Published 7 November 2026 · Last updated 10 November 2026
Quick answer: A stairlift home survey is a visit where a company measures your stairs, checks the space and power supply, talks through how you will use the lift and then gives you a quote. A survey on its own does not commit you to buy. Get surveys from two or three firms, have someone with you, ask for every detail in writing and do not sign on the day.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. What we checked: HMRC VAT Notice 701/7, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (regulations 28, 30, 31 and 36), Schedule 20 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, CMA guidance on unfair commercial practices, GOV.UK Disabled Facilities Grants guide, GOV.UK guidance on company information, and Age UK doorstep advice.
Who this is for: Anyone with a stairlift survey booked, and relatives who plan to be there.
This page is about the survey visit and the paperwork. For what happens on fitting day, see our guide to stairlift installation. For prices, see our guide to how much a stairlift costs; we do not give price ranges here.
Get free quotes from up to 3 stairlift companies that cover your area.
Before the visit
A little preparation makes the visit shorter and the quotes easier to compare.
- Ask about free help first. If you may need a Disabled Facilities Grant, contact your council before you book private surveys (DFGs are not available in Scotland, which has its own support for adaptations). GOV.UK says the council may send an occupational therapist or trained assessor, and that you might not get any grant if work starts before the council approves your application.
- Look the company up. GOV.UK says you can see some company details free on Companies House, including the registered address, date of incorporation, officers and insolvency information. You can also check the firm’s profile and customer reviews in our company directory. A listing on Review Mobility is not an endorsement.
- Book a time when someone can join you. A relative or friend can take notes and ask the questions you forget.
- Ask how long the visit will take. Then tell the company how long you are happy to give it. You are entitled to end the visit at any point.
- Write down how you use the stairs now. Which way you turn at the top, whether you carry things, whether others in the house use the stairs, and anything that is getting harder.
What the surveyor looks at
Every company has its own process, and the details depend on the model. In general, a surveyor will want to understand your staircase, the space around it and how you move.
| What they check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Staircase shape: straight, curved, or with a half landing or turn | Straight stairs usually take a standard rail; curves and landings need a rail made to fit, which affects lead time and cancellation |
| Stair width and the side the rail will go on | Affects which models fit and how much room is left for others |
| Obstructions: doors, radiators, windowsills, handrails, light switches | Some may need moving or a particular rail design |
| Top and bottom landings | You need room to get on and off safely, and a doorway at the top or bottom can affect the layout |
| Park position | Where the chair sits when not in use, so it does not block the stairs or a door |
| Power supply | The surveyor will check where your nearest socket is and whether the lift can reach it |
| How you sit, stand and turn | Seat height, swivel seat, footrest and controls need to suit your body and your grip |
| Who else uses the stairs | A folding seat, arms and footrest may be needed so the stairs stay usable |
The surveyor should ask about your health and mobility, because that drives the choice of seat and controls. If you have had an occupational therapy assessment, show them the report.
A stairlift is not always the right answer. If you are unsure, ask your GP, an occupational therapist or the council for an assessment before buying.
Get more than one survey
Two or three surveys from different firms give you something to compare: different models, different rail designs and different terms. Age UK’s general advice for home improvements is to get several written quotes and not to sign anything on the spot.
When you compare, line up the written quotes against the same headings. If one firm will only give you a verbal price, or the price changes once you say you are getting other quotes, take that into account.
Get free quotes from up to 3 stairlift companies that cover your area.
What the written quote should contain
A quote you can compare, and later rely on, should set out at least the following. If anything is missing, ask for it in writing before you decide.
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Model and manufacturer | The exact model name, not a generic description |
| New or reconditioned | Stated clearly; for reconditioned, the age of the unit if known |
| Rail | Straight or made to measure, and whether the price includes any extension or hinged section |
| Total price | One figure including fitting, with VAT treatment shown |
| VAT relief | Which relief is applied and the eligibility declaration you will be asked to sign |
| Warranty | Length, what parts and labour it covers, and who provides it |
| Servicing | When the first service is due, what later servicing and call-outs cost |
| Lead time | A date or period for fitting, especially for curved rails |
| Removal and buy-back | Whether the company will remove the lift later, and on what terms |
| Cancellation rights | Your cancellation information and the cancellation form |
| Deposit | How much, when it is paid, and when it is refundable |
Our warranty guide explains what to check in the warranty wording, and our stairlift buying guide covers the wider choices.
VAT relief
HMRC’s VAT Notice 701/7 has two separate reliefs that can apply. One is for people who are chronically sick or disabled. The other is a reduced rate for people aged 60 or over, covering the supply and installation of a stairlift in a private home. HMRC says an elderly person who is not disabled or chronically sick does not qualify for the disability relief, and that the supplier is responsible for checking the customer meets the conditions.
Read any declaration before signing it, and make sure it describes your situation accurately. Our page on stairlift VAT relief explains the forms.
Reconditioned or new, and curved rail lead times
Ask each surveyor whether a reconditioned stairlift would work on your stairs, and what warranty it would come with. Some firms only sell new, so the question tells you something about the options they are offering. Our comparison of new and reconditioned stairlifts sets out the trade-offs.
If your stairs need a curved rail, ask for the expected lead time in writing. A curved rail is made to the measurements of your stairs, so expect a longer wait than for a straight rail. Ask the firm to confirm when manufacturing will start, because that date matters for cancellation (see below).
Do not sign on the day
A home-visit sale usually comes with a 14-day right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. For goods, the 14 days usually run from delivery. If the company does not give you the required cancellation information, the period can extend by up to 12 months.
Three points matter at survey stage:
- Curved rails. The regulations exclude goods made to the consumer’s specifications. Some firms treat a curved stairlift as non-cancellable once manufacturing starts. Ask in writing whether you can cancel, and up to what date.
- Fitting straight away. If you ask for work to start within the cancellation period and then cancel, you may have to pay a proportionate amount for what has been done. For an off-premises contract, the request has to be made on a durable medium such as paper or email.
- Deposits. Ask how a deposit is treated if you cancel within the period.
Our guide to cancelling a stairlift contract signed at home has the full rules, so we do not repeat them here.
Since 6 April 2025, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans some pressure tactics outright. These include falsely saying a price or product is only available for a very limited time, ignoring your request to leave or not to come back, and displaying a trust mark without authorisation. The Competition and Markets Authority says traders must consider how their practices affect vulnerable consumers, including because of age or health.
A “today only” discount is a good reason to say no. A genuine quote should still be there tomorrow. Our list of things the showroom won’t tell you covers other sales habits to watch for.
Questions to ask the surveyor
| Question | Why ask it |
|---|---|
| Which model are you quoting, and why that one for my stairs? | Shows whether the choice fits your needs or just their stock |
| Is the rail straight or made to measure? | Affects lead time and cancellation |
| Where will the chair park, and can others still use the stairs? | Avoids a lift that blocks the stairs or a door |
| Does anything need moving, and is that included in the price? | Radiators, handrails or sockets can add work |
| Is the price fully inclusive of fitting and VAT? | Lets you compare quotes like for like |
| Which VAT relief applies to me, and why? | You sign the declaration, so you need to understand it |
| How long is the warranty, and who provides it? | Some cover parts only, some include labour and call-outs |
| What does servicing cost after the first year? | Running costs over several years can matter as much as the price |
| Do you offer reconditioned units for these stairs? | Gives you another option to compare |
| What is the lead time, and when does manufacturing start? | Matters for curved rails and your cancellation rights |
| What happens if I cancel within 14 days? | Get the answer in writing |
| Will you remove the lift later if I no longer need it? | Removal and buy-back terms vary |
| Is this price valid if I decide next week? | A price that disappears is a warning sign |
After the visit
Read the quotes when the surveyor has gone, with the person who sat in. Compare them against the same headings above. If anything is unclear, email the company and ask, so the answer is in writing.
If you would like other firms to quote, you can request quotes through our stairlift quote page, and then check each firm’s profile before the visit.
This is general information about consumer rights, not legal or tax advice.
What to do next
- If a grant may be possible, contact your council before booking private surveys, and do not let work start before approval.
- Look up each firm on Companies House and in our company directory before the visit.
- Arrange for a relative or friend to be present.
- Ask every surveyor the same questions and get every answer in writing.
- Compare at least two or three written quotes side by side.
- Do not sign on the day; if you do sign at home, note the date the 14 days started.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for a stairlift survey?
Ask when you book whether there is any fee and whether you are under any obligation. A survey should not commit you to buying. If you are asked to sign anything at the end of the visit, read it carefully, because it may be the contract itself.
How long does a stairlift survey take?
It depends on your stairs and the company. A straight staircase is usually simpler to measure than a curved one, and a visit can run longer if the surveyor also discusses finance or models in detail. Ask when booking how long to expect, tell the company if you have a time limit, and remember you can end the visit when you choose.
Can the surveyor tell me if I qualify for VAT relief?
They can explain the reliefs, but HMRC says it is the supplier’s job to check that a customer meets the conditions, and the declaration is your statement. Being over 60 alone does not qualify you for the disability relief, though a separate reduced rate exists for people aged 60 or over. Read the declaration and make sure it describes your situation accurately.
Can I cancel a curved stairlift order?
Possibly, but it is less certain than for a straight stairlift. The Consumer Contracts Regulations exclude goods made to the consumer’s specifications, and some firms treat a curved rail as non-cancellable once manufacturing starts. Before you sign, ask the company in writing whether you can cancel, and until what date. Our cancellation guide explains the rules in more detail.
Should a family member be at the survey?
It helps. Another person can take notes, ask follow-up questions and notice pressure that is hard to spot when you are the one being sold to. Age UK advises not signing anything on the spot. Agreeing in advance that nobody will sign on the day takes the pressure off everyone in the room.
What if the surveyor won’t leave?
Ask clearly for them to leave. Ignoring a consumer’s request to leave their home is one of the practices banned outright under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. If you feel unsafe, call 999. Afterwards, report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service (or Advice Direct Scotland in Scotland) so it can be passed to Trading Standards.
Sources
- Reliefs from VAT for disabled and older people (VAT Notice 701/7) – HM Revenue and Customs, accessed 7 November 2026
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 28 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 31 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 36 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Schedule 20 – legislation.gov.uk, accessed 7 November 2026
- What businesses need to know about unfair commercial practices – Competition and Markets Authority, accessed 7 November 2026
- Disabled Facilities Grants: How to apply – GOV.UK, accessed 7 November 2026
- Disabled Facilities Grants: Eligibility – GOV.UK, accessed 7 November 2026
- Get information about a company – GOV.UK, accessed 7 November 2026
- Doorstep scams – Age UK, accessed 7 November 2026
- Contact the consumer service – Citizens Advice, accessed 7 November 2026
- Report a scam – Citizens Advice Scotland, accessed 7 November 2026
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Published 7 November 2026 · Last updated 10 November 2026
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