Buying mobility equipment for a parent: power of attorney, capacity and cancelling a contract they signed

Published 7 November 2026

Quick answer: Your parent can sign and pay for equipment themselves if they have the mental capacity to make that decision, and the law starts by assuming they do. If someone else needs to act, they need legal authority, such as a registered lasting power of attorney in England and Wales. A contract signed at home can usually be cancelled within 14 days. A contract signed by someone who lacked capacity may also be challengeable.

Last checked: 7 November 2026. What we checked: Mental Capacity Act 2005 sections 1, 2 and 7 and the explanatory notes, Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 section 1, GOV.UK pages on lasting powers of attorney and deputies, mygov.scot and the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland), nidirect on enduring power of attorney and Consumerline, the Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 Part 5, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, Consumer Credit Act 1974 section 75 and the Financial Ombudsman Service, HMRC VAT Notice 701/7, Care and Support charging regulations, GOV.UK needs assessments, NHS occupational therapy, and Citizens Advice and Age UK guidance.

Who this is for: Adult children and other relatives helping an older parent choose, pay for or get out of a contract for a stairlift, scooter, bath lift, riser recliner or similar.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. If a contract is large or capacity is in doubt, speak to a solicitor or an advice service.

Start with an assessment, not a sale

Before anyone signs anything, find out what your parent can get without paying. In England, councils cannot charge for community equipment (aids and minor adaptations) they provide under the Care Act, and an adaptation counts as minor if it costs £1,000 or less. You can ask the council for a needs assessment; GOV.UK says this service runs in England and Wales. The NHS says you can get occupational therapy through a GP referral, through social services, or privately.

For bigger changes such as a stairlift or level-access shower, the council may be able to help through a Disabled Facilities Grant in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has different arrangements.

Our guides to free equipment from the council or NHS and the Disabled Facilities Grant explain both routes. An occupational therapist’s (OT’s) report is also useful if you do buy privately. It sets out what your parent needs, which may not match what a seller has in stock.

Who can sign and pay

If your parent can decide for themselves

In England and Wales, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out the starting points:

• an adult is assumed to have capacity unless it is shown they do not
• they should not be treated as unable to decide until all practical steps to help them have failed
• making an unwise decision does not, by itself, mean someone lacks capacity

Capacity is also decision-specific. Section 2 of the Act looks at whether a person can make a particular decision at the time it needs to be made, and says nobody can be judged to lack capacity just because of their age or appearance. So a parent who gets confused about appointments may still be perfectly able to decide whether to buy a riser recliner.

If your parent can decide, it is their contract and their choice, even if you disagree with it. Your role is to help them get the information they need.

If someone else needs to act

You cannot sign a contract or spend a parent’s money just because you are their next of kin. You need legal authority, and the type depends on where your parent lives.

If your parent has already lost capacity and never made a power of attorney, a power cannot be created for them. In England and Wales you can apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy. GOV.UK says you cannot apply to be a deputy in Scotland (guardianship is used instead) or Northern Ireland (where you apply to become a controller).

Anyone acting under these powers in England and Wales must act in the person’s best interests and consider whether there is a less restrictive option. In Scotland, the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 asks decision-makers to take account of the adult’s wishes and feelings and to encourage them to use their existing skills.

If your parent signed something they did not understand

This is the hardest situation, and the law here is less clear-cut than the 14-day rules.

Try the 14-day cancellation route first

Most home-visit sales come with a 14-day right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and this does not depend on capacity at all. For goods, the 14 days usually run from delivery. If the seller did not give the required cancellation information, the period can be extended by up to 12 months. There are exceptions, including goods made to the consumer’s specifications, which some sellers say covers curved stairlift rails.

Our guide to cancelling a contract signed at home explains the timings, the exceptions and how to cancel in writing. It is usually the quickest and cleanest option, so check it before anything else.

If the 14 days have passed

In England and Wales, the general position is that a contract made by someone who lacked capacity can be set aside if the other party knew, or must be taken to have known, about that lack of capacity. That comes from the government’s explanatory notes to section 7 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

There is an important limit. Under section 7, a person who lacks capacity must still pay a reasonable price for “necessary” goods and services, meaning things suited to their condition in life and their actual needs at the time. The explanatory notes give an example of a roofer who fits a whole new roof when a small repair was all that was needed: he cannot recover his charges. A mobility seller could argue that a stairlift was necessary, so outcomes will depend on the facts.

Scotland’s law is different. The Child Poverty Action Group’s Scottish debt advice handbook says a contract made by someone who did not understand what they were doing is void, and that the other party does not need to have known about the incapacity. The person trying to escape the contract has to prove it.

What this means in practice:

• write to the seller, explain the situation and ask them to cancel
• keep notes of what happened at the visit, who was there and how long it lasted
• ask your parent’s GP whether there is medical evidence about their capacity at that time
• get advice from a solicitor or advice service before relying on a capacity argument

Whether a particular contract can be undone depends on the facts. This is not legal advice.

Paying for it: card protection and VAT forms

Paying part or all of a larger purchase by credit card can add protection. Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the card provider can be jointly liable for a breach of contract or misrepresentation where a single item’s cash price is over £100 and not more than £30,000. The Financial Ombudsman Service says section 75 can apply even if only part of the payment was made on credit, and that it does not cover purchases paid wholly by debit card or bank transfer.

There is a catch for families. The Ombudsman says section 75 applies if the primary cardholder uses the card to buy something for themselves. If you pay with your own card for equipment your parent is buying, check with your card provider before relying on section 75.

On VAT, HMRC’s Notice 701/7 says the disabled customer should sign the eligibility declaration. If they cannot, a parent, guardian, doctor or another responsible person can sign. For the separate reduced rate for people aged 60 or over, a relative, partner or other responsible person can sign if the customer cannot physically do so. Read the form before anyone signs, because it is a statement to HMRC. Our VAT exemption guide explains who qualifies.

Helping without taking over

Many parents resent being managed, and a falling-out helps nobody. Some approaches that respect your parent’s choice:

• agree in advance that nobody signs on the first visit, so the decision is not about you
• write down your parent’s own questions and let them ask first
• ask for everything in writing, so you can both read it later
• if your parent decides differently from you, ask yourself whether it is a decision they are entitled to make
• try one of our tools together, such as the mobility aid quiz, so the shortlist starts from their needs

If you are providing a lot of care, you may also want to check whether you could claim Carer’s Allowance.

If you think your parent was pressured

The Competition and Markets Authority’s guidance for businesses says traders likely to deal with vulnerable consumers must consider how their practices affect them, including because of age or health. Some practices are banned outright under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, such as ignoring a request to leave the home and falsely saying a price is only available for a very limited time.

Where to go:

• England and Wales: Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (0808 223 1144 for Welsh). Citizens Advice says advisers can pass complaints to Trading Standards, and that you cannot do this yourself.
• Scotland: Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000, which can pass reports to Trading Standards.
• Northern Ireland: Consumerline on 0300 123 62 62, which may refer cases to the Trading Standards Service.
• Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602, 8am to 7pm, every day.

If it looks like an outright scam, report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland. For a genuine firm that has treated your parent badly, our guide to complaining about a mobility company sets out the steps in order.

Before the home visit: a checklist for families

• [ ] Has your parent had, or asked for, a council or OT assessment?
• [ ] Is someone your parent trusts able to be there for the whole visit?
• [ ] Have you agreed together that nobody signs on the day?
• [ ] Have you looked up the company? Our guide on how to check a UK mobility company covers Companies House and other records.
• [ ] Do you know who has legal authority if your parent cannot decide (LPA, continuing power, EPA or deputy)?
• [ ] Have you written down the questions: total price, VAT treatment, warranty, servicing, cancellation rights?
• [ ] Is there a plan for payment that keeps protection, such as your parent’s own credit card?
• [ ] Will the seller leave a written quote and go when asked?

Before the visit, you can look the firm up in our company directory and read reviews from other customers. Being listed is not an endorsement by Review Mobility, but it gives you a starting point for your own checks.

Equipment suitability: ask a GP, an occupational therapist or the council for an assessment before buying.

What to do next

• Ask the council for a needs assessment or request an OT referral through the GP.
• Check whether your parent has a registered power of attorney, and if not, talk about making one while they can.
• If a contract was signed at home in the last 14 days, cancel in writing using our cancellation guide.
• If you think your parent lacked capacity when signing, write to the seller and get advice before the next payment.
• Report pressure selling to Citizens Advice, Advice Direct Scotland or Consumerline so Trading Standards can see it.
• Keep copies of every document, and notes of every call and visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel a contract my mum signed without her permission?

Not usually, if she has capacity. It is her contract, so she needs to cancel it or authorise someone to do it for her. You can write the cancellation letter for her to sign, then send it and keep proof of sending. If she lacks capacity, a registered attorney or deputy can act for her. If neither exists, you can still write to the seller explaining the situation and ask them to cancel.

Does a lasting power of attorney work straight away?

A lasting power of attorney for property and financial affairs in England and Wales has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian first. GOV.UK says it can then be used with the donor’s permission, so it can help even while your parent can still make decisions. Registration takes about 8 to 10 weeks if the application has no mistakes.

Is a contract automatically void if my dad has dementia?

No. A diagnosis does not mean someone lacks capacity for every decision. The Mental Capacity Act says capacity is judged for a particular decision at a particular time. In England and Wales, a contract made while a person lacked capacity can be set aside if the seller knew or should have known, but they may still have to pay a reasonable price for necessary goods. Scottish law differs.

Can the seller refuse to deal with me instead of my parent?

If your parent has capacity and you have no legal authority, the seller’s customer is your parent, so the seller may decline to discuss the account with you. If your parent wants you involved, they can tell the seller so, ideally in writing. A seller who objects to a relative attending a visit is a warning sign. If you hold a registered power of attorney, show the seller a copy, and they should deal with you for the matters it covers.

Should I pay with my own credit card to get section 75 protection?

Be careful. The Financial Ombudsman Service says section 75 applies when the primary cardholder uses the card to buy something for themselves. If your parent is the customer and you pay with your card, ask your card provider whether you would be covered. It is usually safer for the customer to pay with their own credit card. Check with your card provider before paying.

My parent wants a stairlift I think is the wrong one. What can I do?

If they have capacity, the choice is theirs, but you can ask them to wait for an OT assessment before signing. An OT can say whether a stairlift is the right answer or whether another option, such as moving a bedroom downstairs, would work better. Our stairlift buying guide covers what to compare if a stairlift is the answer.

Sources

• Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 1: The principles – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
• Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 2: People who lack capacity – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
• Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 7: Payment for necessary goods and services – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
• Mental Capacity Act 2005, Explanatory Notes, section 7 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
• Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, section 1 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
• Capacity to contract – Child Poverty Action Group (Debt Advice Handbook Scotland), accessed 7 November 2026
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• Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney: Register – GOV.UK, accessed 7 November 2026
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Published 7 November 2026