Stairlift apparatus comprising: a chassis which is configured to be mechanically coupled to a rail mounted on a stairway for movement of the chassis along the rail; a seat mounted on the chassis, the seat being configured to support a person when the stairlift apparatus is in use, the seat facing the direction of travel during use of the stairlift apparatus, the seat comprising a first portion on which the person sits or perches and a second portion which provides support for the back of the person; a hand support mounted on the chassis, the hand support having a hand grippable portion, the stairlift apparatus being configured such that during use a person is one of carried up or down stairs when supported by the seat and aided by gripping the hand support when walking up or down stairs; a drive arrangement comprising a drive motor mounted on the chassis and a force transmitting arrangement operable to transmit force from the drive motor; and a seat support arm mechanically coupled to the seat and to the chassis to thereby support the seat on the chassis, characterised in that: the force transmitting arrangement comprises a second rotating element, a seat rotating element and a seat drive belt, the second rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a first location, the seat rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a second location, the first and second locations being spaced apart along the seat support arm, the seat drive belt being disposed to transmit rotation of the second rotating element to the seat rotating element; the seat support arm is mechanically coupled at the first location to the chassis for rotation in relation to the chassis by way of the second rotating element and is mechanically coupled at the second location to the seat for rotation of the seat support arm and the seat in relation to each other by way of the seat rotating element; and adjacent edges of the first and second portions are mechanically coupled for rotation of the first and second portions in relation to each other, the seat rotating element being mechanically coupled to the seat to provide for rotation of the first portion in relation to the second portion by operation of the force transmitting arrangement. a chassis which is configured to be mechanically coupled to a rail mounted on a stairway for movement of the chassis along the rail; a seat mounted on the chassis, the seat being configured to support a person when the stairlift apparatus is in use, the seat facing the direction of travel during use of the stairlift apparatus, the seat comprising a first portion on which the person sits or perches and a second portion which provides support for the back of the person; a hand support mounted on the chassis, the hand support having a hand grippable portion, the stairlift apparatus being configured such that during use a person is one of carried up or down stairs when supported by the seat and aided by gripping the hand support when walking up or down stairs; a drive arrangement comprising a drive motor mounted on the chassis and a force transmitting arrangement operable to transmit force from the drive motor; and a seat support arm mechanically coupled to the seat and to the chassis to thereby support the seat on the chassis, characterised in that: the force transmitting arrangement comprises a second rotating element, a seat rotating element and a seat drive belt, the second rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a first location, the seat rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a second location, the first and second locations being spaced apart along the seat support arm, the seat drive belt being disposed to transmit rotation of the second rotating element to the seat rotating element; the seat support arm is mechanically coupled at the first location to the chassis for rotation in relation to the chassis by way of the second rotating element and is mechanically coupled at the second location to the seat for rotation of the seat support arm and the seat in relation to each other by way of the seat rotating element; and adjacent edges of the first and second portions are mechanically coupled for rotation of the first and second portions in relation to each other, the seat rotating element being mechanically coupled to the seat to provide for rotation of the first portion in relation to the second portion by operation of the force transmitting arrangement. the force transmitting arrangement comprises a second rotating element, a seat rotating element and a seat drive belt, the second rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a first location, the seat rotating element being mounted on the seat support arm at a second location, the first and second locations being spaced apart along the seat support arm, the seat drive belt being disposed to transmit rotation of the second rotating element to the seat rotating element; the seat support arm is mechanically coupled at the first location to the chassis for rotation in relation to the chassis by way of the second rotating element and is mechanically coupled at the second location to the seat for rotation of the seat support arm and the seat in relation to each other by way of the seat rotating element; and adjacent edges of the first and second portions are mechanically coupled for rotation of the first and second portions in relation to each other, the seat rotating element being mechanically coupled to the seat to provide for rotation of the first portion in relation to the second portion by operation of the force transmitting arrangement.