What Is Self Storage? (And Other FAQ’s)

Despite new self-storage centres springing up across the country (over 1000 and counting), self storage still remains a mystery to some. But the truth is, the inner workings of a storage unit really aren’t all that mysterious – in fact, they are fairly routine. And right now, we’re getting ready for one of our busiest periods – the post-Christmas scramble for more space. So before you start throwing things away to make room for the new presents Santa brought you, we wanted to share a few FAQ’s (and the answers) with you today.

How Does Self Storage Work?

Self storage is a relatively new service throughout the UK, which allows you to use off-site storage facilities as your own. Self storage centres have a selection of room sizes that you can hire to use. They range from the size of a school locker all the way up to a double garage. Once you’ve rented one, you bring your goods or possessions to the storage centre and lock them in the unit. You can come and go as often as you like during opening hours, and remove or add at your leisure.

What Can I Store?

The most common things we see include furniture, winter or summer clothes, Christmas decorations, business storage and sundry storage. There aren’t many limits on what you can store with us, except the size of the unit.

Are There Things I Can’t Store?

Unfortunately, yes. Each storage facility is a little different, but there is a general list of things you aren’t allowed to store. These include:

 

  • Aerosol cans
  • Cash or securities
  • Flammable liquids
  • Explosives
  • Firearms or ammunition
  • Gas canisters
  • Hazardous or toxic products
  • Animals or plants
  • Pollutants, contaminated goods or waste
  • Perishable goods
  • Radioactive materials

Who Has Access To My Unit?

Just you. Each and every unit is secured with a padlock and its unique set of keys. While we can sell you padlocks, you can also use your own if you prefer. Either way, only you decide who has access to your unit and who doesn’t. Even though the unit is stored on our property, we aren’t actually able to access it at all. So it’s really all in your hands and completely secure.

How Long Can I Rent A Unit For?

Our unit can be rented for as little as a week, and as long as you need to keep it. Most of our contracts are done by the calendar month, so you have complete control over how long you keep your rental going. We’ve had some customers stay with us for years, while others only stay for a week or two while they’re in between house moves. It’s up to you!

Can I Use Storage For Business?

Absolutely! Around a third of the customers in our centres are using their unit for business purposes, and we are always happy to welcome more business customers. Storage for business can be utilised in a few different ways too. Some businesses simply use the space to store paperwork archives, others use them as small warehouses and tradespeople often use them as a place to store their equipment, tools and materials.

And that’s it! If you have any questions about self-storage that we didn’t manage to get to here, we’d be happy to chat and see if we can help. Or if you’re ready to start your journey into self storage, give us a call and get a quote today.

Centres in Watford , Maida Vale (Permanently Closed) , Hemel Hempstead , Farnborough Call us FREE on 0800 9171221