How difficult to change stairs?

[hidinginthegarden]

My in law's property has really steep narrow stairs running straight up from the front door. As they get older they are struggling to manage them.
The house does have an integral garage. How difficult is it to move the stairs so that the start more gently, then bend and make use of the existing stairs (potentially creating a bigger entrance hallway)? Alternatively how much space do you realistically need for a downstairs bathroom and double bedroom?

TBH if stairs are becoming an issue modifying what they have may be a short term solution, and changing straight stairs to a non-standard shape might make it difficult to fit a stairlift further down the road. My parents’ house has relatively shallow sloping stairs but they still can’t manage them, and because there’s a landing midway a stairlift wasn’t workable.
Converting the garage into a downstairs bedroom and wet room is probably a better solution that will add more value. It’s probably also going to be much less disruptive. There’s info here: www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/garage-conversion-cost/
An alternative might be installing a lift - they make pretty compact ones nowadays www.mobilitycompare.co.uk/homelifts/

Ah thank you. That's helpful. It seems a shame not to be able to use the whole house but I imagine they'd be too steep for a chairlift but I guess we need to do some more investigation!

We have moved stairs. We only used the opening in the landing and turned them round. It was fine. The builder will do it so even if they turn you will be able to fit a stair lift. Having a larger entrance hall would very likely make entering, leaving and sorting themselves out , coats etc easier which seems a real procedure now for my parents.

I wouldn’t write off the stairlift idea, they can go up pretty steep. Definitely worth getting someone out to have a look. Says here they can fit slopes up to 80 degrees! www.stairliftexperts.co.uk/stairlifts-for-a-narrow-staircase/

A downstairs bathroom is definitely something to think about though, especially if they aren’t using the garage. Having a walk in shower could make life a lot easier if mobility is becoming an issue.