Yes, it’s insurance cover: our contents protection is a policy we take out with an insurer to cover the belongings you store with us, and you pay a charge for it with your storage. The main difference from a policy of your own is who holds it. With ours, we’re the policyholder, so you ask us to claim and we deal with the insurer for you.
How our contents protection works
When you take our cover, we arrange insurance for your belongings at the replacement value you declare: what it would cost to replace everything you store as new today. You receive a summary of insurance setting out the cover, and its charge appears in your quote alongside your storage.
The cover is made for things in storage. It includes fire, storm, burst pipes or water leaks, theft involving forcible entry or exit, and malicious damage. It starts the moment your things go into storage and runs until you take them out.
If something goes wrong, you call us and then email us asking us to make a claim. We notify the insurer promptly, and we, the insurer or its loss adjuster may ask you for photos, receipts or other details. What the insurer pays for your belongings comes to you, less anything outstanding on your storage account.
How it differs from your own policy
| Our contents protection | Your own policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the policy | We do | You do |
| Who you contact to claim | Us | Your insurer |
| Effect on home no-claims record | None, as it’s separate from your home insurance | Depends on your policy |
| What it covers | Belongings in your storage unit | Whatever your policy says |
Ours is simple to arrange: you add it as you book, and your things are covered from the day they go in. Whichever you choose, read the summary of insurance or your policy wording so you know what’s included.
Using your own insurance instead
You’re welcome to. Home insurance policies vary on cover for possessions away from home, so ask your insurer whether yours covers a self storage unit, and for the full value.
You still declare a replacement value with us either way, so we know the total value of what’s stored. If you’re waiting to hear from your insurer, take our contents protection when you move in. Send us proof of your own cover within 14 days of moving in and we’ll refund the contents protection charges in full.
Want to talk it through? 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?
- What are the different types of self storage?
Further reading
- Association of British Insurers: Home insurance