Stair Lifts: Rental vs. Purchase

Stair Lifts: Rental vs. Purchase

We often get the question, are stairlifts available for rent instead of purchase? The answer is yes. There are situations where renting would be more advantageous than buying. There are some things to consider when making that decision.

Length of time needed.
Rental units should be considered for short term use. If you are recovering from an injury or surgery or a family member is visiting for a period of time are examples of times it may be benificial to rent.

Staircase configuration.
Rentals would be best suited for straight staircases only. Staircases with pie-shaped steps are generally not conducive to rental units as these stairs generally require a custom built curved stair lift. Building a custom curved stair lift would make the cost of the rental too high. If your stairs have a rectangular landing, the option of renting multiple units could be considered.

Price
Stair lift rental prices typically include 4 items. 

• Deposit: Deposits can vary, but should always be refundable or applied to the removal, as long as the lift has no damage (Just normal wear and tear) when it is removed.
• Installation fee: Installations fees can range anywhere from $300-$600.
• Monthly Rental Fee: Monthly rental fees will usually be around $50-$300 depending on the unit installed.
• Removal Fee: Removal fees typically cost between $200-$400.

You will also want to make sure any maintenance and repairs are included at no additional charge. The last thing you want is to have rented a lift only to find out you are responsible for footing the bill for a repair if it breaks down.

As with all rental vs. purchase situations, there will be a break-even point where it will be more effective to purchase a lift outright than to rent. Talk to your dealer to find out what point this may be and what the options are if you end up needing a lift for longer than you anticipated.

Features and Safety
Generally, the options and features on a rented stair lift would be at a minimum to keep the price down. However, there are some items you want to make sure come standard with your rental.

• Industry standard safety features (Overspeed sensor, chassis obstructions sensors, footrest obstruction sensors, safety belt)
• Swivel seat for easy entry and exit of the lift.
• 2 call send remotes for calling the lift when it is on another level.
• Battery operated so the lift will run if the power goes out.

There are many factors to consider when deciding between rental and purchase of a stair lift.  Start by choosing a reputable company with the heart of a teacher, they should be able to guide you through the process making sure you fully understand what is best for your specific scenario. For more information on stair lifts, check out our free guide: 5 Important Things to Consider About Stair Lifts.