Can You Leave Things You Dont Want in a Storage Unit

A storage unit is a convenient place to keep belongings that you do not need every day.

For many people, it's a useful place that you can store items in when moving home, travelling or going to university.

Others may use a self-storage unit as a way to get rid of clutter they no longer want.

Unfortunately, your self storage unit isn't a skip and leaving belongings in a storage unit is not straightforward and can lead to extra costs or even legal trouble.

What Happens When Things Are Left Behind

When you rent a storage unit, you sign a contract that makes you responsible for everything inside. Walking away does not mean you can simply abandon the contents and leave them for the company to sort out.

Storage companies are required to make reasonable efforts to contact their customers first. They will usually call, email or send letters to remind you to make your payment or to collect your belongings.

If you ignore these messages, the company may put their own lock on the room to restrict your access. After a period set out in your contract, often around a Month, the abandoned unit is legally considered in default. At that point, the storage company can take further steps. Valuable furniture or other items may be sold, often through an auction, to recover unpaid rent, while the rest is often disposed of or occasionally donated to charity.

Many facilities rent out different sized units so that people can choose the right amount of space for their needs. If the contents of one unit are left behind, the company cannot offer that space to other customers until it is cleared.

Cost of Abandoning Goods

Leaving abandoned items in a self storage unit can be more expensive than many people realise. On top of the unpaid rent, storage providers often charge cleaning costs, disposal fees and sometimes extra charges for clearing the unit.

If you leave large pieces of furniture, electronics or anything classed as hazardous, the charges can increase further. Some companies will also add late fees for missed payment.

Even if you think the thing you left behind has little or no value, you are still legally responsible for it until the unit is cleared.

If the goods cause damage to the facility, for example, through leaks, mould or pests, you could be held liable. Some storage providers may eventually sell remaining belongings at an auction if no payment is made, but this rarely covers all the costs and can still leave you owing extra charges.

Legal Implications

In the UK, storage providers cannot just throw away or sell belongings without notice. They have to make a serious effort to contact you and give you time to respond.

The steps they must follow and the timeline are normally set out in your rental agreement. If they do sell your items, the money raised is first used to pay off the outstanding fees and the costs of clearing the unit. Any remaining balance is usually held for you in case you later come forward.

It is also important to remember that some items should never be left in a storage unit at all. Food, flammable liquids, illegal substances or anything likely to attract pests are usually forbidden. Leaving these behind can bring further action against you and can even put the storage company in a difficult legal position.

Keeping unwanted belongings in units also means the company loses space that could be rented to other customers, which is another reason they take action quickly.

A Better Way

If you have things you do not want to keep, don't let them rot in your unit, it doesn't benefit you or the storage company, and it is better to deal with them before you close your storage contract.

Clearing the unit properly and arranging to donate, recycle or dispose of unwanted goods saves you money and avoids stress later. Most facilities can recommend clearance services or charities that will collect larger items.

Good communication is key. If you tell the storage provider that you are vacating the unit but need help getting rid of some belongings, they may be able to offer a simple solution for a fixed price. This is usually easier and more affordable than abandoning the contents and leaving it for the company to resolve.

If you still have questions about what can and cannot be left in storage, you should speak to the storage company either over the phone or in writing. Having clear communication protects you from unexpected fees when it comes to closing out your storage contract and helps them free up the space in their units for other customers.