Self Storage is a relatively recent service industry in the UK. Self Storage centres have a selection of room sizes that you can hire from a locker up to the size of a tennis court or larger, short or long term. You bring your goods or possessions to the storage centre, lock them in the room and come and go as you please during opening hours. You are the only key holder. You can store almost anything unless it is perishable, live or flammable.

The best way to find out how Self Storage works at Safestore is to drop into any of our storage centres. To find the most convenient storage centre you can use the location finder on this website. All our storage centres have a fully trained team who would be delighted to show you around and answer any queries and questions you might have. If it's not convenient to drop in please don't hesitate to contact us by telephone or email.

Safestore is the UK's No.1 choice for self storage, with 139 storage centres across England, Scotland and Wales, including dedicated Business Centres, for all your local home and business storage needs. We also operate storage facilities across France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Safestore has been helping people and businesses store what matters most since 1998, and our trained, professional and helpful team will ensure you receive the best service and value in the industry.

You can store your goods or possessions from as little as a week for as long as you need. Storage rooms can be booked in advance to make sure the size you require is available on the day you need it. You can also easily switch to a smaller or larger room whilst in storage if you need to. Self storage at Safestore is flexible, secure and hassle free, in fact it couldn’t be any easier, our one-stop-shop approach means our storage experts will deal with any problem you might have. All our people are trained to help and advise you to make sure you get the best service and value for money.

1. Staffed receptions during opening hours
2. Sophisticated alarm systems  
3. 24 hour recorded CCTV 
4. Intruder alarms

Access to our storage centres is strictly controlled. Also, you are the only one with access to your room, which is locked with a padlock owned by you.

You are welcome to stay as long as you require. Starting from just one day with a variable contract, to a fixed storage contract where you can occupy a unit for 12+ months at a discounted rate.

When you're ready to leave, ensure that you provide at least 14 days notice via email to the store before you plan to vacate.

Your goods must be insured whilst in storage. Alternatively, Safestore can offer StoreProtect which is an agreement by us to accept an enhanced liability for loss or damage to your goods for an additional charge.

We always take good care of our stores and make every effort to protect items being stored with us. Unfortunately there are some events which may damage your goods which are out of our control, such as a fire or flood. It is therefore standard practice for self storage companies to require their customers to adequately insure their goods for the duration of their stay.

The price you pay is determined by the size of the room you need. That's why our commitment to you is that we will get you into the smallest space possible. As the rental charge is calculated according to the floor area of the storage room, the smaller the floor area the less you end up paying.

Estimating the space you need isn’t as simple and straightforward as it looks. It depends on:

- What you need to store
- How stackable it is
- How high the ceiling of the storage room is
- Where the storage room is located in the storage centre, generally ground floor is more expensive
- What sort of access you will need since you may want to leave a walkway through the storage room to get to your possessions.

We can advise you on how to stack your goods and possessions to make maximum use of the space.

In the meantime, if you would like to get a rough idea of how much space you might need, you can use the size estimator on our website.

There are no hidden extra fees - the price you are quoted includes your rental period and VAT. You will need a padlock to secure your room and your goods will need to be insured with enhanced liability whilst they are in storage.

The cost for StoreProtect insurance cannot be included in your intial quote, as this will depend on the value of your goods to be stored.

No, we do not require a deposit for you to rent a storage unit.

As is the case with renting property, we require payment of your first invoice in advance. It means your account with us is always in credit and there is no bill to settle or deposit to refund when you leave.

We invoice you every four weeks, with the first payment due in advance. For students on short-term variable contracts, you'll pay for the time you need upfront. 

We regularly have introductory offers, such as 50% off for your first 8 weeks or £1 for your first month. We also provide discounts for members of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services, and NHS staff.

Aditionally, long-term storage for customers who commit to staying with us for 1 year or more recieve a discount. Please note that offers may vary by location. You can check which discounts are available on the store pages of our website or contact your local storage centre directly.

With Safestore's Lowest Price Guarantee (LPG), we will beat any cheaper comparable quote in the local area by 10% for the first 8 weeks. This has to be presented to us within 28 days of moving in. The Safestore Lowest Price Guarantee rate will be fixed for a maximum of 26 weeks, after which the storage rate will revert back to our standard rate.

We will also match any introductory offers and insurance (comparable perils). This offer applies to individual self storage rooms of the same size as the competitor within a 3 mile radius of the store inside the M25 and within a 5 mile radius throughout the rest of the UK. Price comparisons are for the total storage charge including VAT based on a 4 week stay. 

Our Lowest Price Guarantee is currently available to most UK Safestores. See our Terms and Conditions for a list of the stores that are currently offering the LPG.

The minimum stay is one day, subject to a 1 week minimum invoice period. You can vacate early; though you will be charged for a full week regardless of how many days you use the unit.

We have three types of contracts available to our customers:

Variable contract - Any time period under 2 weeks. Storage units can be left at any time without notice. Subject to a 1 week minimum invoice period.

Flexible contract - Any time period over 2 weeks. Any storage offers available at your chosen store apply to these contracts. This can be left at any point as long as you provide 14 days of written notice. 

Fixed contract (sometimes called a long-term contract) - a commitment of 12 months or more. Because you are agreeing to stay for a set period, we offer a discounted rate that is guaranteed for the duration of your stay. For example, a 12-month contract comes with a 20% discount on your storage.

Yes. Rather than paying on a recurring invoice cycle, students pay upfront for the full duration of their stay, so there is no minimum invoice period to worry about.

If plans change and you need a little more time, you can request a free extension - just let us know before the last day of your contract and we will arrange it at no extra charge.

You'll need 2 forms of ID, one of which must be a photo ID (passport or driving licence). If you're not a UK citizen, a passport or UK driving licence will be accepted as your photo ID. You'll also need to provide confirmation of your address dated within the last 3 months. 

These documents allow us to check your full name (forenames and last name), signature, date of birth and permanent address. You must provide original documents, not photocopies.

Prospective customers are required to provide 2 forms of ID - one containing their photograph (such as a passport or UK driving licence) and an acceptable document confirming your current address.
 
List of acceptable photographic personal identification

• UK (Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Irish) passport or EU/other nationalities passport, passports of non-EU nationals, containing UK stamps, a visa or a UK residence permit showing the immigration status of the holder in the UK (copy both parts)
• UK full driving licence (or provisional photo-card driving licence with a passport)
• A HM Forces photo ID card is acceptable but bear in mind that such cards must be surrendered upon leaving the forces so only those individuals currently in the forces will hold such a card
• Student ID cards - if you are a student with no current place of residence, we accept a passport as your second form of ID.

List of acceptable confirmation of address documents

• Recent utility bill (gas, water, electricity or phone), or a certificate from a utility supplier confirming the arrangement to pay for the services on pre-payment terms at a fixed address. More than one utility bill may be accepted if these are from two different suppliers and utility bills in joint names can be taken
• Local authority tax bill (i.e. council tax)
• Most recent HM Revenue & Customs tax notification (i.e. tax assessment, statement of account, notice of coding)
• Financial statement (e.g. bank, building society) containing current address
• Mortgage statement from a recognised lender
• Local council rent card or tenancy agreement
• Benefit statement, book or card; or original notification letter from Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirming the rights to benefit (e.g. child allowance, pension)
• Insurance certificate
• UK court claim form
• TV licence
• Company letterheads & Business cards with business addresses shown or Company registration documents

All identity verification is done face to face, never over the phone or by email, as your identity cannot be fully confirmed by these methods.

Photographs are taken by web cam and retained on file once your rental contract is signed. These images require full view of your face and cannot include any family or colleagues; only the person signing the contract is allowed in the image. A new web cam image will be taken with every new contract that is signed to maintain an up-to-date identification process. This is so that new or covering staff are able to easily identify you as Safestore clients and maintain the overall security of the Safestore premises for all our customers.

Most of our customers choose to pay by Direct Debit. However, we also accept credit and debit cards.

Let us know as soon as you can and we will extend your booking. The earlier we know, the easier it is for us to reflect this change in your contract.

In most cases, you can move in on the same day you enquire, provided this is during store opening hours and you bring the right documentation to complete and sign your contract. 

Aditionally, payment of your first invoice must be made before you move in. Check with your local store team for full details.

The flexibility to change room sizes will vary depending on the type of storage contract you have agreed. This is not applicable if you have a specific term deal. Please advise the store team if you believe you may need more storage room size flexibility and they will make sure you have the correct storage contract in place. 

You’ll need to bring your belongings to the storage centre. All our centres have ample car parking and large loading/unloading areas to make the process as smooth as possible.

We have online reservations available for rooms at our storage centres. You can also reserve a room by calling your local self storage centre directly.

You can move to another one of our storage centres as you wish subject to availability. Remember you will be responsible for moving your own items from one centre to another.

You can come and go as you please, 7 days a week during the store opening hours.

For select stores, extended access hours are available - check your storage location or contact the store directly.

Depending upon the Safestore store you choose the rooms range from 7 to 9 ft in height.

All stores have trolleys and pallet trucks available free of charge for customers use. 

Yes, you can store in as many storage centres as you wish, each will be on a separate contract. However if you store in 5 or more centres and would like one contract and central billing our National Accounts Department would be happy to help you. They can be contacted by calling 0845 034 1490 or by emailing [email protected]

Yes, you need your own padlock to ensure that you are the sole key holder for your room and to ensure that your room is securely locked at all times. Safestore stock full range of high security padlocks in all of our stores.

You'll need to be verified in store. Just pop in and speak to our team during our office opening hours.

StoreProtect Enhanced Liability is is an agreement we put in place directly with you to accept enhanced liability for any loss or damage to your goods during your rental term.

Because storage is considered 'self-service'; the responsibility for your items remains with you throughout your rental. We are unable to insure your belongings on your behalf without a formal arrangement like StoreProtect in place.

Please see our insurance page, for more details regarding StoreProtect.

You can use your own insurance provider if you prefer, but your policy must cover at minimum the same perils as StoreProtect - see Safestore Licence Conditions (19.2.2).

You will also need to provide us with a copy of the policy confirming the sum insured, cover dates, and the store address where your goods are held.

Check before using any household insurance, as many do not cover possessions held in a self storage facility. Even policies that cover "contents away from home" will exclude self storage.

StoreProtect removes the extra paperwork and uncertainty. For most customers this will be the simpler option, included as part of your storage agreement from day one.

All items placed in storage with us must be insured for their full replacement value on a ‘new for old’ basis. This figure is based on the maximum replacement value of your property.

In respect of Business Customers’ stock and work-in-progress, you must declare the current Maximum Replacement Value for all property being stored, taking into consideration the age, quality, degree of use and consequent market value of your property when calculating the settlement.
 
For any other customers, you must declare the current Maximum Replacement Value of all property being stored. This means the cost to replace your items with a new equivalent, not the price you paid when you purchased each item. 
 
If you are storing documents, the value declared by you must include:

1. The value of the materials as stationary;
2. An estimated cost for the clerical labour required to reproduce or write the documents; and
3. The costs required to reproduce any information recorded.

 
You do not need to include the value of the information contained in any documentation lost or damaged, as this is not covered.
 
Please do not ask your Safestore team for guidance about your valuation. They are not valuers, and the responsibility for declaring the value is yours.

If Safestore customers choose to supply their own insurance, they will be required to supply a letter/policy from the insurance company specifying:

The sum insured
The cover start and end dates
The Safestore address where they are storing their goods

If you have existing household or business insurance that covers self storage, you would need to ask them to add an addendum to your policy to include the name and address of the store you are using.

Safestore will need to take a copy of your insurance policy and retain this on file with your rental agreement. These documents will need to be supplied annually to Safestore as they expire.

If you are not able to provide the above documentation at the time of signing up to store with us, we will automatically charge you for StoreProtect Enhanced Liability based upon the value you have declared.

You have the right to cancel StoreProtect at any time by emailing us or by writing to your store. If you cancel before your storage services have commenced, we will refund all StoreProtect charges paid by you. If you cancel after storage has started, you will need to give 14 days' written notice, and the cancellation will take effect after this period from your next issued invoice.

Yes, we offer flexible contracts for short or long term Self Storage. There is no minimum stay. We guarantee our business customers the best business rates available. Please contact the storage centre for details.

Yes, some of our storage centres also offer office rental. Please visit our offices page for more information.

We do not permit the storage of: 

• Food or perishable goods unless securely packed in hard plastic or glass containers so that they are protected from and do not attract vermin
• Goods where the value to You cannot be assessed on a financial basis
• Any Goods which are contaminated with food or any other substance which may deteriorate, rot, become mouldy or attract vermin
• Lithium ion batteries exceeding a watt-hour (Wh) rating of 160 Wh UNLESS they are built-in and cannot be removed from otherwise permitted Goods
• Portable battery chargers, power banks or any similar portable power source
• E-Scooters, E-Bikes, E-Skateboards or any similar battery-powered vehicles in any one Unit unless the battery has been removed and is not being stored in the Unit
• More than ten (10) laptops, tablets, children's toys or other similar items containing built-in batteries in any one Unit unless agreed by Us in writing
• Plants, birds, fish, animals or any other living creatures
• Combustible or flammable materials or liquids such as gas, paint, petrol, oil or cleaning solvents
• Firearms, explosives, weapons, ammunition or any components of these
• Chemicals, radioactive materials, biological agents
• Toxic waste, asbestos or other materials of a potentially dangerous nature
• Any item which emits any fumes, smell or odour
• Compressed gases
• Any illegal substances, illegal items or goods illegally obtained such as counterfeit goods, illicit (counterfeit/smuggled) tobacco or alcohol and unlicensed or unsafe goods (such as toys, electrical goods, medicines, aerosols, cosmetics, fireworks)
• Goods which are environmentally harmful or that are a risk to the property of any person
• Items which are irreplaceable or of high value requiring specialist storage, such as currency, jewellery, bullion, furs, deeds, bonds, securities, works of art, antiques, fine wines and items of personal sentimental value
• Waste materials including any materials or goods for export deemed to be waste, such as used electrical equipment (unless tested and certified for re-use), used vehicles or used vehicle parts.

We always cooperate with the Police and HM Customs.