We’re so sorry you’re going through this. Yes, you can keep your belongings with us while your home is put right: the shortest stay is two weeks, your storage carries on for as long as the repairs take, and when you’re ready to move back you give us 14 days’ notice.
Talk to your insurer first
If you haven’t already, call your home insurer before you book. The Association of British Insurers’ flood guidance explains that a loss adjuster will be appointed to assess your claim, and that if your home can’t be lived in during repairs, your insurer will arrange and pay for temporary accommodation in line with your policy. Ask them whether your policy also covers storing your belongings while the work is done, and what they’ll need from you.
The same guidance says not to rush to throw away damaged items, unless they’re a danger to health, as they may be repaired or restored. Your insurer will advise.
What to bring
Store the things that are clean and completely dry. Anything still wet should be dried out first, because damp packed into boxes can lead to mould, and our contents protection covers sudden water damage, such as a burst pipe, but not damp that builds up slowly. Use blankets or breathable covers rather than plastic, which traps moisture.
After a fire, anything that still smells of smoke needs cleaning before it comes in, as items that give off a smell can’t be stored, for the sake of everyone’s belongings.
Getting set up
You can book online or by phone. To book, we’ll ask for two forms of ID, a photo one and a recent utility bill. If yours were lost or damaged, call us before you book and we’ll talk it through.
You can get to your unit from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week, to fetch what you need as the weeks go on. There are free trolleys at every site, and we can recommend local removals firms. Every unit has its own alarm, and our CCTV is monitored around the clock by a professional monitoring company.
Everything stored needs contents cover. If your insurer hasn’t confirmed yours yet, take ours from day one: send proof of your own cover within 14 days of moving in and we’ll refund our charge in full.
Keeping your claim simple
We email an invoice 5 to 7 days before each four-weekly payment, with full details of each charge. If your insurer or loss adjuster needs anything else from us, call us and we’ll talk through how to keep the paperwork simple for your claim.
When the work is finished, email us your end date. Once the unit is empty and checked, we refund any days you’ve paid for but won’t use.
Call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you get your things somewhere safe, or get a price online.
Related questions
- How do I make a claim if something in my unit is damaged?
- Does contents protection cover damp and mould?
- Can I keep my unit longer than I planned?
- Can I put my furniture in storage while my house is renovated?
- Does my home insurance cover my things in self storage?
Further reading
- Association of British Insurers: Flooding and storms, insurance advice