Before you call - check it is parked properly

What is stair lift repair?

When a stair lift stops, work through the cheap possibilities first. Confirm the chair is fully parked on its charge contacts, that the outlet powering it is live and any isolator is on, that the seat and footrest are folded to their correct positions, and that nothing is obstructing the safety edges along the rail. Those four account for a large share of call-outs. Beyond that, the common genuine faults are ageing batteries, dirty charge contacts, worn safety sensors and control faults.

Signs you need stair lift repair

• The lift will not start at all, and there is no beep and no light
• It beeps continuously or shows a fault code on the display
• It runs in one direction but not the other
• It stops part way up the flight and will only go if restarted
• It runs from the chair controls but not from the remote calls at the landings
• The seat or footrest will not fold, or the swivel will not release at the top
• A grinding or slipping sound from the drive, or a noticeable loss of speed on the climb

Seeing something not on this list? Browse stair lifts problems by symptom →

How stair lift repair actually works

1. 1

   The five-minute check before you call anyone

   Chair returned fully to its parking position on the charge contacts. Outlet live and isolator on. Seat and footrest in their correct positions. Rail clear of shoes, laundry and clutter. Any key switch turned on.

   Watch forA chair left mid-flight overnight. It is not charging there, and by morning the batteries are down - which presents exactly like a broken lift.

2. 2

   Reading the fault indication

   Most lifts display a code or a beep pattern. Note it before you ring, and note what the lift was doing when it stopped. It is the most useful thing you can give an engineer over the phone.

   Watch forRepeatedly power-cycling the lift to clear a code. It may restart, but a recurring fault is telling you something and clearing it is not fixing it.

3. 3

   Identifying the machine

   Make, model and roughly when it was installed. This determines who can attend and whether parts exist, and it is the first question any engineer will ask.

   Watch forNot knowing the make. The plate is usually on the carriage or under the seat, and finding it before you call saves a wasted visit.

4. 4

   The engineer visit and diagnosis

   Batteries and charge contacts, drive and gearing, safety edge sensors, limit switches, the control board and the wiring in the carriage. Most faults are in the first two.

   Watch forA diagnosis of "the board has gone" without anything else having been checked. It is the most expensive part on the lift and it is not the most likely failure.

5. 5

   Parts, and the orphaned-brand problem

   For current models from established manufacturers, parts are generally available. For discontinued lines, or brands that no longer trade in your country, they may not be - and that changes the conversation from repair to replacement.

   Watch forBeing told a part is unavailable by one company without checking a second. Independent engineers sometimes source parts that a franchised dealer will not.

6. 6

   Deciding between repairing and replacing

   On an old lift, the honest comparison is the repair bill plus the likely next repair against the cost of a reconditioned or new unit. A lift that has needed three visits in a year is telling you something.

What does stair lift repair cost?

Repairs are typically a call-out charge plus parts and labour, with a service contract reducing or covering the call-out. Batteries are the most common paid item. Where a control board has failed on an older lift, the repair can approach the cost of a reconditioned unit. See the Cost Guide.

See the full stair lift repair cost guide - by material, size and region →

If the number is the problem, here are the ways people pay for it →