Can You Live in a Storage Unit?

Finding a place to live can be extremely difficult. We get it. The housing market is unstable, and the average renter spends 30% of their income on rent.

With a looming housing crisis, it is not surprising that people are looking for alternatives. It’s tempting to think that our safe, secure self-storage in Poole and the wider area may be a cosy little dwelling…

As storage unit experts, we can confirm that you CANNOT live in a self-storage unit. Here are just a few very practical reasons why not:

1. Storage units are not built for living in

Self-storage units are perfect for furniture, documents, and inanimate personal objects. People? Not so much.  Our personal storage units do not have basic living facilities such as heating, electricity, running water, or bathrooms. The lack of living functionality means residing in a storage unit can result in dangerous levels of dehydration and critical poor hygiene. Please do not risk your personal health.

2. Security will stop you

We pride ourselves on our security system. Our self-storage in Poole has 24/7 CCTV monitoring on all access points. We also employ a very effective and highly trained security team who regularly patrol the area. Trust us, if you plan to live in our personal storage units, you will be caught lickety-split.

3. Risk of being trapped

Many self-storage doors open from the outside only. If you have a roll-up storage unit door, it is important to ensure the door is kept ajar or have someone with you to help you get out easily. It is likely that our staff will lock an open door if we assume it has been left unlocked by mistake. We regularly walk through our self-storage areas, but there is no guarantee we will hear you when you shout for help. We highly recommend you don’t try to live in a storage unit, especially if you suffer from claustrophobia.

4. You have other options

We understand that if living in a storage unit seems viable to you, things must be bad. It has felt like a last resort to many people before. But please know that as desperate as your situation may seem, there are better alternatives for you. If you are homeless or at risk of losing your home, please see below the best links for advice and help:

• Citizen Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/homelessness/
• Gov.co.uk: gov.uk/emergency-housing-if-homeless
• Street Support in BCP: https://streetsupport.net/bcp/advice/
• Shelter Dorset: england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/local_services/bournemouth

If you would like to know more about our personal and business storage, call our team today on 01202 620 220.

 

Sources:

‘Reality Check: How much do we spend on rent?’ – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44046392