Can I Rent a Stairlift Instead of Buying One? Pros & Pitfalls

Are you planning to install a stairlift at home?

Whether you have an age-related condition or an injury that affects your mobility, a stairlift could transform your life. But if you’re not ready to commit to buying a stairlift just yet, you can rent one instead.

But will this be better for you in the long run?

Deciding whether to rent or buy a stairlift can be difficult, but this post will make it easier for you. We’ll explore the pros and cons of renting and purchasing a stairlift for your home.

By the time you reach the end, you’ll have a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of both options. This will help you make the best decision for your needs.

Stairlift Rental: Pros

A Cost-Effective Solution for Short-Term Needs

Stairlift rental is a simple way to improve accessibility at home for a short time. For example, if you become injured after a fall, a stairlift hire service will help you travel between floors while you recover.

Once your injury has cleared up and you can use your stairs safely again, a stairlift rental option will take it away. You’ll only pay for the stairlift for as long as you actually need it.

No Need to Pay for Maintenance

When you rent a stairlift, any maintenance required on the stairlift will be covered by the supplier — not by you.

This will be welcome news to anyone considering a stairlift rental service. You won’t need to worry about the cost of fixing technical problems: just let the rental company know, and they’ll take care of it.

Avoid the Upfront Cost of a Purchase

A stairlift rental company will charge a monthly fee, but you won’t need to cover a potentially large upfront cost as you would when buying a stairlift. As a result, renting a stairlift may be the better option for budget-conscious homeowners.

Stairlift Rental: Cons

Stairlift Rental Prices Add Up

The cost of renting a stairlift will add up over a number of months and years. If you rent a stairlift without considering the long-term expense, you may ultimately spend more than you would if you bought one instead.

You Can’t Customize Rental Stairlifts

When you rent a stairlift, you may not be able to customize it to fit your needs. If you wanted to change the seat, it’s unlikely that the rental company would let you.

You May Decide to Buy a Stairlift Anyway

If you buy a brand-new stairlift after using a stairlift rental service, you’ll pay more than you might need to. The money you invested into the rental stairlift could have gone toward the price of your own stairlift instead.

Keep this in mind when considering whether to rent or buy a stairlift.

Buying a Starlift: Pros

No Ongoing Payments or Rent Hikes

When you buy a stairlift, it’s yours to use for years to come. You won’t need to keep up with monthly payments. And you won’t be expected to pay a higher rate if the rental company decides to charge more over time.

Instead, you make one or more payments to take full ownership of the stairlift.

You’re Free to Customize Your Stairlift

You can customize your own stairlift to fit your needs and provide the most value for money. This is a major advantage if you need to make changes.

You’ll Own a Long-Term Accessibility Solution

Owning your own stairlift ensures that you, members of your household, and any guests can rely on it permanently. This can provide invaluable peace of mind for anyone affected by long-term mobility limitations.

Increase the Value of Your Home

Having a stairlift installed in your home permanently could increase your property’s value. This is especially important in areas with a high number of elderly people. It also offers an advantage to any future buyers who need a stairlift, which could make a huge difference in securing a purchaser for your home.

Suppliers May Recommend Other Accessibility Products

When you commit to buying a stairlift, suppliers may be willing to recommend other solutions to improve accessibility in your home. For example, they might offer advice on enhancing bathroom safety with grab bars, Handrails or installing ramps.

Buying a Stairlift: Cons

Upfront Costs May Be High

The initial cost of buying your own stairlift and setting it up could be high. This depends on:

• Your chosen supplier

• The stairlift you pick

• The complexity of installing the stairlift

• Any home modifications required to accommodate the stairlift

But despite the potential expense of buying a new stairlift, there are no ongoing payments to consider. You only need to cover the upfront costs. Always choose a trusted supplier to ensure you receive a quality deal and honest advice.

Added Expense of Future Maintenance

You may need to cover the cost of any stairlift maintenance required in the future when your stairlift is out of warranty.

Ready to Rent or Buy a Stairlift for Your Home?

Renting or buying a stairlift can bring you more independence, freedom, and safety. To make sure you find the right stairlift for your home, you need a supplier you can trust.

Total Access Solutions specializes in accessibility products, with customers across the Toronto and Greater Toronto Area. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, we’ve helped many homeowners modify their property and meet their accessibility needs. And that includes providing a wide range of stairlifts for straight, curved, and exterior stairways.

Crucially, we offer stairlift rentals with next-day installation for your total convenience, with a variety of models to choose from — all sourced from trusted manufacturers. Prefer to buy a stairlift instead? We can make that happen too.

Whatever you have in mind, schedule an at-home or virtual consultation with our experts today.