Many people think stairlifts are for houses. Yet in Luxembourg, plenty of apartments come with stairs too: a duplex under the roof, a residence from the 1970s or 1980s without a lift, or just a few steps between the front door and the lift.
The good news: in most cases there is a solution. The difference from a house is mainly organisational, because the shared staircase belongs to all the co-owners. Here is how to go about it, step by step.
Three common situations in an apartment
A duplex or triplex
The staircase is inside your home. For the stairlift, it works exactly as in a house: the rail is made to measure for your stairs, straight or curved. If you own the flat, the decision is yours. If you rent, ask your landlord for written consent.
A shared staircase in a residence without a lift
Since Luxembourg's accessibility law, a lift is mandatory in new apartment buildings with at least 8 dwellings. But many older residences don't have one, and adding one later is rarely simple. A stairlift on the shared staircase is then often the most realistic option. Because the staircase is a common area, you need the co-ownership's approval (see below).
A few steps at the entrance or up to the lift
Sometimes there is a lift, but you first have to climb three or four steps in the hall, or a half-level. Depending on space and height, a vertical platform lift, a platform stairlift (also for wheelchair users) or a ramp may work.
Shared staircase: what co-ownership rules say
In Luxembourg, co-ownership is governed by the amended law of 16 May 1975. The stairwell is one of the common parts. Installing a stairlift at your own expense on a shared staircase means carrying out works that affect those common parts.
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As a rule, Article 16 of that law provides that the general meeting authorises such works by a majority of the votes of all co-owners (not just those present). Your co-ownership regulations may add details: your syndic can confirm the exact rule for your building.
In practice:
1.Talk to your syndic early, and to your neighbours if you can. A well-explained request goes through far more easily.
2.Ask for the item to be put on the agenda of the next general meeting, or of an extraordinary meeting if the need is urgent.
3.Attach a clear file: photos, rail route, remaining clearance with the seat folded, fixing method, planned maintenance. MPG prepares these for you after the visit.
4.Keep the decision in writing. It will also help with a Care Insurance application.
This is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Your syndic or a legal professional can confirm the rule that applies to your building.
The neighbours' questions, and our answers
"Will it block the stairs?" The seat, armrests and footrest fold up. The rail is made to measure and fitted as close to the stairs as possible. The seat can park at the bottom or the top, wherever it is least in the way. Because the stairwell is also an escape route, it is normal for the syndic to want to check the remaining width: we measure it during the visit.
"Will you drill into the walls?" No. The rail is fixed to the steps, not the wall. In most cases it is glued without drilling, so the fixing is reversible. On some wooden or concrete stairs a screwed fixing may be needed, leaving a few small, discreet holes under the stair nosing.
"Who looks after maintenance?" MPG services the installation. With annual maintenance by MPG, the rail of an Otolift stairlift has a lifetime warranty (statutory warranty: two years).
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"What if the flat is sold?" The stairlift can be removed. With a glued fixing, the steps look as they did before.
Which model for an apartment-building staircase?
Otolift Modul-Air Smart: a compact, made-to-measure single rail for straight, curved and narrow stairs. It is the model we install most often. See the Modul-Air Smart
Otolift Two: a slim twin rail that follows the bends. If the landing or corridor at the foot of the stairs is narrow, it can have a folding rail. See the Otolift Two
Ascendor and Lehner platform lifts: for wheelchair users. Platform lift or stairlift?
The right choice depends on the stair width, the bends, the landings and your needs. That is why we never recommend a model without seeing the stairs.
An example in Luxembourg City
In March 2026, MPG installed an Otolift Modul'Air Smart on a shared interior staircase in Luxembourg City. The challenge was to leave enough room, especially in the bends, for the other residents to keep using the stairs normally. The rail was made to measure and fitted closely to the steps and corners. The full installation took five and a half hours. See our installations
What about funding?
Depending on your situation, the Care Insurance (Assurance dépendance) may contribute to the cost of a stairlift. The decision lies with the AEC (Administration d'évaluation et de contrôle), after its assessment.
Two important points for apartments:
Don't let work start before the AEC visit: there is no retroactive coverage.
For home adaptation works, guichet.lu states that tenants and co-owners need the explicit agreement of the owner or the co-ownership syndicate. So start the conversation with your syndic in parallel.
For the steps, see our Care Insurance page and our R20 form guide.
Would you like to know the price for your staircase?
Where to start
1.Free home visit. An MPG technician comes to you, measures the staircase (private or shared) and explains what is possible.
2.Written quote and a file for the co-ownership. You receive a free quote and the documents to present to the syndic.
3.Care Insurance application, if relevant, with the R20 form completed by your doctor.
4.Installation and handover, then maintenance by MPG.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stairlift be installed on the shared staircase of a residence?
Yes, in many cases. Because the staircase is a common area, the co-owners' general meeting must authorise it. MPG checks on site that installation is technically possible and that enough clearance remains.
Can the other co-owners say no?
The general meeting votes. For works on common parts paid for by one co-owner, the 1975 law generally requires a majority of the votes of all co-owners. A clear file and an early conversation with the syndic and neighbours help a lot.
Does the stairlift get in the other residents' way?
It is designed to take up little space: folding seat, armrests and footrest, a made-to-measure rail, and a parking position chosen to keep the passage clear. The rest of the staircase can still be used on foot.
Can the Care Insurance contribute in an apartment?
Depending on your situation, yes, whether you live in a house or a flat. The decision is the AEC's. Get your syndic's or landlord's agreement in parallel, and wait for the assessment before any work starts.
Let's talk about your stairs
We come to you anywhere in Luxembourg for a free, no-obligation home visit and quote. We call you back within 24 hours and speak Luxembourgish, French, German or English.
+352 33 33 73 or request a quote online.
Would you like to know the price for your staircase?
This article summarises the situation as of 19 October 2026 for information only. It does not constitute legal advice. Check your building's rules with your syndic and your entitlements on guichet.lu.
