Your unit is private, and only you and the people you choose can get into it. A few people do need to know something about what’s inside, though: we need the total value of what you’re storing, your insurer needs to know if you’re using your own policy, and it helps if someone you trust knows the unit exists.
What we need to know
One figure: the total value. When you book, you tell us the total cost of replacing everything you’re storing as new. We ask for this even if you use your own insurance, and it should keep pace with what’s in the unit. If you add more later, or more valuable things, call us before they go in so the figure keeps up.
Anything you’re not sure about. Some things can’t be stored, for everyone’s safety, such as flammable liquids, gas bottles and food. If you’re unsure about an item, ask us before moving day. Our list of items we can’t store has the details.
Beyond that, what you store is private to you. Each unit has its own lock and alarm, so you’re the only one with access to your belongings unless you share it. Our guide on whether our staff can open your unit explains the rare exceptions.
Your insurer, if you use your own
If you’d rather use your own policy, tell your insurer your belongings are in storage. The Self Storage Association UK advises having the storage address to hand, and checking whether there’s a time limit or a lower limit on the value covered away from home. If you take our contents protection instead, its charge is based on the value you give us at booking.
Someone you trust
When you book, we ask for an alternate contact who lives at a different address, so we can reach someone in an emergency if we can’t reach you. We never use their details for marketing. It’s worth telling them, or another person you trust, that you have a unit and where you keep your list. You can also share access with family or colleagues through smart entry, for a set time or with no end date (at Chipping Norton, by sharing your key and access code).
Your own list, kept at home
A simple list of what’s in each box, with rough values and a few photos of anything valuable, is the best record you can have. It helps you find things, keeps your value up to date, and makes any claim much quicker. Keep it at home or on your phone, not in the unit.
If you’d like help working out your total value, call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online to see what cover costs straight away.
Related questions
- How much contents cover do I need for storage?
- Can Wigwam staff open my unit?
- Can I share access to my storage unit?
Further reading