Home lifts · 10 September 2026
Home lifts and platform lifts: what the Housing Adaptation Grant covers, and which counties move fastest
Quick answer
A through-floor home lift (wheelchair goes in, rises through the ceiling to the bedroom) costs €20,000 to €30,000 fitted. A short-rise platform lift for steps or a raised entrance costs €8,000 to €15,000. Both are covered by the Housing Adaptation Grant, up to €40,000, at 100% if household income is under €37,500. An OT report is mandatory, three quotes are needed and the council must approve before work starts. Processing runs 5 to 9 weeks in most counties, longer in Dublin, plus the OT wait.
When a stairlift is the wrong answer
A stairlift needs the person to get on and off it. If your father in Meath is in a wheelchair, or cannot transfer safely, or the stairs are too narrow for a rail, the stairlift conversation is over. The next options are:
- A through-floor home lift. A small lift car that sits in a downstairs room and rises through a hole cut in the ceiling into the room above. The wheelchair stays with the person. €20,000 to €30,000 fitted for two storeys.
- A short-rise platform lift. A platform that lifts a wheelchair over a few steps: a raised front door, a step down to a garden room, a split level. €8,000 to €15,000 new.
- A downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Sometimes cheaper than a lift and the grant covers it too. Worth pricing both.
Our home lifts guide goes through the types, what installation involves and how to choose.
What the grant covers
The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability covers lifts in full as a disability adaptation. Specifically:
- The lift itself, new, from an approved supplier.
- The building work to fit it: the floor opening, the structural support, the electrics.
- Making good afterwards.
- Up to €300 of the private OT report.
It does not cover redecorating the rest of the room, a second-hand lift, or anything started before the council said yes. New builds get half the maximum.
| Gross household income (owner and spouse) | Share of approved cost paid | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €37,500 | 100% | €40,000 |
| €37,501 to €43,750 | 85% | €34,000 |
| €43,751 to €50,000 | 75% | €30,000 |
| €50,001 to €62,500 | 50% | €20,000 |
| €62,501 to €75,000 | 30% | €12,000 |
| Over €75,000 | Not eligible | n/a |
So a lift at €26,000 for a household under €37,500 is fully paid. At €48,000 income, 75% is paid and the family covers €6,500. Above €75,000 there is no grant.
What the council needs to see
Lifts are the biggest ticket item under the scheme, so councils look harder. In practice:
- An OT report that says "lift", not "consider a lift". It must explain why a stairlift will not do. This is where applications get scaled back. Brief the OT before the visit. What the report has to contain.
- Three quotes for the lift and three for the builder if they are separate contractors. Or three from firms that do both.
- A drawing or sketch showing where the lift goes. Most suppliers do this as part of the quote.
- Tax clearance for the applicant, because the grant will be over €10,000.
- Income, ownership and LPT as for any application.
The council technician will visit before approval. Have the OT report and the quotes to hand on the day.
Where it is quickest
The rules are the same from Donegal to Wexford. The queue is not. From our county guides, typical council processing times for a complete application:
- 5 to 9 weeks: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford.
- 6 to 10 weeks: Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Wicklow.
- 8 to 12 weeks: Dublin (all four councils).
The bigger delay is the OT. HSE community OT waiting times for home adaptation, roughly: North West and Midlands 2 to 3 months, Cork and Kerry 2 to 4, South East 2 to 4, Mid West 3 to 5, North East 3 to 4, Dublin 3 to 6, Galway and Mayo 4 to 6. For a lift, most families go private for the OT and get the report inside a fortnight.
Money and timing, honestly
Add it up. Private OT two weeks. Quotes two to four weeks. Council 5 to 12 weeks depending on county. Lift lead time from order, 6 to 10 weeks. Installation a week. From first phone call to riding the lift, four to six months is realistic. Faster if the OT report already exists.
The grant is paid on completion, mostly straight to the supplier. Some councils will pay a stage payment for big jobs. Ask.
And it is discretionary. Every council has a fixed budget for the year. Applications lodged in October can be told "approved in principle, funded in January". That is normal. It is still worth lodging now.
Common questions
Does the Housing Adaptation Grant cover a home lift?
Yes. Through-floor home lifts and platform lifts are covered as disability adaptations, including the building work to fit them, up to €40,000 and at 100% of the approved cost if household income is under €37,500.
How much does a through-floor home lift cost in Ireland?
€20,000 to €30,000 fitted for a two-storey house. A short-rise platform lift for steps or a raised entrance costs €8,000 to €15,000.
Do I need an OT report for a home lift grant?
Yes, in every county. The report must recommend the lift specifically and explain why a stairlift is not suitable.
Which county is fastest for the Housing Adaptation Grant?
Typical processing is 5 to 9 weeks in most smaller counties, 6 to 10 weeks in Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Donegal and Wicklow, and 8 to 12 weeks in Dublin. The OT report wait is on top.
Price the lift and the grant together
The free home lift calculator shows the likely cost, your grant tier and what is left to pay. No email needed.
Open the home lift calculator →