Someone else can sort out your storage in one of three ways: they rent the unit in their own name and keep your things in it, they act for you under a registered lasting power of attorney, or you book and sign online yourself and let them do the moving. What they can’t do is sign in your name, because the agreement is with the person who books, checks their own ID and signs.
Whoever signs becomes the customer: the fees, the contents cover and the choice of who can get in are theirs. So it’s worth choosing the right name at the start.
Three routes that work
They rent in their own name. A son, daughter, friend or partner books the unit as the customer, and your belongings go in it. They can then share access with you, so you can still visit. Our guide to storing a parent’s belongings when they move into care explains how this works for families.
They act under a lasting power of attorney. Someone holding a registered lasting power of attorney for your property and financial affairs can be the account holder as your attorney, verifying their own ID and signing like any customer. Our guide for solicitors covers this. Until the power is registered, renting in their own name is the route open now.
You sign yourself, from wherever you are. You book online, verify your photo ID with a quick selfie, and we email the agreement for you to sign digitally. You don’t need to be in the UK to do it. A helper can sit with you, but the selfie has to be you, as it matches your photo ID to your face. If the check doesn’t go through, choose “Reserve a Unit” and our team will contact you. Then share access with whoever is doing the moving.
Common situations
Students. An adult student can book and sign for themselves; otherwise a parent books and shares access with them.
Businesses. Whoever books becomes the customer. If you’d like the agreement in a company’s name, ask us before you book.
Executors. An executor can rent a unit from day one on behalf of the estate, signing in their own name as executor. If the person who died already had a unit, see what happens to a storage unit when the renter dies.
Two names. Our terms allow joint customers, but online booking takes one person’s ID, so call us first. Alternatively, one of you can be the customer and share access with the other.
If your situation doesn’t fit neatly, call us on 0800 2545585 before you book. Otherwise, the person who’ll be the customer can get a price online with their photo ID, a recent utility bill and their phone to hand.
Related questions
- Can I share access to my storage unit with a family member or colleague?
- What ID and documents do I need to rent a storage unit?
- Can I store someone else’s belongings?
Further reading