Often we are asked if it is possible to rent a stairlift instead of purchasing the chair lift outright. The answer is YES you can from reputable stairlift specialists but with some limitations! Your personal situation and product type required to suit your needs will dictate your decision. Choosing a Stairlift Rental Company: Choose the company carefully to ensure that you receive a FREE survey, evaluation and written quotation. Independent stairlift distributors will be able to give you a choice of quality, reliable and safe stairlifts that will match your exact needs. Don’t be shy about asking for references and researching the track record of your potential stairlift supplier. Google “stairlift complaints”, use the BBB website and other consumer records / directories to really understand who you are working with. Not all stairlifts are designed equally in fact some are just plain cheap and under specified for normal users. You MUST demand your potential rental chairlift has at a minimum:
Swivel seat so that the user may safely get on and off the stairlift at the top landing A positive drive system such as rack and pinion. Never accept rope hauled devices All modern stairlifts are battery powered and will function even in a power outage Appropriate rider weight capacity for your needs. Good lifts are minimum 264lbs – 350lbs Are equipped with a key switch to prevent unauthorized use Include an adjustable seat belt Have an over-speed governor and safety gear device to guard against catastrophic motor gearbox failure. Ensure all service calls and breakdowns are included at no charge to you. Great brands that conform to or exceed the USA standards are MediTek Stairlifts, Stannah Stairlifts and Sterling Stairlifts, HandiCare stairlifts. Typical reasons to rent are when the intended chairlift user/s are: Recovering from an injury or surgery Visiting a family member or living in temporary accommodations Prefers to have a lower initial payment with a reasonable monthly fee
Just unsure of the model they will be comfortable using and don’t want to tied into a bad decision long term. Rental stairlifts are intended for shorter term use rather than permanent installations. The breakeven point depends on your stairlift supplier and the make and model Rentals over a year are often higher in cost than purchasing the lift. If that may be your situation some reputable dealers will change your rental agreement into a "rent to own" or just come to an arrangement with you to purchase the stair lift outright. Discuss this option before you begin the stair lift rental. Typical Rental Stairlift Costs: The standard arrangement for indoor straight track / rail rental stairlifts is that initially the customer will be required to pay an upfront the following items: Stairlift installation fee normally $350 - $600 De-install fee of between $200 - $500 Minimum rental term charge typically 3 months at $180 - $300 per month Refundable deposit $200 - $800 depending on the equipment rent and home ownership situation.
Rental Stairlift Type Limitations: Stairlift rentals are almost always limited to "straight rail" stairlifts as these are stock able items and just require a suitable rail or track length. Outdoor stairlifts types and custom curving stairlifts are extremely unusual to find from any stairlift distributor. This is due to the high reconditioning costs and custom rail construction required to suit your unique staircase design. If you have an outdoor stairlift need or require a lift that is in one continuous run to work on multiple flights of steps separated by a landing or your stairs have turns or pie shaped steps. You may be disappointed and have to purchase rather than rent the chairlift. or call 1 (888)605 0174A new stair lift can be a liberating investment, restoring safety and freedom to people with mobility problems so that they are able to continue living comfortably in their own homes. However, a key question will always be "How much will installing a stair lift cost?"
To estimate a stair lift price realistically, several factors need to be taken into account. These include the actual purchase price of the equipment, whether the model is new or a reconditioned, the quality and duration of the warranty and maintenance contract, and what the resale value of the stair lift is likely to be.Basic stair lift prices do not necessarily include the additional costs that will give consumers a true picture of the total price. For example, experts advise that an engineer should call at least once a year to make safety checks and carry out routine maintenance tasks.Even if a reconditioned stair lift has been purchased, reputable suppliers will still include a warranty for the first year of use. This will cover the cost of any replacement parts should the stair lift breakdown, providing vital reassurance for anyone considering a reconditioned model.Consumers should also remember the size and shape of their staircase. If the staircase is curved, the resale price may be negligible, as it can rarely be installed successfully into a different property without significant modification.
In the UK, the leading manufacturers of stair lifts are Stannah, Acorn, and Companion. All produce excellent, high-quality stair lifts that are safe and reliable.Before making a decision, the prospective purchaser should shop around and ask lots of questions about the true cost of the stair lift being considered. It is essential not to confuse low price with value for money. A reconditioned stair lift costing £900.00 that requires a control button to be pressed will offer less practical value for someone suffering from arthritis than a new stair lift costing £1,450 with a joystick or attendant control. The quality of the maintenance contracts and warranties offered by different suppliers also need to be carefully considered.If you didn't already know, here comes some good news…VAT is not applicable on Stairlifts – as it's a mobility product.Reputable stairlift companies should make this clear to all clients, however there are some salesmen out there that like to say "we will knock the vat off" to help close the sale.
You should never be charged VAT on a stairlift as legislated in Notice 701/7 VAT Reliefs for disabled people (August 2002).More details can be found here on the UK Government website.The only time vat is applicable is if it's for a company and not an individual, for example a care home or the council purchasing etc.All the major UK stairlift companies offer two broad models of stair lift, those designed for straight stair cases and those designed for curved. The latter are always more expensive, because they take longer to make and install. Since there is such a difference in price, we wrote a dedicated article on the average price of curved stairlifts, which will perhaps be more useful if you have a curved stair case.However, regardless of stair case design all models vary in price depending on which features are included. Some models may be cheaper, but may not suit your home or the needs of your family – for example, added extras such as remote calling controls positioned at the top and bottom of the staircase may be essential if there's more than one stair lift user within the home, while a harness seat-belt can provide an added level of reassurance for anyone who suffers from vertigo.