Who Uses Self Storage?

Over the past few years, the use of self storage has significantly grown in the UK, with almost 77.5% of the country’s 2,700 self storage units being occupied in 2023, according to the Self Storage Association’s (SSA) 2024 Annual Report.

If you’re wondering “Who uses storage units?” you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll take a look at the wide range of use cases for self storage, as well as the kind of people renting units. From movers, renovators and new parents to hobbyists, collectors and business owners, there are many different people using self storage for a range of different reasons.

Why Do People Use Self Storage?

There are a lot of reasons people might need a storage unit. From moving home to storing business inventory, self storage provides a flexible and secure way to manage belongings during different life stages and events.

Let’s dive into some of the most common reasons people use self storage and how it can make life a little easier.

Moving Home

Moving home is one of the most common reasons people — homeowners and renters alike — turn to self storage. It’s an exciting yet often stressful time and having a safe place to keep your belongings can make the transition much smoother.

Here are some of the key benefits of using self storage when moving:

• Temporary Storage: When moving dates don’t align perfectly, self storage offers a convenient place to keep your belongings until you’re ready to move them into your new home.
• Decluttering: Selling your home could be easier if it’s tidy and free of clutter. If there’s anything you don’t need on a daily basis, such as excess furniture, putting it in storage can help make your home feel more spacious and appealing to potential buyers.
• Flexibility: Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, self storage provides the flexibility to store your items for as long as you need. Some types of storage can even travel with you!

Moving home can be complex, but with the help of a self storage unit, you can simplify the process and focus on settling into your new space.

If you’re moving house, you might find our moving home checklist helpful as well.

Renovating

Renovating your home can breathe new life into your living space, but it often comes with its fair share of chaos — that’s where self storage comes in. A dedicated space outside of your home can act as a safe haven for your belongings while providing more space to get the job done.

Here are some reasons why using self storage during renovations is a smart move:

• Protect Your Belongings: Renovations can create dust, debris and potential hazards. Storing your furniture, electronics and other valuables in a storage unit will keep them safe from some of the risks that come with redecorating.
• Create More Space: By clearing out rooms you’re giving your builders more space to work efficiently. An uncluttered work area can lead to faster and more effective renovations.
• Flexibility: Depending on the scope of your renovation, you might need storage for a few weeks or several months, and most self storage providers offer some flexibility when it comes to adjusting your rental period.

Pro Tip: At Pay Less For Storage, we have a zero-notice policy, which means you can move out any day you want and get a refund on any unused time you’ve already paid for.

Using self storage helps ensure that your treasured items are safe and secure, allowing you to focus on creating your dream home.

Students

For students, self storage can be a lifesaver — especially during the summer. Whether you’re heading home, studying abroad or simply need more space in your shared house, self storage is one of the best places to keep your stuff. 

• Summer Storage: When the academic year ends, most students have to figure out what to do with their belongings. Self storage provides a convenient place to store your items over the summer, so you don’t have to move everything back home.
• Studying Abroad: If you’re taking advantage of a study abroad program, self storage allows you to keep your belongings safe and secure while you’re away.
• Decluttering: Whether you’re in halls or a shared house, student accommodation tends to be quite cosy. So, if you ever need to declutter your space, storage can be a flexible in-between while you decide what to do with your things.

For students, self storage can be a hassle-free way to manage your belongings in between the academic year and beyond.

Expecting a Baby

Welcoming a new baby into your home is an exciting time, but these little bundles of joy take up a surprising amount of space (or at least, their stuff does!). Self storage can be a valuable resource as you prepare for your new arrival, here’s how:

• Designing a Nursery: Setting up a nursery might mean clearing out a room or rearranging your home. Self storage offers a place to keep furniture and other items temporarily, ensuring you have ample space to create the perfect nursery.
• Storing Baby Gear: Babies come with a lot of gear, including cots, prams, toys and clothes, and self storage can help you manage these new items without overcrowding your home.
• Decluttering: Making your home safe and comfortable for a baby usually involves a lot of decluttering. So, if you have any belongings that you don’t need right now but want to keep for the future, you can put them in a storage unit.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or veteran child-wrangler, babies have a tendency to throw your day-to-day into disarray, making it hard to plan ahead. Fortunately, at Pay Less For Storage, all our sites are open 24/7, which means you can get the things you need, when you need them.

More Space

According to the SSA’s Annual Report 2024, the most common reason for people renting a storage unit in 2023 was that they simply needed more space. As homes become filled with more possessions, finding room to keep everything can be difficult, here’s how self storage can help:

• Store Seasonal Items: Christmas decorations, sports equipment and seasonal clothing can take up a lot of space. Self storage allows you to keep these items safe and accessible without overcrowding your home.
• Declutter Your Home: As people accumulate more belongings, living spaces can become cluttered. Self storage offers a convenient way to declutter your home without having to part with items you still value.

With self storage, you can create a more organised and spacious home, making it easier to enjoy your living environment without the stress of clutter.

Hobbyists & Collectors

For hobbyists and collectors, self storage can be an absolute game-changer. Whether you’re a collector or need a place to keep your craft supplies or sports equipment, self storage could be the perfect solution, here’s how:

• Extra Space: Collections and hobby equipment can take up a lot of room, and self storage can provide the additional space needed to keep everything nicely organised without cluttering your home.
• Protection: Valuable collections need to be stored properly to preserve their condition and keep them safe. Self storage units offer a secure environment with protection from accidental damage and potential theft.
• Organisation: Keeping your hobby materials or collection in a storage unit can help you stay organised. With everything in one place, you can easily access what you need, when you need it.
• Seasonal Hobbies: Some hobbies are seasonal, like gardening or skiing and self storage allows you to store your equipment when you don’t need it, freeing up space in your home.

Whether you’re into crafting, collecting or any other hobby that requires space, self storage can help you keep your passion projects organised and accessible, allowing you to fully enjoy your pursuits without worrying about space constraints.

Extended Trips Abroad

Whether you’re taking a gap year, sabbatical or planning to move abroad, self storage can be an essential part of your planning. Here’s how self storage can benefit those planning to spend a long time away from home:

• Secure Storage: Knowing that your possessions are stored safely allows you to enjoy your time away without worrying about the things you left behind.
• Cost-Effective Solution: Instead of paying for a larger living space or maintaining a home you’re not using, self storage provides a cost-effective solution to keep your belongings safe until you return.
• Flexible Terms: Travel plans can change and the length of your stay abroad might be uncertain. Self storage offers flexible rental terms to accommodate your needs, whether you’re gone for a few months or a few years.

Preparing for a long stay abroad usually involves a lot of logistics, but self storage can simplify the process by offering a secure and flexible solution for your belongings. This way, you can focus on your adventures without worrying about your possessions back home.

Vehicles

Whether you’re into motorbikes, classic cars, off-roading or even banger racing, a lot of people with an extra vehicle choose to keep it off the road. This is where self storage comes in:

• Savings: When you store your vehicle, you can declare it as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) and potentially cancel the insurance, saving money while it’s not in use.
• Preserve Quality: Vehicles stored properly maintain their condition better, reducing the wear and tear that often comes from being left outside.
• Reduce Risk: Keeping your vehicle in a secure storage unit reduces the risk of theft, vandalism and accidental damage.

Whether you need to store a vintage car, motorbike or any other vehicle, self storage can provide a safe, cost-effective and convenient solution, giving you peace of mind and ensuring your vehicle is ready when you want it.

Business Use

As well as being used by individuals and families for any of the reasons we’ve discussed so far, self storage can be an invaluable asset for businesses as well. Whether you’re an independent business owner, tradesperson, sole trader or entrepreneur, self storage can provide you with additional space to keep your business operations running smoothly, here’s how:

• Inventory Storage: If you run an e-commerce or retail business, you might need extra space to store inventory (especially ahead of peak sales periods). Self storage units offer a secure and convenient solution for keeping your stock organised and accessible.
• Equipment Storage: For builders, landscapers or tradespeople, storing tools and equipment in a self storage unit can free up valuable space at your work site or home and ensure everything is kept secure and in good condition. It’s better than keeping it all in the van!
• Document Archiving: As many businesses generate a lot of paperwork, self storage provides a safe place to archive important documents, freeing up office space while keeping records accessible and organised.

Whether you need space for inventory, equipment or documents, self storage can provide a cost-effective and convenient solution, helping your business stay organised and efficient.

If you’re a business owner looking to rent a storage unit, remember you’ll also need a good business storage insurance policy to keep your items extra safe.

FAQs

Why do people use self storage?

People use self storage for a wide variety of reasons, including moving home, renovating, needing extra space, storing vehicles and for business purposes. It provides a flexible and secure solution for keeping belongings safe and accessible.

Who uses self storage the most?

According to the Self Storage Association’s (SSA) Annual Self Storage Report 2024, self storage is used primarily by residential customers, who rent 75% of units in the UK. Meanwhile, the majority of commercial customers (61%) are small businesses with just one to three members of staff.

Why do people use storage?

The Annual Self Storage Report 2024, from the Self Storage Association (SSA), found that most people (29% of those surveyed) use self storage to create more space at home. Other common include redecorating, moving home and being between properties. Aside from personal use, the survey also found that 27% of renters are business customers needing space to store stock and equipment.