Whether your stairs are straight or curved, wide or narrow, our user friendly and elegant stairlifts are designed to cope with every twist and turn, to deliver you safely from one level to the next – all at the simple push of a button.
Whether a residential care home, community centre or a church, we’ll have the stairlift to suit your stairs.
An installation is only half the job; looking after your Lift correctly and having the correct service plays a big part in allowing the lift to give you trouble free use for numerous years to come.

Our Trusted Suppliers

Access BDD
Stannah
Wessex
We work with the biggest brands in  the UK so you can be sure that whatever type or style of stair lift you choose, quality is built in right from the start.

Stairlift FAQs: Your Key Queries Answered

Stairlift Frequently Asked Questions

As industry experts with over two decades of experience since September 2000, we understand that customers often have questions when considering a stairlift. To assist potential customers in their journey of purchasing or renting a stairlift, we have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. 

These FAQs aim to provide valuable insights and address common concerns, ensuring that customers are well-informed and empowered to make the best decision for their mobility needs.

Survey

Do I have to pay for a Survey?

No, Higher Elevation provides a free home survey and assessment with a no-obligation quotation.

Will I be under any obligation to buy after a survey visit?

No, we believe you should be given the option to read and understand your quotation with friends or family members before purchasing your stairlift.

What if I have a narrow staircase?

Our stairlift ranges are designed with slim rails and compact carriages. They can fit in the narrowest staircases as small as 62cm or just a little over 2 foot! They all have folding arms, seats and footrests, so they fold away neatly when they are not in use.

Is the stairlift attached to the wall?

No, this is a common myth. All stairlifts are attached directly to the tread of the stairs and not the wall.

Does someone need to come out and measure my stairs?

Yes, in order to ensure that you receive a lift that suits your needs and is reliable and safe to use, a surveyor will need to visit your home. During this visit, the surveyor will inspect your staircase, assess your mobility and discuss the options of lift you have available to you. They will take photos of the work area and ensure every detail is addressed 100% at the first time of asking, to ensure minimum disruption within your home at all times during the proposed works.

What if there are extra works needed in my home?

If there are any additional works required that will affect the lift installation works (i.e. radiator removals/relocations, carpentry, decoration) the surveyor will make notes and provide a quotation for one of our trusted tradesmen to carry out the works for you. Alternatively, if you wish to use your own tradesmen the surveyor can provide you with detailed information on what would be required for the lift to be installed.

I already have a lift installed that needs replacing. What will happen to this lift?

Your existing lift will be safely and carefully removed by our trained lift engineers on the same day as the installation of the new lift. This will be disposed of in a legal manner.

Stairlift Costs

Do I pay VAT on my Stairlift?

VAT exemption is given to those purchasing a Stairlift, in a domestic setting who are chronically ill or disabled. Most of our stairlift customers are eligible for a zero rate VAT when purchasing a stairlift. 5% VAT rate is applied if the person applying for the Stairlift is over 60, but not eligible for 0% VAT. You can check the VAT reliefs on the Government website here: Relief from VAT

Is there any funding for the cost of my stairlift?

It is possible to get funding for a stairlift through your local council, there is often certain criteria to meet and an application process. You can find out more information by contacting your local authority for visiting the Government website here: Disabled Facilities Grants

How much does a straight stairlift cost?

Our average customer pays around £2,500* for a brand new straight Stairlift with a 24 month warranty, 2 x service visits and a powered swivel seat.
*Based on the average Higher Elevation paying customer in 2019.

How much does a curved stairlift cost?

Our average customer pays around £5,300* for a brand new curved Stairlift with a 24 month warranty, 2x service visits and a powered swivel seat.
*Based on the average Higher Elevation paying customer in 2019.

Curved Stairlifts are more expensive, why?

Due to the Stairlift rail being curved the cost to manufacture is a lot higher. The rail is designed and manufactured bespoke to your staircase dimensions.

Can I rent a Stairlift?

Yes. A stairlift rental option is great for a short-term solution or to help accommodate financial circumstances. Our rental scheme includes all the costs of servicing, parts and call outs, whilst paying one month at a time. Found out more on our rental stairlifts here.

How much does it cost to rent a stairlift?

Rental Stairlifts start at £50pm for Straight Stairlifts and £75pm for Curved Stairlifts. On top of the rental there is an initial set up fee which on average is around £700* for Straight Stairlifts (includes 1 month rental) and £2300* for Curved Stairlifts (includes 3 months rental).
*Based on the average Higher Elevation paying customer in 2019.

Can I buy a reconditioned Stairlift?

Yes! Higher Elevation offers reconditioned stairlifts for both Straight and Curved staircases and comes with a full 12 month warranty and 1 x service visit. With Curved Stairlifts we are unable to offer a reconditioned rail as these are tailor made, therefore the rail is new.

How much does it cost to run a stairlift?

The yearly cost to run a Stairlift is very minimal, customers often worry after the initial costs the stairlift will occur an additional expense on their electricity bills. But there is no need to worry as the average stairlift costs around just £7-10 per year to run.

Aftercare

What warranty do I get with my stairlift?

All of our Stairlifts will come with either a 12, 24 or 60 month full warranty, which will include annual maintenance visits to ensure your lift is working well at all times. At the end of the warranty period, our Service Team will offer you one of our excellent service contract plans to provide you with ongoing cover for your lift.

What happens if I no longer need my stairlift?

Higher Elevation provides a buy-back scheme. If not a rental unit, we endeavour to buy-back products we have installed and serviced depending on meeting our buy-back guidelines.

Do you remove Stairlifts?

Yes, if your Stairlift does not meet our buy-back scheme criteria, we can remove and dispose of your Stairlift in accordance with environmental standards. Removal of Stairlifts does require labour and transportation, usually this will incur a removal fee.

What does it cost to repair a stairlift?

Whilst your stairlift is under warranty typically all call outs, repairs and servicing are included. If your stairlift’s warranty has expired then repair charges can vary depending on faults. It is usually cheaper to have a service contract which will provide some cover. Higher Elevation provide a range of Service Contracts you can read more here: Aftercare Cover

What are the ongoing costs of running a stairlift?

All stairlifts supplied and fitted should come with a warranty which includes items such as breakdowns, parts and servicing. Apart from the very small cost of electricity to power the stairlift there is no ongoing cost for a stairlift. Once your Stairlift warranty has expired you may wish to look into taking out a Stairlift maintenance or service contract/plan.

How much is a stairlift maintenance contract?

Maintenance contracts or service plans can vary across providers. Typically a cover to include breakdowns, parts and servicing start from £250 per year. Alternatively most providers offer a service only cover that includes the annual service visit, the average cost for this is between £80-£150 per visit.

Will I need to pay for servicing?

After your warranty period has expired we highly recommend that your Stairlift is serviced once a year (annually). It is more cost effective to take out an annual service contract or maintenance plan rather than paying for a one-off service visit.

Is there any resale value in used stairlifts?

Yes, but very little unfortunately. Depending on many factors the resale price would only be a few hundred pounds at most. New straight stairlifts are more of a high demand as these can be reconditioned and resold, however this does depend on the make and model, installation and servicing history.

How much is stairlift insurance?

Stairlift insurance is not commonly needed during the warranty period, however once the stairlift is out of this period you can usually opt for a service contract or buy mobility equipment insurance, to include stairlifts from a 3rd party provider.

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