paying an average of £257 the last time this happened.

One person highlighted the importance of a quick call-out response and repairs, saying: 'Mum-in-law has been stranded upstairs pending repair on two or three occasions for several days, but she has had access to her toilet during these times.'

Another person advised: 'The cost of aftercare was not clearly explained which was an issue because the stairlift did break down a fair bit at one point.'

Eat well, live better and stay healthy. Sign up for our Food & Health newsletter, it's free monthly

5. Your rights if you're not happy with your stairlift 

If you want to cancel after signing up, you can cancel a ‘distance’ contract where the salesperson has visited your home. 

Your right to cancel an order starts the moment you place it and doesn't end until 14 days have passed from the day after your goods were delivered to you.

But if the stairlift has been made 'bespoke' to your specifications, you won’t be able to cancel, so do be clear what the company’s terms and conditions say about your rights before you sign up.

When you buy your stairlift, make sure your requirements are written into the contract – for example, because you specifically need hand controls that are tailored for your disability. This could save a dispute later.

If your stairlift isn’t what was agreed, is faulty, or not fit for purpose, under the Consumer Rights Act you have 30 days to reject the stairlift and get a full refund – or, if you prefer, a repair or replacement.

You do still have statutory rights beyond that 30 days, even if the item was made bespoke to fit your stairs.

6. You might get nothing back if you sell your stairlift

Companies really vary when it comes to stairlift buy-back, with some offering nothing and others offering up to 100% if you've had it a very short time.

When you're buying, ask specifically about the resale value. 

Bear in mind that this will depend on factors such as the age and condition of the stairlift, how long you've owned it, and any stipulations, such as having the stairlift regularly serviced by the company.

Of the 159 people in our survey who had received a buy-back quote, 33% were dissatisfied.

One person advised: 'I would look at what buy-back options were available rather than getting a shock when it came to disposal.'

Another said: 'My wife died only months after the installation of the lift. The buy-back price was derisory, but I made a huge loss even selling it elsewhere.'

Discover which mobility scooters and rollators and mobility walkers aced our tests and get our Best Buy recommendation

* Survey conducted by Which? in December 2022.