Can you sleep in a storage unit in the UK

As the cost of renting rises in the UK, many people are looking for alternative housing options. Inevitably, the question that is asked more than others on the internet is whether you can sleep in a storage unit in the UK.

While it may seem like a good idea and a quick way of cutting costs or dealing with housing insecurity, sleeping in a storage unit is not just illegal, it’s dangerous and can lead to eviction, fines and serious health risks.

In this article, we will look at why self storage units are not ideal for habitation and what UK law has to say about living in them, and what safer alternatives are available.

For many, living in a storage unit is borne of desperation, not choice. Housing insecurity and homelessness have risen in the past decade and some people see a storage unit as their last option open to them, to keep warm and protect their belongings. While this might be understandable, storage units should not be thought of by people as being fit for human habitation.

UK Law Regarding Sleeping in Storage Units.

Under UK Law, Storage units are classified as commercial buildings. They were built for storing goods, furniture and personal items and definitely not for people!

According to the Human Habitation Act, any premises used for the purposes of habitation, should reach minimum safety standards, including ventilation, natural light, running water and sanitation. A storage unit offers none of these.

This implies that any person attempting to sleep, live or occupy a storage unit is breaking the rental contract and numerous health and safety regulations.

Storage facilities run under strict policies that exclude residential usage. With the rental contract, you will be informed that the storage unit is let for the purpose of the storage of goods, and not for habitation purposes.

If any facility discovers people living in a self storage unit, they must by law report it. The tenant is liable for immediate eviction, and could in certain circumstances, face fines and/or legal proceedings by local authorities.

Why Sleeping in a Storage Unit Is Dangerous

Even if it is physically possible to put a bed or sleeping bag in a storage unit, the safety problems it causes are enormous.

Storage facilities are not built for people to live in. They provide no amenities, including electrical power and heating, running water, or ventilation, to mention a few.

When there’s no ventilation, the air that’s in a sealed unit tends to get stale, and breathing becomes a problem.

Another problem has to do with fires.

Storage facilities house quantities of combustibles such as cardboard cartons, wooden furniture, clothing, and other material that is very combustible.

To sleep in an enclosed space which is populated by combustibles adds greatly to fire dangers. Although most storage facilities have elaborate fire protection systems, these have been provided to protect the goods in storage, not the people living in the units.

There is also the temperature problem to contend with. Storage units are usually uninsulated and, therefore, can get very cold in the winter and excessively hot in the summer. There is no way to control any of these temperature changes, as there is no electricity.

The lack of natural light will do things to the eyes and general health of individuals and disorientate the natural sleep cycles.

There are also important security problems. The management of storage facilities do not expect anyone else to be living in the units, and therefore, do not make any regular safety checks. If something went wrong such as a fire, medical illness, or lock failure, there is no one who would be aware of it.

Legal Aspects and Financial Implications

In addition to the health and safety implications, sleeping in a self storage unit can lead to fines, evictions and legal consequences.

Most of the rental agreements include clauses saying that termination of the rental may be immediate in the event of using the unit for anything but storage.

Storage facilities have CCTV in place and staff doing regular patrols, so attempting to live inside your unit is unlikely to be successful. On getting found out, the rental agreement would be cancelled, your goods could be removed, and the rental of the storage unit may also be in doubt.

If authorities are involved, there is a chance of getting fines for breaking fire or building regulations. In extreme cases, the storage facilities might possibly take a claim for damages or contamination through the habitation aspect of the rental.

Some people think that they can get away with living in their rental unit if all they do is sleep overnight and vacate it during the day.

However, staff can see the logs of their customers, and while you may get away with it once, it's easy for staff to spot a pattern and its not because storage staff are mean but because self storage facilities are not designed for living space.

Self storage facilities have been built to preserve goods, but not people, per se. They are good locking goods away, in a dry and safe environment, to cope with moving houses, having renovations done on their times or business storage needs. They do not have the infrastructure to accommodate living.

A peaceful living unit should have proper safety access, the means to ventilate, in addition to being properly serviced with workable fire alarms.

It is also required by the Human Habitation Act, which means it must be free from dampness and cold, unsuitable lighting and any other conditions that may be detrimental to health. A storage unit can offer none of these.

In terms of safety, storage units are classified as industrial environments.

They often have metal walls, little or no insulation or soundproofing. There is no privacy, no toilet facilities and no chance to cook food safely. Attempting to live in these environments would put your health and safety in jeopardy.

The role of the staff at storage facilities

Storage facility staff have been trained to look out for signs of habitation. This means things such as strange patterns of access to the property, indications of bedding or personal hygiene items and attempts to obscure security cameras. Staff have a legal obligation to ensure that a proper standard of safety is maintained and to enforce the rental terms of the storage property.

If the staff suspect someone is living in a unit, they will often contact the client in turn. If habitation is confirmed, then the eviction will follow immediately. In extreme cases the local authorities will be contacted, as well as the emergency services if personal safety is considered to be an issue.

These policies are not in place in order to be unkind, they are there to prevent injury and fire and damage thinking of others’ belongings. A single fire or some other kind of incident that arose out of unauthorised living could put the whole facility in jeopardy.

Alternatives and where to get help

If you have housing insecurity and homelessness, perhaps living in a storage unit seems an option, but they are actually safer and lawful alternatives.

Many local councils in the UK offer crisis housing assistance for individuals and families. Charitable organisations such as Shelter, Crisis and Centrepoint offer immediate assistance and housing for the temporary period.

If you already have belongings in a storage unit and are unable to pay rent or find housing, speak to the storage company. Some companies have help schemes that they can translocate you to other local charitable aid organisations.

Living in a storage unit will simply exacerbate these problems, which will endanger your health, safety and personal security. The only remedy is through the professional services involved in housing.