Yes — in most cases. Retrofitting a lift into an existing home is more common than many people realise, and it's exactly what we specialise in. The feasibility depends on your home's layout, structural type, and available space. We carry out a site inspection and structural assessment before any work is committed to, so you get an honest answer upfront.

A lift supplier manufactures and installs the lift itself — the cab, the mechanical system, and the door system. A building contractor like Sydney Lift Builders handles everything around the lift: the structural modifications to your home, the electrical connections, the shaft or well construction, the lift pit, approvals, and all associated building works. Both are required for a successful installation. We focus on the building side and work alongside whichever lift supplier you choose.

There are small lifts and other exceptions, but retrofitting a lift into an existing home often requires a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), depending on the scope of works and your local council's requirements. We've created a simple-to-read pathway outlining the different council approval options, and we work closely with our town planners and certifiers to categorise your specific property and work out approval costs and timelines for your specific lift. We manage the approvals process on your behalf, including preparing the necessary documentation and liaising with your council or private certifier.

Timelines vary with the complexity of the project.

Approvals — if approvals are required, that process alone can take several weeks to several months, depending on the pathway.

Building works — once approvals are in place, construction typically takes four to eight weeks. For a simple through-floor lift with minimal construction work, it can be just a few days.

Lift installation — the lift company's own installation usually takes up to two weeks. We come back after that to finish the detailing and touch-up painting around the doors if required — when we're done, there's no work left.

Lift lead times — most lifts use specialised components imported from overseas, which creates lead times of up to six months from final sign-off of drawings, and shipping can add further delays. Quite often we have the shaft and building works finished and ready well before the lift arrives.

We'll give you a realistic timeline during the consultation phase — and we won't underquote it just to win the job.

The total cost varies significantly with the type of lift, the structural complexity of your home, and the extent of building works required. Based on the projects we've completed so far, a rough guide:

1. Development & approvals: $5,000 to $30,000
2. Lift supply: $30,000–$50,000 for a small through-floor lift; $60,000–$80,000 for a regular two-stop internal lift; $100,000+ for a custom or multi-storey lift
3. Construction works: $50,000 to $150,000 or more — this depends entirely on the existing house.

We provide a detailed, itemised quote for the building works component after completing a site inspection. We can also rebuild a bathroom, kitchen or bedroom if the lift needs to pass through that space — or if you'd like to update that area of your home at the same time.

A GST exemption may be available for people with reduced mobility, when the lift is purchased directly from the lift company.

No — and that's intentional. We focus exclusively on the building works. We're completely independent of lift suppliers and brands, which means we can work with whichever supplier you prefer, or help you compare options without any bias. Our fee is not tied to which lift you choose.

The main residential lift types are hydraulic, electric traction, counterweighted, screw-driven and vacuum (pneumatic) lifts. Each has different structural and pit requirements, and we'll discuss the implications of each option as part of the feasibility process.

If you're considering downsizing to a single-storey home to avoid the stairs, stamp duty alone on a Sydney property purchase can easily exceed the cost of installing a lift in your current home — often by a significant margin, not to mention agents' fees, removalists, and capital gains taxes. Many homeowners on the Northern Beaches find that retrofitting a lift is a more cost-effective way to stay in the home they love long-term.

The Northern Beaches is our home base and where most of our work is concentrated, and we work right across the north side of the Harbour Bridge — the North Shore, Mosman and North Sydney. We take on projects further afield case by case, and through our network of quality Master Builders across Sydney we can usually point you in the right direction even if we can't take a project on ourselves. If you're unsure whether we cover your area, give us a call.

The easiest first step is a phone call or email. We'll have a brief conversation about your home and what you're hoping to achieve, and if it sounds feasible, we'll arrange a free home visit — we usually get out within a week. There's no obligation at that stage — just honest advice.