Self storage allows you to take a deep breath and free up your home without having to let your things go.
Self storage can be used to free up your wardrobe of seasonal clothes, give your bulky hobby a home or give you some space if you’ve temporarily moved to a smaller flat or house. The great thing about self storage is that you can use it however you like and on your own terms.
By hiring a storage unit you will gain an additional area to store away things you don’t need immediate access to but you would still like to keep.
First off you get your own padlock to make sure you can safely lock away your items in the unit itself, but most have their own security with a sign in and out system.
Most storage facilities offer a special insurance for your belongings. Therefore you will be protected in the unlikely event they were to get damaged while within the unit.
When hiring a storage unit you gain unlimited access to your belongings in most cases. This means you can come and go as you please and add and remove items when it suits you best.
A storage unit will protect your belongings against severe weather, damp and mildew. In a garage, you cannot guarantee the same level of protection.
Additionally the uk is the European country with the highest amount of new storage units launched in 2016. There are multiple reasons for this, one of them being that on average UK homes are smaller than in many other European countries. The average UK house is just under 72 sq metres (775 square feet), compared to 79 sq metres (850 sq ft) in France, 91 sq metres (980 sq ft) in Spain, 92.6 square metres (997 sq ft) in Germany and a whopping 108 sq metres (1162 sq ft) in Italy. The limited space and high cost of housing in the UK often leads to people living in shared accommodation or with their parents. These factors could also affect the demand for self storage.
According to a survey by the UK Self Storage Association, the most common reason for the need of self storage services was lack of space for belongings at home. This applies to 40% of respondents, with a further 11% saying space had to be created. Just 21% of people said they were moving or between homes while 6% were using the storage in order to de-clutter their home in preparation to sell it. These statistics point to the use of self storage facilities being more than a short, stop-gap solution to a temporary lack of space for a lot of people.
During the last year London saw the most property sales in flats which sold for an average of £540,747. Terraced properties were sold for £668,558 on average, while semi-detatched properties went for around £665,885. The overall average price of properties in London being £619,181 is a lot more expensive than nearby South East (£393,904), East of England (£331,086) and East Midlands (£203,868). Central London was the priciest area within London averaging £1,665,213 whilst East London came to the smallest average amount of £459,284. Throughout last year the prices were up by 5% compared to the previous year and 14% up on 2015 whilst the average house price was around £544,000.
