Home lifts · 10 September 2026 · updated 21 October 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% of the approved cost if household income is €37,500 or less, but not the VAT. An OT report is needed for a lift, your council may ask for quotes, 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, fitted by the contractor you choose.
- The building work to fit it: the floor opening, the structural support, the electrics.
- Making good afterwards.
- Up to €300 of a private OT report, if the grant is paid. It comes out of the €40,000, not on top.
It does not cover the VAT, redecorating the rest of the room, or anything started before the council said yes. A house less than 12 months old gets half the maximum, €20,000.
| 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 with an approved cost of €26,000 for a household under €37,500 is fully paid, apart from the VAT. At €48,000 income, 75% is paid and the family covers €6,500 plus the VAT. 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.
- Quotes for the lift and the building work if your council asks for them. Getting more than one also helps you check the price.
- 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, by our own rough estimate: 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 into your own bank account when the work is finished. Stage payments are not part of the national rules, so ask your council before you count on one.
And it depends on the council's budget. Every council gets a fixed amount for the year. Some councils have paused or limited new applications for now: Kildare, Louth, Offaly (reopening 1 February 2027), Cavan, Sligo and Monaghan. Check your council’s notice before you apply.
Sources, checked 21 October 2026: S.I. No. 612 of 2024; Housing Adaptation Grant guidelines, December 2024; the national application form; Citizens Information, Housing Adaptation Grant; council notices from Kildare, Louth (report of 7 October 2026), Offaly, Cavan, Sligo, Monaghan.
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. The grant does not cover VAT.
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. The national form says an OT will need to assess you for a stairlift or through-floor lift. The council can arrange it, or you can use a private OT. We would make sure the report recommends the lift by name and says why a stairlift will not do.
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 →