Rent if you'll need the stairlift for up to about 14 months; buy if you'll need it for longer. All our rental lifts are reconditioned, so the fair comparison is with buying reconditioned. A rented straight lift costs more than buying a reconditioned one (£1,195) from month 15, and more than buying new (£1,995) from month 31. A rented curved lift passes the £2,995 price of a new curved lift in month 19.
How much does it cost to rent or buy a stairlift?
Renting a straight stairlift costs £500 upfront, then £50 a month; buying one costs £1,195 reconditioned or £1,995 new, fitted.
| Option | Upfront | Then | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent a straight stairlift (reconditioned) | £500, includes the first month | £50 a month | Rolling, no minimum term |
| Rent a curved stairlift (reconditioned) | £2,000, includes the made-to-measure rail and six months | £80 a month | Rolling, no minimum term |
| Buy a reconditioned straight stairlift | £1,195 fitted | Annual service from £95 | 12-month parts and labour warranty |
| Buy a new straight stairlift | £1,995 fitted | Annual service from £95 | 12-month parts and labour warranty |
| Buy a new curved stairlift | From £2,995 fitted | Annual service from £95 | 12-month parts and labour warranty |
| Buy a reconditioned curved stairlift | Priced at survey | Annual service from £95 | The rail is matched to your stairs |
All our prices are VAT-free at 0% for anyone with a long-term illness or disability.
For every option, see how much a stairlift costs.
When does buying become cheaper than renting?
Buying a reconditioned straight lift becomes cheaper than renting in month 15, and buying new becomes cheaper in month 31.
Renting overtakes buying reconditioned in month 15, and buying new in month 31
Total paid to rent a reconditioned straight stairlift (£500 upfront incl. month 1, then £50 a month) vs buying outright
The chart counts the purchase price only. Rental includes servicing, but an owned lift needs a service each year (from £95). Counting a £95 service from the start of year two, the reconditioned crossover moves to month 17, and the new one moves to month 35.
Curved lifts follow the same pattern on a bigger scale. The £2,000 upfront covers the made-to-measure rail and the first six months, then it's £80 a month. That passes the £2,995 price of a new curved lift in month 19, or month 20 once servicing is counted.
When is renting the right choice?
Renting is right when the need has an end date, or when you don't yet know how long it will last.
- Recovery after an operation, such as a hip or knee replacement, where you expect to manage the stairs again within months
- End-of-life care at home, where a family wants the stairs made safe quickly without a large outlay
- A house move ahead, where the stairlift won't come with you
- Waiting for a decision: a prognosis, a care assessment, or whether a parent will move in
"Renting a stairlift makes most sense if you only need it for a short or uncertain period — for example while recovering from surgery or a hip or knee replacement, during end-of-life care, or when a relative is staying with you temporarily. If you expect to need it for more than a year or two, buying (especially a reconditioned model) usually works out cheaper over time."
— Roger De Gennaro, Director, Manchester Stairlifts
When is buying the right choice?
Buying is right when you expect to need the stairlift for more than a year.
- A long-term or progressive condition, such as arthritis, Parkinson's, COPD or MS
- Someone settled in the home for the foreseeable future
- A curved staircase where the need is permanent: the rail is made for your stairs either way, and buying passes renting by month 19
If the budget is tight, a reconditioned stairlift at £1,195 fitted usually beats renting for anything over 14 months.
What does stairlift rental include?
Rental includes the home survey, fitting, servicing, repairs, and removal at the end.
- Survey and fitting, included in the upfront payment
- Servicing and repairs for as long as you rent, with call-outs, parts and labour included
- A 24-hour helpline
- Removal when you no longer need it
When you buy, servicing is yours to arrange: from £95 a year, or comprehensive annual cover at £195–£295. The first service is included.
Is a rented stairlift new or reconditioned?
Every rental stairlift we fit is reconditioned. Each one is stripped, checked and has its wearing parts replaced before it's fitted; see how we recondition a stairlift. It's the same standard of lift we sell reconditioned at £1,195.
Do you pay VAT on stairlift rental?
No, if the person using it has a long-term illness or disability. Stairlift hire and purchase can both be zero-rated for VAT under HMRC VAT Notice 701/7. You sign a short eligibility declaration, and we handle the rest. All our prices are VAT-free at 0% for anyone with a long-term illness or disability.
Can I buy the stairlift I'm renting?
Yes. If your needs change, we can credit the rent you've paid towards buying the lift, so you don't pay twice.
Should I buy a second-hand stairlift from eBay or Facebook?
Usually not. A marketplace lift comes with no warranty, and a rail made for someone else's stairs rarely fits yours. Fitting typically costs £300–£600 on top. By the time it's working, it often costs as much as a reconditioned lift fitted with a warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum rental term?
No. Rental is a rolling contract with no minimum term. You can end it whenever you no longer need the lift.
How quickly can a rental stairlift be fitted?
Straight lifts are usually fitted within a day, and within 48 hours if it's urgent. Curved lifts take longer, because the rail is made to measure for your stairs.
Why is curved rental £2,000 upfront?
The rail on a curved stairlift is made for your staircase and can't be reused elsewhere. The £2,000 covers that rail and the first six months of rental.
What happens when I don't need the stairlift any more?
You tell us, we remove it, and the rental stops. Removal is included.
Is renting cheaper than buying?
For up to about 14 months, yes. From month 15, buying reconditioned is cheaper; from month 31, so is buying new.
Next questions
- stairlift rental prices
- How much does a stairlift cost?
- New vs reconditioned stairlifts
- How much does a curved stairlift cost?
- Book a free home survey
Not sure which stairlift you need?
Book a free no-obligation home survey. A local engineer will measure your stairs and recommend the right lift — usually within 48 hours.