Staying in the home you live in can be an essential source of comfort as you grow older, with 80% of older people stating that they want to remain in their own homes as they age.
Installing a home lift can make that possible, but funding one might feel like a big step with a substantial cost. That’s why we’re here to guide you through some available options.
Whether you’re looking into government grants, loans, or VAT relief, there are many ways to make your home lift dream a reality — and this guide will share all the information you need to make the process as simple as possible.
A home lift isn’t just about moving between floors — it’s a way to transform how you live in your home. Whether you’re adapting to changing mobility needs, planning for the future, or simply looking for a practical way to make everyday life easier, a home lift can make a world of difference.
Here are some of the most common reasons why people come to us for home lift guidance:
At Stiltz, we’ve designed our lifts to blend seamlessly into your home. Compact and stylish, they fit into almost any space and can be installed where you need them the most.
Our Duo range has one of the smallest footprints on the market at 0.55m2, making it a subtle addition to any interior, and the Trio range is suitable for up to three people or as a wheelchair-friendly mobility solution.
Explore our full range of home lifts and see how our products can help you live independently in the comfort of your home.
There are a wide range of funding options available to help you spread the cost of installing your home lift.
If you live in the UK and have a disability, the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) can help partially or fully cover the cost of installing a home lift. The DFG is submitted to and approved by your local council and is available to those who need financial aid for specific home adaptations to improve their quality of life and independence.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Disabled Facilities Grant:
Funding amount
The amount you could receive from the DFG usually depends on your household income and savings of over £6,000. The maximum grant amount for home adaptations is up to £30,000 in England, up to £36,000 in Wales, and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland.
The Disabled Facilities Grant isn’t available to those in Scotland.
Learn more about how you can apply for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) here.
The Access to Work scheme is an excellent resource for people with physical or mental health conditions or disabilities who need adjustments to allow them to continue working, including those who work from home.
Access to Work is a government programme that aims to help as many people as possible with disabilities stay in work or enter the workplace safely and with the correct support. As part of this, it can provide financial support for domestic lift installations if you need to work from home. Having the freedom and ease to move between floors in your home can create the necessary separation we all need for having a personal and professional workspace.
The grant money can also help to cover the cost of:
Eligibility
You may be eligible for the Access to Work scheme if:
The scheme is open to:
To qualify, you must be 16 or over and live in England, Scotland, or Wales. The grant cannot be used for business start-up costs, and some things, like equipment already covered by an employer’s responsibility, may not be included.
Funding amount
One of the best things about the Access to Work scheme is its flexibility. There is no fixed grant amount, and the grants are tailored to your individual needs, ensuring you get the right support to remain productive and independent at work.
However, there is currently an annual cap on the amount of money that can be given in the Access to Work grant. From 8th April 2024 to 31st March 2025, the amount is capped at £69,260.
You can learn more and apply for Access to Work on the gov.uk site here.
There are several organisations and charities in the UK which offer grants and financial support for home adaptations. These include:
Independence at Home is a UK-based charity that offers grants to individuals with long-term illnesses or disabilities. Since 1965, it has changed the lives of over 48,000 people and awarded over £8.5m in grants.
They aim to boost the independence, comfort, and quality of life of people with long-term illnesses or disabilities.
To be eligible, applicants must show financial information and provide evidence that the requested grant will directly benefit their independence at home. The money is usually awarded for specific assistive items or adaptations, like home lifts, that aren’t covered by other funding sources.
The Edward Gostling Foundation is also dedicated to supporting people living with physical disabilities or long-term illnesses. Since it first registered as a charity in 1998, the foundation has awarded over £75m to people and projects.
Their mission is to fund essential adaptations not covered by other grants, such as home lifts and mobility aids, that enhance comfort, safety, and quality of life.
Find out more about how the Edward Gostling Foundation can help here.
If you’re planning to install a home lift, you may be eligible for VAT relief or a reduced VAT rate, depending on your circumstances. These schemes are designed to make essential adaptations like home lifts more affordable for people with disabilities and those aged 60 or over.
You may qualify for VAT relief at a zero rate if you’re installing a home lift to support a disability or chronic illness. This means you won’t pay VAT on the purchase, installation, or maintenance of the lift, significantly reducing your overall costs.
While this isn’t technically a grant, it can help to make your home adaptation more affordable.
To qualify for VAT relief:
To apply for VAT relief, contact your home lift manufacturer or supplier. They will provide a VAT exemption form for you to complete.
You can find HMRC’s internal manual on VAT relief for disabled people here, or speak with the Stiltz team, who will be happy to assist you.
If you’re aged 60 or over, you may be eligible for a reduced VAT rate of 5% when purchasing and installing a home lift. This reduced rate applies to mobility aids supplied and installed in your private home.
To qualify for this reduced VAT rate:
Your home lift provider will also need to confirm your eligibility and apply the reduced VAT rate for the over-60s. You can contact our team today for more information or read the full conditions around VAT reduction on certain mobility aids here.
Yes, it’s possible to combine a grant — like the Disabled Facilities Grant — with personal loans to cover the full cost of a home lift. However, many loans can come with costly interest rates and fees, so we recommend thoroughly researching the conditions of any personal loan before committing to it. While they can provide the upfront funds, understanding the repayment terms is essential.
Funding may be available from your local council, such as the Disabled Facilities Grant. The best way to learn what you can apply for is by contacting your local authority.
You can apply for support to adapt your home via your local council here.
VAT relief and reductions are possible if you’re purchasing a home lift and you’re disabled or suffering from a long-term illness. The relief also covers the installation, maintenance, and any spare parts or accessories for your home lift.
The full conditions for VAT relief for disabled people can be found here.
At Stiltz, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to live comfortably and independently in their own home. Whether you’re exploring grants or VAT relief, there are many ways to make your home lift more affordable.
Ready to get started? Explore our full range of home lifts to find a model that suits your home and lifestyle. Or, for more pricing information, check out our guide on how much a home lift costs.
Easy to arrange lots of information, No problems with fitting, payment taken in stages, last payment when job was completed. Everyone was friendly from start to finish.
My experience with Stiltz Homelifts. Just over a month ago, I had my Stiltz lift installed and I am so pleased with it. The workmen that came and fitted it were very professional and knew what they were doing. They were so professional I would not hesitate to recommend Stiltz lifts to anybody.
Great looking product, knowledgeable sales people, fitters work clean quickly and polite. Definitely recommend.
Great stylist lift, had for six months without a hitch. Installed by company staff not subcontractors. Cannot fault the lift, buying experience, installation, service. Good company ethos and made in UK.
From the very beginning with the initial construction to the finished product. I have never seen such polite men with an equal work ethic. They cleaned as they went each day. The pets were never in harm. The finished product is awesome. Couldn’t be more pleased
Excellent from beginning to end – and beyond.
Everybody we dealt with at Stiltz was very helpful and efficient, from the initial meeting with Nick Sale, the sales rep, thorough technical inspection, the builders, installers, plumber, electrician, and excellent follow up service and attention. My husband’s life is transformed and mine is much easier. Thank you Stiltz.
Elegant lift, promptly installed by careful and tidy fitters who removed their rubbish the following day. A fair price and an envied addition to our home.
I have been astounded and gratified by the levels of service we have received from every member of the Stiltz teams we have dealt with. A superb lift with exceptional service!
An excellent company from the first contact to the completed project. All personnel were friendly and very polite but stayed extremely professional throughout. Having been in the construction industry for over 40 years I was aware the preparation work was carried out to a high standard by the best of trades people. The lift itself can not be faulted both the operation and aesthetics.
The service was better than 1st class. It was excellent in every way. We could not be more pleased with everything Stiltz applied it’s self to in any way. We would award 6 stars at the very least.
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