What is a Stairlift?

A Stairlift in simple terms is a Disability Aid that transports a mobility impaired user up and down their staircase safely. They come in all kinds of types, shapes, colours, and can span multiple flights of stairs. They essentially incorporate a Stairlift Rail, or Track that will be installed to your stair treads, then have a carriage and seat installed on this rail.

Stairlift, Stair Lifts, Chair Lifts – are they all the same?

All very different ways to describe the same mobility aid. Same as described above in the “What is a Stairlift” section, they are all the same category of products to aid in transferring a single user with mobility issues, up and down staircases safely.

So whether you’re after a Stairlift, Stair Lift, Chair Lift or a Chairlift, any reputable dealer should know immediately what you’re after and get you moving upstairs safely.

Do Stairlifts fit to the stair treads or the wall?

A common misconception with a large portion of potential stairlift users are about the worry of a stairlift being installed to their walls. All stairlifts nowadays are installed to the stair tread / step themselves. No fixings are necessary into any walls unless under extreme circumstances where “wall brackets” may be required.

What types of Stairlifts are out there?

As mentioned above, Stairlifts come in a variety of types, makes, and models. Let’s discuss the main types below.

Straight Stairlifts

The most common type of Stairlift, and also the most affordable. They are perfect for staircases with no bends or landings, and can be fitted in a matter of a few hours, and occasionally, the same day! Straight Stairlifts are also perfect when looking at rental, and reconditioned options, where budget may be a factor.

Our Handicare 1100 Slidetrack Straight Stairlift – A revolutionary model when it comes to both features and design.

View our Straight Stairlifts here, fitted from £1499 including 3 years parts warranty!

Curved Stairlifts

Where a Straight Stairlift isn’t suitable, that’s where the Curved Stairlifts come in. Perfect for those staircases with bends, landings, or even spiral staircases. Each rail section is made bespoke to your staircase to achieve the best fit possible and ensure the highest ride quality for the user.

They do come in more expensive than the straight stairlifts, and don’t tend to be as suitable for rental, hire, or reconditioned, however they do still come with the same 3 years parts warranty as our straight lifts.

Our Handicare Freecurve Curved Stairlift – Leading the way in terms of sleek design and functionality

View our Curved Stairlifts here, fitted from £3299 with 3 years parts warranty!

Outdoor Stairlifts

A common misconception is that Stairlifts are only for indoor use. The great news is that Stairlifts are available, both Straight and Curved for outdoor applications also.

So those steps outside your property that you’re suddenly finding a little difficult, an outdoor stairlift may be your perfect solution! Designed to survive the harsh weather we sometimes face, these stairlifts are built to last and offer you the same reliability and service as our indoor stairlifts.

Maximum User Weights of Stairlifts

Stairlifts just keep getting more efficient, and more capable year by year. We’ve seen an ever increasing rise in the Safe Working Loads of Stairlifts over the past 20 years, to keep up with the ever increasing average weight of our population.

It’s now more common than ever to see Stairlifts suitable for those even in excess of 25 Stone.

See our Handicare 1000 for a Straight Stairlift with a Maximum User Weight of 31.5 Stone.

See our Handicare 4000 for a Curved Stairlift with a Maximum User Weight of 25¼ Stone.

Read our “Maximum Weight – The best 25+ Stone Stairlifts Discussed” post for further information on Heavy Duty Stairlifts

Does it matter what Make / Brand of Stairlift I choose?

Yes and No, unfortunately it’s not a simple answer.

Your stairlift buying journey has probably taken you across a few popular brands of Stairlifts; Acorn, Handicare, and Stannah just to name a few. Opinions, Reliability, Cosmetics, and Value for Money all differ between each brand and their models, although they will all do the same job in getting you up and down stairs safely.

What’s most important is the service being offered by the supplier you choose. Are their prices competitive with the rest of the market? Do they have a diverse product portfolio to cover every product type, straight, curve, outdoor, and heavy duty? Do they have a competitive product warranty to show that they stand by their products? And most importantly, what are their customer service like when it comes to maintenance, breakdowns and aftercare?

We at Ability Assist have teamed up with Handicare Stairlifts UK – providing each and every customer with a product that we feel is the perfect combination of Quality, Reliability and Value for Money. And always backed by our 5-star Customer Service.

Request a Free Quote:

Fill out our convenient form below and one of our experienced team members will be in touch to answer any queries you may have.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 RuthW UK 
 
25/02/2026
 
 
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Great experience with this company. Tristan very kindly removed my stairlift promptly and without any hassle. Very friendly and accomodating. Highly recommended.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Gary Parfitt 
 
21/11/2025
 
 
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Phoned tristan wednesday didnt have stairlift from them but he came on friday fitted new batteries and serviced it. excellent service would recommend them and reasonable price thank you  gary parfitt llanover

Owner's reply
Thank you for your kind words Gary and we were glad we could be of assistance and sort a few things during the stairlift service too! We'll see you next service😀 All the best from us at Ability Assist 🙌
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Clare Werrett 
 
12/11/2025
 
 
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Absolutely fantastic service. Rung out of hours and Tristan was there within 40mins fixing my Auntie's stairlift. Kept me up to date when he got there and left and all sorted within few minutes. Explained to my auntie and she rung me after he completed the job and said how friendly and professional he was. Definitely use this service again thanks so much very much appreciated.

Owner's reply
Many thanks for your kind words Clare and we were glad we could get your Auntie's stairlift up and running without too much downtime! We can't always guarantee a record speed service, but we'll always do our best💪 Many thanks for your custom once again and we look forward to hearing from you😀 Ability Assist
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Andrew Bloomfield 
 
19/10/2025
 
 
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Recently installed a stairlift for my mother.

They were helpful and really friendly. She’s very pleased.

Owner's reply
Many thanks for your kind words Andrew! We are over the moon to hear that mum is so pleased with the stairlift and service received, and that she's now navigating her stairs safely😀 Thank you from us all at Ability Assist 😀
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Lesley Lovell 
 
12/10/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Tristan first came to my rescue when the company who had fitted my previous stairlift were unable to send out an engineer.
He replaced the battery as a temporary fix but warned me that the motor had seen better days and was likely on it's way out.
So when it came to replacing it he had been so obliging and helpful I decided to contact  him again.
It was an ideal time to replace my faded carpet and have my staircase decorated, but the thought of coordinating all the agencies needed to achieve this was a cause of some anxiety. I didn't know how I would be able to achieve it.
Tristan was absolutely wonderful. He went above and beyond. He telephoned the carpet fitters personally to arrange timings and organised the taking out of the old track. The carpet fitters came. Tristan and his partner came back as soon as they had gone and fitted the new stairlift.
I am so very very grateful to him for his kindness and consideration. You don't get service like this nowadays very often!
Needless to say I can highly recommend Ability Assist .

Owner's reply
Many thanks for your kind words Lesley, it is highly appreciated by us at Ability Assist. It is often a very difficult and unexpected situation when faced with needing to replace an older, obsolete stairlift with a newer model. We thank you for trusting us in helping you navigate these steps, and carrying out the work involved. We are so glad that all went like clockwork, from removing the old lift, getting a new carpet installed, and then the installation of the new model. We will see you in a years time for annual servicing😀 All the best, from us at Ability Assist
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Monica Baker 
 
23/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Prompt 5 star custimer service. Skilled
Knowledgeable  experienced engineers who  exceed expectations

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for your feedback Monica, it's highly appreciated by us all at Ability Assist. We've definitely been around the block and experienced most things in the mobility industry! Thank you for using us to keep your Stairlift and Mobility Scooter in top working order, and we'll be in touch when they're next due servicing🙌 As always, give us a shout if you have any questions in the meantime! Thank you, Ability Assist
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 phillip jones 
 
13/06/2025
 
 
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Just had my mobility scooter serviced by Tristan, what a lovely friendly service. on time. Excellent!!

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for your feedback Phil, highly appreciated by us all at Ability Assist! Your scooter was in great condition and we'll hopefully keep it that way for you for years to come😀 We'll contact you in a years time for the next scooter service! Thank you once again Phil, Ability Assist.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Tim Summers 
 
09/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience with Ability Assist was excellent. From the initial contact through to installation and aftersales follow-up, communication and quality of service were superlative. We never felt pressured, but were entirely supported throughout the whole experience. Highly recommended.

Owner's reply
Many thanks for your feedback Tim, it is highly appreciated by us all. We hope all is going well with the stairlift since installation, and we thank you once again for your custom. If you have any questions at all in the future, or if we can assist in any way, please don't hesitate in getting in touch. Thank you and all the best, Ability Assist
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Lesley Alison 
 
31/05/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I spoke to Tristan who quickly arranged a home visit to service my husband's scooter. Arrived on time and carried out the service. Very efficient and helpful. Explained what he was doing clearly. He also did quick repair to a Walker. Do not hesitate to use Ability Assist for very helpful and prompt attention. I will keep them in my contact list for any future needs. Thank you very much.

Owner's reply
Thank you so much for your kind words Lesley, means a lot to us at Ability Assist🙌 We are also glad to see that your husband's mobility scooter is still in great condition after a few years of use and we'll do our best to keep it in that condition for years to come😀 As you know, if there's anything at all we can assist with, feel free to pick up the phone and we'll do our best to assist in any way. Thank you for your kind words. Ability Assist
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
    
 
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