Last reviewed: 2 May 2026.
A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) covers up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales, £25,000 in Northern Ireland and a percentage-based amount in Scotland. For a typical straight stairlift those numbers are more than enough. For a curved stairlift in a complex three-flight house, with structural changes also being made, they often are not. The most common situation by far: a means-tested adult contribution leaves the household with a four-figure shortfall to find.
This page covers what to do when the DFG does not cover the full cost of your stairlift. The realistic answer is rarely “find one big alternative grant.” It is almost always a stack: a smaller charity grant, a different stairlift type, a finance package, or a short-term rental, combined.
First: check the DFG award is right
Before you assume there is a shortfall, double-check the council’s award letter. Three things to look for:
- Has the means test been done correctly? Disability-related income (DLA, PIP, AA) should not be counted. If it has been, ask for the calculation in writing and challenge it.
- Has the OT specified the right kit? If the OT recommended a curved stairlift but the council quoted a straight, the maths will be wrong from the start.
- Are there top-up rules locally? Some councils discretionary-top-up beyond the statutory ceiling. Phone the housing or adult social care team and ask directly.
Roughly one in five DFG awards we see has a fixable error in this stage.
Stack 1: Charity grants
Charity grants are usually £200 to £1,500 each, but they can stack. A typical shortfall fix uses Independence at Home plus a condition-specific charity (MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, Macmillan) plus a small local trust found via the Turn2us grant finder. See our guide to UK charities that help pay for a stairlift for the full list and how to apply. If you or a family member served, see our stairlift help for UK veterans page; SSAFA and the Royal British Legion frequently fund stairlifts in full.
Stack 2: Switch to a reconditioned model
A reconditioned (factory-refurbished) curved stairlift typically costs 40 to 60 percent less than a new equivalent. If the OT has approved a curved stairlift on a £6,500 quote and the DFG is paying £4,500, a £3,500 reconditioned alternative closes the gap entirely. Reconditioned stairlifts come from real installers (Acorn, Handicare and Stannah all sell them) and carry warranties, but the warranty is shorter than new. See our reconditioned stairlifts overview and 2026 prices. Important: in some councils, the DFG cannot be used to buy a reconditioned model. Ask the OT before you commit.
Stack 3: Rental as a stop-gap
Stairlift rental costs around £80 to £120 per month plus an installation fee of £700 to £1,000. If your DFG is approved but the council’s contractor lead time is six to eight weeks, renting a straight stairlift in the meantime keeps you safe at home and is independent of the grant. If your shortfall is large enough that you may not buy at all this year, rental can also be a permanent answer. See our rental overview and renting while you wait for a DFG.
Stack 4: Supplier-side savings
Two negotiation routes worth using:
- Get three quotes. Stairlift pricing varies more than people expect. The same curved staircase can attract quotes £1,500 apart between national-brand and independent installers. The cheapest is not always the right call (aftercare matters), but the highest is rarely justified either.
- Ask about ex-display or end-of-line models. Showroom-used straight stairlifts in good condition can save 20 to 30 percent and are essentially indistinguishable from new on day one.
Stack 5: Manufacturer or installer finance
Most national stairlift companies offer 0 percent or low-interest credit over 12 to 36 months for the customer-funded portion. This is regulated finance, so check the APR carefully and never accept a quote that bundles the finance product without a written breakdown of total cost. We do not recommend taking finance to bridge a long-term affordability gap; we do recommend it for short timing gaps where you know the funds are coming (e.g., from a property sale).
When to walk away from a quote
If a national-brand quote is more than 30 percent above the median for your stair type, your shortfall might not be a funding problem at all; it might be a pricing problem. The cleanest fix is to take the same OT specification to two independent installers in your area and compare. The DFG is paid against actual installation cost, not a fixed quoted figure, so a lower quote means a smaller shortfall (or none at all).
Cross-links
- Stairlift grants overview
- Charities that help pay for a stairlift
- Renting while you wait for a DFG
- Reconditioned stairlifts
- Country-specific DFG rules
Stairlift Costs UK earns commission when readers buy a stairlift through partner suppliers. We do not earn a referral fee on any of the charity, council, or rental routes recommended above. See our full disclosure.
Pricing information
Unless stated otherwise, prices shown are fully installed prices for a standard staircase. Complex installations may carry additional charges.
Stairlifts installed for a disabled person may qualify for zero-rate VAT under HMRC Notice 701/7. Your supplier will confirm VAT eligibility at the point of quotation.
Our price ranges are compiled from supplier rate cards, published dealer price lists, and real quotes shared by homeowners. They are intended as a general guide, not a firm quotation.
Prices last reviewed: May 2026