Self storage insurance covers the things in your unit against loss or damage from named events, such as fire, water leaks and theft. Our contents protection, for example, covers fire, lightning, explosion, storm, burst pipes or water leaks, theft involving forcible entry or exit, malicious damage, and damage from moths, insects or vermin that come in from outside.
It’s there as the last layer of protection. Your unit is individually alarmed and our sites have CCTV monitored around the clock, and if the unexpected still happens, cover means you can replace what you’ve lost.
What our contents protection includes
The cover includes loss or damage caused by:
- fire, lightning and explosion;
- storm, and impact by vehicles or aircraft;
- burst pipes or water leakage, such as a neighbour’s freezer that wasn’t properly defrosted;
- theft involving forcible entry or exit;
- malicious damage, riot and civil commotion;
- moths, insects or vermin that come in from outside.
Claims are settled new for old, so for most things a loss is valued at the cost of an equivalent new item, not at its second-hand value. The excess is £50. Your cover starts the moment your things go into storage and runs until you take them out. Because it’s separate from your home insurance, a claim on it won’t affect your home policy’s no-claims record.
What it doesn’t cover
It doesn’t pay for damp that builds up slowly from the air, or the mould that kind of damp can cause over time. That’s the one most worth knowing about, and the one you can do most about: pack everything clean and completely dry, and use breathable covers rather than plastic. Our guide to damp and mould explains more.
Getting the value right
The charge is based on the maximum replacement value you declare: what it would cost to replace everything you store as new today. If that figure is lower than the true value, a claim is paid in proportion, so it’s worth adding it up carefully. Our guide to how much contents cover you need shows you how.
Using your own policy instead
You’re welcome to use your own insurance if it covers belongings in self storage. Home insurance policies vary on cover for possessions away from home, so check yours, and for the full value. If you’re not sure what proof of cover to send us, just call.
If you’re not sure yet, start with our contents protection when you move in, so your things are protected from day one. Send us proof of your own cover within 14 days of moving in and we’ll refund the contents protection charges in full.
Any questions about cover? Call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online and add contents protection as you book.
Related questions
- Do I need insurance for my unit?
- How do I make a claim if something in my unit is damaged?
- How much contents cover do I need, and can I change it later?
- Does my home insurance cover my things in self storage?
Further reading
- Association of British Insurers: Home insurance