Yes. And if you’ve been told otherwise, or you’ve searched around and drawn a blank, that’s because a lot of stairlift companies simply don’t offer curved stairlift rentals. It’s one of the things that genuinely sets 1st Choice Stairlifts apart.
Why Most Companies Don’t Do Curved Stairlift Rentals
To understand why this matters, it helps to understand what makes a curved stairlift different from a straight one.
A straight stairlift uses a standard rail that can be cut to length and fitted to almost any straight staircase. The same reconditioned chair and carriage can go from one property to another with minimal adaptation. That makes straight stairlift rental straightforward for most companies to offer.
A curved stairlift is completely different. Every curved rail is made to measure for the specific staircase it’s going onto. The bends, the angles, the length, all of it is unique to your home. That rail cannot simply be moved to another property and reused in the same way.
This is the reason most rental companies offer straight stairlifts only, and either can’t help with curved staircases or will only sell rather than rent them.
At 1st Choice Stairlifts, we offer curved stairlift rental. The made-to-measure rail is designed specifically for your staircase as part of the rental installation. The chair and carriage come from our reconditioned stock. When the rental ends, the lift is removed and returned to our workshop. The curved rail, having been made for your specific staircase, has served its purpose.
Who Is a Curved Stairlift Rental Right For?
The same reasons people rent a straight stairlift apply equally to curved staircases. You don’t need to buy outright just because your stairs have a bend or a turn. Curved stairlifts are also a lot more expensive than straight ones too so often factoring this into the equation can make a difference to your budget.
You’re not sure how long you’ll need it. Whether it’s a few months or a few years, rental gives you flexibility without a large upfront money commitment.
You want to keep monthly costs predictable. Rather than finding the full purchase price at once, rental spreads the cost into a known monthly amount with no surprises.
You need it quickly. We can often move faster than people expect. Once the survey is done and the order placed, the rail goes into manufacture and we book the installation as soon as it’s ready. Sometimes that can be 2-5 weeks depending on the manufacturer.
Removal is included. When you no longer need the stairlift, you call us and we come and take it away. There’s nothing to sell, nothing to dispose of, and no separate removal charge. It’s all part of the rental agreement from the start, which families often appreciate as one less thing to worry about.
Servicing and maintenance are included. Your monthly rental covers maintenance throughout the time the lift is in your home. If something goes wrong, call us and we sort it out. Around the anniversary of your installation each year we will contact you to arrange the annual service as part of the rental if your stairlift is still installed.
What Does a Curved Stairlift Rental Cost?
The installation fee for a curved stairlift rental starts from £2,000. This covers:
- The home survey
- The made-to-measure rail designed specifically for your staircase
- The fitting of the stairlift
- Your first month’s rental
- The removal of the lift when you no longer need it
After the first month, the ongoing rental is £100 per month.
There are no hidden costs. The monthly rental includes maintenance and, if the lift is still in place at the twelve-month point, the annual service.
The price is from £2,000 but it is important to note that the actual price will depend on the configuration of your staircase – the bends, length of rail and layout of the stairs and the cost of the made-to-measure rail. This can all add to the cost and it could be considerably more depending on these factors. We do offer a no-obligation free home survey visit to give you an accurate quotation. Simply call us on 01249 814528 or 01202 873730 to arrange or fill in out contact form.
How Does the Process Work?
Step one: home survey. We come out to measure your staircase and assess the person who’ll be using the lift. There’s no obligation to proceed and no charge for the survey. We’ll give you an exact cost of how much a rental curved stairlift will be.
Step two: order and manufacture. If you decide to go ahead, we arrange the photo survey where we use targets on the stairs to generate the made-to-measure rail design. That goes to the manufacturer to design the rail made specifically to your staircase layout and dimensions.
Step three: installation. Once the rail is ready, we install the stairlift. The engineer won’t leave until you’re completely happy and comfortable with how it works, and will give you a handover.
Step four: ongoing rental. Your monthly standing order is set up and it covers your rental and maintenance. If anything needs attention, call us and we’ll come out.
Step five: removal. When you no longer need the stairlift, give us a call. We’ll arrange a convenient time to come and remove it, leaving everything neat and tidy. The removal is included, there’s nothing extra to pay. The stairlift remains our property.
Can You Do Any Curved Staircase?
Generally yes. There aren’t specific limitations on the type of curved staircase we can accommodate for rental. If we can fit a new or reconditioned curved stairlift on a staircase, we can fit a rental one too. The survey will confirm everything.
If you’ve been told your curved staircase can’t have a stairlift by another company, it’s always worth getting a second opinion. Different models have different minimum width requirements, and what one lift can’t fit, another model sometimes can. As we do a complete range, there normally isn’t a staircase that we can’t fit a stairlift on from the comprehensive models range that we do.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a curved staircase. I didn’t know rental was possible. Is this really available?
Yes, genuinely. We make a made-to-measure rail for your specific staircase as part of the rental installation. Most companies don’t offer this, which is why it’s hard to find elsewhere.
How quickly can a curved rental stairlift be installed?
The lead time for a curved stairlift is longer than a straight one because the rail has to be made to suit the exact dimensions and layout of your stairs. From the photo survey to installation is typically two to five weeks depending on the model. Call us and we’ll give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
Is a curved rental stairlift the same quality as a new one?
The chair and carriage come from our reconditioned stock, which means previously used components that have been fully refurbished and tested. The rail is made specifically for your staircase. The same safety standards apply as for any stairlift we install.
What happens if something goes wrong with the lift during the rental?
Maintenance is included in your monthly rental. Call us and we’ll come out and sort any problems should they occur.
Can I switch from renting to buying?
That’s something we can discuss. If you start renting and decide you’d rather own the stairlift outright, get in touch and we’ll talk through your options.
What if I only need it for a few months?
That’s fine. There’s no minimum rental term. If you only need the lift for a short time, you pay for the time you have it and we come and remove it when you’re done.
Find Out More
If you have a curved staircase and you’d like to explore rental, the first step is a free home survey. We come out, measure the staircase, and give you a clear picture of what’s involved and what it will cost.
We cover a wide area across the South and South West of England including Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas, from our offices in Calne and Ferndown.
Give us a call on 01249 814528 and tell us what you need. You can also contact us on our enquiry form.
We have a showroom in our offices in Calne and in Ferndown where you can see our stairlift range for yourself.
You can check out the range of curved stairlifts we offer here and also find out more about our rentals here.
Author & Review
Written by Coral Affleck-Major, Director and Co-Owner of 1st Choice Stairlifts. Coral has worked in the stairlift and home access industry since 1996, helping thousands of customers understand their options and make the right decision for their home.
Technically reviewed by Colin Major, Technical Director and Co-Owner, with experience in stairlift installation, servicing, and technical support since 1987. All advice is based on real-world experience and best practice across a wide range of stairlift installations.
You can meet our team of stairlift experts here.
You can also find out more about stairlift rental costs and whether its best to rent or buy a stairlift in our other articles.
