Reconditioned stairlifts
A reconditioned stairlift is a used lift that a dealer has taken back, stripped, checked, fitted with new wearing parts and new batteries, and then installed in another home, usually with a new or cut-down rail.
For straight stairs it is the cheapest way to own a stairlift, often costing half the price of new. The trade-off is a shorter warranty and less choice of model.
- Reconditioned straight, fitted
- £1,200 to £2,500
- Warranty to expect
- About 12 monthsWhich? advice for authorised dealers
- Lead time
- Often daysIf a lift is in stock
When a reconditioned stairlift is a good choice
- The stairs are straight. Reconditioned lifts are almost always straight models, because a curved rail fits only the house it was made for.
- The budget is tight and there is no grant, or the grant will take months to come through.
- The lift is needed quickly, for example after a fall or before someone comes home from hospital.
- The user may only need the lift for a year or two, and buying used costs less than renting for that long.
Worth knowing
- If the stairs bend, a "reconditioned" curved lift usually means a reused chair on a brand new rail, which saves much less.
- A lift bought privately and fitted by a friend is not a reconditioned lift. It has no warranty, and the maker may refuse to service it.
What a reconditioned stairlift costs
Typical UK prices with fitting, before any VAT. A lift with a powered swivel or a hinged rail is at the top of the range.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Reconditioned straight stairlift Refurbished lift, new batteries, fitted with a rail to suit your stairs | £1,200 to £2,500 |
| New straight stairlift for comparison Full new warranty and first service usually included | £2,000 to £4,000 |
| Reused chair on a new curved rail Only some firms offer this; the rail is still made to measure | Priced after the survey |
| Annual service after the warranty Worth booking every year on a used lift | £100 to £200 |
Want a reconditioned lift? We will find an installer near you who supplies and fits them.
Get stairlift quotesHow buying a reconditioned stairlift works
Survey
The dealer measures the stairs and checks which lifts they have in stock that suit the stairs and the user.
Quote and history
The quote names the make, model and age of the lift and the warranty. Ask for the service history and what was replaced.
Fitting
The lift is installed in the same way as a new one, usually in about half a day, with a rail cut to length for your stairs.
Handover and servicing
You are shown how to use it and given the warranty paperwork. Book the first service for the end of the warranty.
Questions to ask before you buy
- How old is the lift, and how many years will the maker keep supplying parts for this model?
- What exactly was replaced? Batteries, seat belt and the safety edges are the minimum.
- How long is the warranty and does it include call-outs? Which? advises that authorised dealers should give a one-year warranty and full service history.
- Is the dealer approved by the maker to sell reconditioned lifts of that brand?
- Will you buy it back or remove it free when it is no longer needed?
Reconditioned, second hand or ex-display?
These words get used loosely. In this guide, reconditioned means refurbished and installed by a dealer with a warranty. Second hand often means sold privately, with no checks and no fitting. Ex-display or ex-demonstration lifts are nearly new and sometimes come with close to a full warranty, so are worth asking about.
If you are selling a lift rather than buying one, our guide to what a used stairlift is worth explains the options.
Questions families ask
How much is a reconditioned stairlift?
Usually £1,200 to £2,500 fitted for a straight lift, depending on the model, its age and any extras. That is roughly half the price of a new straight stairlift.
Are reconditioned stairlifts safe?
Yes, when they come from a dealer who refurbishes them properly, replaces worn parts, fits them to the stairs and gives a warranty. The risk lies in lifts bought privately and fitted by someone untrained.
Can you get a reconditioned curved stairlift?
Rarely as a straight swap, because the rail is made for one staircase. Some firms reuse a chair on a new rail. Ask, but expect the saving to be modest.
Do I pay VAT on a reconditioned stairlift?
Not if the user is chronically sick or disabled and it is for their own home; the same HMRC relief applies. See VAT Notice 701/7.
What warranty comes with a reconditioned stairlift?
Usually six to twelve months on parts and labour. Which? advises that authorised dealers should offer a one-year warranty and full service history.
Where our information comes from
Price ranges are our own reading of Which? consumer research and published UK price guides, checked November 2026. We do not link to firms that sell stairlifts.
Get quotes for a reconditioned stairlift
Three short steps: where the stairs are, what they are like, and how to reach you. About two minutes. You can fill it in for a parent or relative.
- We look for a stairlift installer who covers your area and fits your kind of stairs.
- We tell you who it is. Your details reach them only if you say yes.
- They survey the stairs, free, and give you a written price.
Nobody contacts you until you say yes, and you can stop at any point.
Thank you, your enquiry is in.
- We will email or phone to tell you which stairlift installer covers your area.
- Your details go to that firm only if you say yes.
- They arrange a survey of the stairs and give you a written price. No marketing from us, ever.