That's why we've asked stairlift experts what you need to know when buying and how to get the best deal.
Read on for top tips from Which? and real-life insights from experts at Stannah, TK Home Solutions (TKE) and more to help you get the best stairlift for you.
1. Consider reconditioned or rented options
Stairlifts are expensive, typically costing several thousand pounds. When we surveyed people who had bought stairlifts in December 2022, we found they had paid around £3,300, on average, for a straight stairlift – and £4,700 for a stairlift for curved stairs.
However, there are cheaper options if you're on a budget - or you anticipate only needing a stairlift for a short while.
A reconditioned stairlift can often be a more wallet-friendly choice, and key parts, such as the rail and batteries, will have been replaced. You'll get a (shorter) warranty, too.
You can also rent a stairlift, which may be the best idea if you only need it temporarily - for example, after surgery. Expect to pay an upfront installation cost and a monthly fee – from around £40 for a straight stairlift to as much as £150 for a complicated curved stairlift.
The experts we spoke to at Stannah suggested really thinking about how long you might need the stairlift for, as this can make the buying route (new, reconditioned or rental) much clearer.
If you want to buy new, choosing seats and footplates that you manually adjust (rather than ones that work automatically) will cost less.
You may be eligible for VAT relief if you need a product because of a long-term disability or illness. Check if this is included in your quote - your supplier should give you a VAT exemption form.
2. Think about maintenance costs
Once you’ve paid the initial price for your stairlift, the hope is that everything will run smoothly. But it will need to be regularly serviced, and you may have to call an engineer if it stops working, so it's important to check what these services cost and how they'll be covered.
When buying or renting, be sure to ask these questions about the after-care package:
TK Home Solutions (TKE) suggests: ‘Look at the company as a long-term commitment – for example, are they a manufacturer or an authorised dealer with access to replacement parts? Who does the outreach and services the lift?’
3. Do research if you can
Not everyone gets to plan ahead for a stairlift, but if you anticipate needing one, you're likely to get a better deal if you do some research first.
Always get quotes from several companies and look out for those that give a fixed price and that price match.
Most stairlifts are essentially the same, but check to see what different companies offer – you may need a stairlift to fit very narrow stairs, for example, or a complicated bespoke one, which will take longer to build.
Having more time also means you can consider any details. If you're planning to replace your stair carpet in the not-too-distant future, for instance, doing it before the lift is installed may save the cost and trouble of having the stairlift removed temporarily while a carpet is laid.
4. Be clear about your needs
Ideally, a stairlift surveyor will assess the user themselves, but if they can’t – for example, if the intended user is in hospital – try to provide accurate information about the person and their abilities. Let the surveyor know if the stairlift is for a wheelchair user, for instance, or if the person has mental or physical issues which might affect them using controls.
A health professional, such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, may be able to help. You could also consider getting a private occupational therapy assessment for someone with more complex needs.
It's helpful if the stairlift user can visit a showroom, or a friend who has a stairlift, to try one out.
5. Be aware of other unexpected costs
The biggest upfront cost after buying a stairlift is likely to be replacing its two batteries. With your stairlift plugged in and parked, these receive a constant trickle of power to keep them charged. They have an average life of between three and five years, although this depends on lots of variables including how much the lift is used.
Batteries can cost from around £80 to as much as £300 for lithium ones (sometimes used for curved stairlifts).
You’ll also need to decide whether to take out a service contract once the warranty expires or to put money aside to pay for ad-hoc repairs. Ask the company how much they charge for engineer call-outs and repairs.
6. ...and watch your pets!
When we spoke to stairlift companies for insights, they warned us about the surprising accidental damage that can result in costly repairs to stairlifts.
They told us tales of clothes on the stairs getting tangled in the mechanism and children’s toys and sweets literally stopping the lift in its tracks.
One wayward dog even peed on the stairlift charger, resulting in it needing new wiring, and a mouse's nest was discovered when one stairlift was removed.
So keep pets, kids and stray items clear as much as possible.
Make sure your stairlift is kept plugged in, too - we were told about money-saving owners who unplugged theirs every night (and cleaners doing the same), which meant the batteries drained and the lift stopped working.
7. Don't get too excited about buyback schemes
Stairlift experts told us that a common misconception was that stairlift owners get a hefty sum back if they only use a lift for a short time. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. You will get some money back, but not as much as you might expect.
A third of chairlift buyers we surveyed who sold their stairlift back to the company were dissatisfied with the payment they received.
One stairlift owner said: 'I only needed the unit for four months as my wife died. The company would not give me any money and wanted me to pay them to remove the stairlift.'
Companies have different policies on this – for example, TK Home Solutions (TKE) will remove the lift for free but don’t buy back, whereas Stannah will buy back lifts under two years old that were bought new.
Certain conditions apply, though; for instance, stairlifts must be in good condition and have been serviced.
Our stairlifts research:source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/what-stairlift-experts-think-you-should-know-before-buying-aSDEZ1r1ae2g