When Does Stairlift Hire Make Sense?

There are several common situations where hiring a stairlift is the smarter choice.

Recovery from surgery. Hip replacements, knee replacements, ankle surgery, and spinal procedures can all leave you unable to safely use stairs for weeks or months. A hired stairlift gives you safe access to your whole home during recovery without the commitment of a permanent purchase. Once you've recovered and can manage the stairs again, the stairlift is simply removed.

Rehabilitation after an injury. A fall, a broken leg, or a back injury can temporarily make stairs dangerous. Rather than moving to a single-level home or sleeping downstairs on the couch, a short-term stairlift hire lets you continue living normally while you heal.

Caring for an elderly parent or relative. If a parent or in-law is staying with you temporarily — perhaps after a hospital discharge or while their own home is being modified — a hired stairlift means they can safely access the upper level of your home without you worrying about falls on the stairs.

Waiting for NDIS or other funding approval. Funding applications through the NDIS, EnableNSW, My Aged Care, or DVA can take weeks or even months to be approved. If you need a stairlift now but approval is still pending, hiring one in the interim means you're not stuck waiting without a solution.

Selling your home. If you're planning to move in the near future and don't want to invest in a permanent installation for a home you won't be living in long term, a hired stairlift covers you until settlement day.



Assessing whether a stairlift is right for you. Some people are unsure whether they'll use a stairlift regularly or whether they'll find it comfortable. Hiring one for a few months is a low-risk way to try it out before committing to a purchase. If you love it, you can then discuss purchasing options. If it turns out you don't need it, no harm done.

How Does Stairlift Hire Work?

The process is straightforward and similar to a permanent installation.

Assessment. We visit your home and assess your staircase. For hire stairlifts, we need a straight staircase — curved staircases require a custom-manufactured rail, which makes hire impractical in most cases. We'll measure your stairs, check the power supply, and confirm that a hire stairlift will work in your home.

Installation. Once we've confirmed suitability, we schedule the installation. A straight stairlift hire can typically be installed within a few days of your assessment, and the installation itself takes just a few hours. The rail is fixed to the stair treads, not the wall, so there's minimal impact to your home.

Use. You use the stairlift for as long as you need it. We provide a full demonstration on the day of installation so you're comfortable and confident using it from day one.



Removal. When you no longer need the stairlift, we come back and remove everything. The rail fixings leave only small holes in the stair treads which can be easily filled. Your staircase goes back to how it was.

How Much Does Stairlift Hire Cost?

Stairlift hire is structured as an upfront installation and removal fee plus an ongoing weekly rental charge. The total cost depends on how long you need the stairlift.

For short-term needs of a few weeks to a few months, hiring is almost always cheaper than buying. For longer-term needs beyond six to twelve months, purchasing may become more cost-effective. We can run the numbers for your specific situation and help you decide which option makes more financial sense.

Contact us for a current hire quote — pricing varies depending on staircase length and your location in NSW or QLD.

What About Curved Staircases?

Stairlift hire is generally only available for straight staircases. Because curved stairlifts require a custom rail manufactured to the exact shape of your staircase, they can't be easily reused in another home, which makes a hire model impractical in most situations.



If you have a curved staircase and need a temporary solution, there may be alternative options worth exploring such as a temporary stair platform or making modifications to your living arrangements on a single level. We're happy to discuss your situation and help you find the best approach.

Areas We Service for Stairlift Hire

Bespoke Mobility provides stairlift hire across all of Sydney and greater NSW including Western Sydney, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Sutherland Shire, Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter, Wollongong and the Illawarra, Blue Mountains, and the South Coast. We also offer hire services across QLD.

How to Arrange a Stairlift Hire

If you think hiring might be the right option, the first step is a free home assessment. We'll confirm your staircase is suitable, explain the hire terms, and give you a clear quote so you can make an informed decision.

Call us on 1300 495 572, email info@bespokemobility.com.au, or fill in our contact form.



Bespoke Mobility is an NDIS registered provider, DVA approved, and the exclusive Australian distributor of Bespoke Stairlifts — winner of UK Stairlift Manufacturer of the Year 2023.