If you’re looking for a stairlift on a budget, here’s our 8 ways to save money on a stairlift to help you!
A Which Review in May 2021 found that the average cost of a new stairlift is £2,845 and £4,217 for straight and curved lifts, respectively. That’s quite a chunk of dough and, if you’re on a budget, the price can be prohibitive.
But a stairlift is a life-saving piece of kit, and we think that those who need one should be able to get one! Sometimes it can mean you’re able to stay in your home and use the house without assistance, a priceless outcome, all things considered.
That’s why we have created this post – 8 ways to save money on a stairlift.
8 Ways To Save Money On A Stairlift – #1 Apply For A Grant
If you are on a low income, there are grants and schemes available to help towards the cost of a stairlift. While you may not be able to get the full amount of a stairlift, it’s worth looking into grants and charities which can help subsidise a stairlift installation at the very least.
Look at the UK’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which is a primary avenue for those with disabilities to obtain funding for home adaptations, including stairlifts. See also our post on stair lift grants.
As well as the DFG, there’s various charities which may be able to help. Organisations like Age UK, Turn2us, and The ACT Foundation have been known to chip in for things like stair lifts. While applying for a grant or asking for handouts isn’t a lot of fun, it’s worth it even if you get some money towards your stairlift. If you don’t ask you don’t get!
8 Ways To Save Money On A Stairlift – #2 Claim VAT Relief
Make sure if you’re eligible, you claim VAT relief on a stairlift purchase. If you’re over 60, you pay a reduced rate of VAT (5%) on certain mobility aids when you pay for them to be supplied and installed in your home.
0% VAT will generally apply to disabled people purchasing equipment for their personal or domestic use. Make sure you’re not paying VAT, because in most cases for a stairlift, you’re exempt.
8 Ways To Save Money On A Stairlift – #3 Purchase A Reconditioned/Pre-Used Stairlift
Reconditioned stairlifts are another great saving tip when it comes to purchasing a stairlift. New, straight stairlifts start from around £1,850, compared to £1,250 reconditioned. New curved stairlifts start at around £4,995 compared to £3,500 for a reconditioned model.
Reconditioned stairlifts are pre-used stairlifts which have been refurbished and thoroughly tested. They are given new batteries and usually come with a warranty. We offer 2 year warranties on our reconditioned stairlifts and only choose the best makes and models. This gives you the peace of mind you’re getting a high quality machine at a much reduced cost.
#4 – Use A Straight Stairlift On A Curved Staircase
We don’t always recommend using a straight stairlift on a curved staircase, for safety reasons. However, this can be done in certain circumstances. For example, if your top stairs are easily climbed, and you’re not at risk of your condition deteriorating.
Here’s an example of how it’s done. In this case, we were able to place a box on the large stair towards the top of the staircase. The user only has to climb the last two stairs.
This wouldn’t be suitable for someone who is unable to manage the last two steps safely. We generally advise a stairlift to take you to the very top of the stairs. After all, what if your condition deteriorates? It would be considerably more expensive replacing this stairlift for a new rail (and stairlift chair) in the future if the user decided they couldn’t make the top steps!
But since a straight stairlifts are considerably cheaper than their curved counterparts, this decision could shave a lot off your stairlift cost, if it’s save to do it.
#5 – Choose Basic Features
When you come to buy a stairlift, there’s various features available to choose from. For example, a power swivel is an often desirable feature which lets you rotate the chair automatically for easier exit. Some models come with a power footrest too, so you can push a button for the footrest to move. Still, most stairlifts come with safety features as standard, so optional extras will often cost you more and are often unnecessary. You can even specify the colour of the chair seat to match your furnishings, if you require!
To save money on a stairlift, consider opting for a basic model with fewer “bells and whistles”. It can cut the cost of a stairlift quite considerably. Just get the best model to fit your particular staircase layout, and don’t add any optional extras. For example, a manual swivel stairlift is often less desirable than a power swivelled one, but the manual swivel can shave money off your bottom line, if you don’t mind using a handle, rather than a button!
#6 – Consider Renting A Stairlift
Stairlift rental may be an option in certain circumstances. For example, if you only need a stairlift temporarily as in the case of an injury.
In most cases, a reconditioned stairlift can save you an equal amount, but this depends on the time you’ll need a stairlift for. But it’s definitely worth weighing up the options of a rental in comparison to buying a stairlift.
This will usually be for a scenario where you are only needing the stairlift for a few weeks/months. After that, it’s usually cheaper to buy.
#7 – Get Multiple Quotes & Shop Around
There can be a large disparity between the various stairlift installers and providers so it’s well worth getting more than one quote. If you’re in a hurry for a stairlift, this is often overlooked and you may be tempted to go with the first person who offers you a price.
But with stairlifts it’s a buyers marketplace and most UK stairlift installation providers will give you a free, no obligation assessment of your home for a fitting. So don’t rush into an offer if you have time to shop around. Make sure you get at least a couple of quotes so you can make a more informed decision. It’s also worth noting what warranty comes with a stairlift, as this is an important side note! A warranty covers you for breakdowns, call-outs, parts and labour.
#8 Choose A Cheaper Make Of Stairlift
If you’re on a budget for a stairlift, you can save a heap simply by choosing a cheaper make/model. Certain well-known brands are much more expensive than other makes. Still, it’s worth buying a quality machine because cheaper models can cost more later, when they start needing attention.
That’s why we use high quality stairlifts for our reconditioned models, so you get the best of both worlds – high quality and at a fraction of the price.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide “8 ways to save money on a stairlift”?!
We also created this ebook if you’re shopping for a stairlift. It explains the various in’s and out’s of buying a stairlift. Click on the image below to download a copy.
If you’re in the market for a stairlift, give us a call and book a free, no obligation assessment. We will help advise you on the best stairlift for your home and budget!
Call us on 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page here and leave a message.