Moving House With a Stairlift: Take It, Leave It or Sell It?

Moving home is one of the most common reasons a stairlift comes out, whether the owner is downsizing, moving into care, or the house is being sold after a bereavement. The choices are simpler than they look, and the right one depends mainly on whether the lift is straight or curved and how old it is.

Your four options

Can you take a stairlift with you?

Often, if it is straight. Stannah, for example, says it can re-site a straight rail or remake a curved rail to fit the staircase in a new home. Fish Insurance points out that not all stairlifts can be reinstalled into all homes, which in practice means the new staircase has to suit the same carriage. A curved rail is designed for one staircase, so moving a curved lift means paying for a new rail, which is the most expensive part.

Use a trained engineer to take the lift down and put it back up. A Stannah dealer notes that removing or moving a Stannah stairlift may void its warranty if it is not done properly. Ask the original installer first, since they know the model, then compare with an independent firm. Some independent removers advertise a remove-and-reinstall service.

Before deciding, compare the cost of moving the old lift with a reconditioned lift fitted new at the other end. Our reconditioned stairlifts guide gives typical prices, and our guide to whether a stairlift will fit your stairs helps you check the new staircase.

Selling a house with a stairlift fitted

There is no independent evidence we could find on whether a stairlift raises or lowers a house’s value, so be wary of anyone who tells you it does either. In practice, the question is whether your buyer wants it. Some buyers, particularly older buyers or families caring for a relative, may welcome it. Others will ask for it to be removed before completion.

Agree it in the sale. If the lift is staying, list it in the fixtures and fittings form so there is no confusion, and pass on the manual and service history. If it is going, book removal before completion and tell your insurer once it has gone.

Selling or removing it

Straight lifts in working order are the easiest to sell. Buyback offers are usually a small fraction of the original price: Stannah, for example, says it will consider buying back serviced lifts less than three years old at around 5% to 10% of the price paid. Independent buyers such as We Buy Any Stairlift remove a lift free if they buy or recycle it, and charge £60 to £300 including VAT to remove one they cannot use. Our guides to selling a stairlift, stairlift removal and Stannah stairlift removal go into the details.

If a council grant paid for the stairlift

Ownership of a grant-funded stairlift depends on the council. Walsall Council, for example, says adaptations funded by a Disabled Facilities Grant belong to the applicant or owner and that it has no statutory duty to remove them. Derbyshire County Council tells residents that a lift installed through its scheme becomes their property and responsibility. Stockport, by contrast, recycles grant-funded equipment under five years old and pays no compensation for it.

Some councils also attach conditions to larger grants. Rhondda Cynon Taf, for example, asks people receiving a Disabled Facilities Grant over £5,000 to agree to repay it if they sell the property within ten years. Check your grant letter and ask the council before you sell, remove or move a grant-funded lift.

A moving-house checklist

• Find the paperwork: model, date fitted, warranty, service history, and any grant conditions.
• Decide early whether the lift is going with you, staying, or being sold or removed.
• If it is moving with you, get a written quote for removal and refitting, and check the new staircase first.
• If it is staying, put it on the fixtures and fittings form.
• If it is being sold or removed, get two quotes and agree who makes good the stairs.
• Tell your home insurer when the lift is removed or the house changes hands.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my stairlift with me when I move?

Often, if it is a straight lift going onto a straight staircase. The rail usually needs to be re-sited or cut to the new length. A curved rail is made for one staircase, so it would need to be remade.

How much does it cost to move a stairlift to a new house?

We could not find a UK installer that publishes a price, so ask for a written quote for removal and refitting. Compare it with the cost of a reconditioned lift fitted new at the other end.

Does a stairlift affect the value of a house?

We found no independent evidence either way. Whether it helps or hinders a sale depends on the buyer, so agree in the sale whether it stays or goes.

Should I remove a stairlift before selling my house?

Not necessarily. Some buyers may want it. Ask your buyer, and list it on the fixtures and fittings form if it is staying.

Who owns a stairlift paid for by a Disabled Facilities Grant?

It depends on the council. Some treat grant-funded adaptations as the owner’s property; others recycle them when they are no longer needed. Check your grant conditions before you sell or remove it.