Storage insurance guide
what to check before you load up

Why you need to think about it

When you rent a storage unit, the building has its own insurance, but that is about the building, not your belongings. If your things are damaged or stolen, you will usually need your own cover to claim for them.

At The Rock Factory, insurance for your goods is not included in the rent and we do not provide it. That is common in the storage world, but it does mean the job falls to you. The good news is that it is often straightforward.

Option one: your home contents policy

Many home contents policies include some cover for belongings kept away from home, sometimes including in storage. But the details vary a great deal between insurers and policies.

• Does the policy cover goods in a storage unit at all, or only things temporarily away from home?
• Is there a limit on the total value, often a percentage of your contents sum insured?
• Is there a time limit, after which cover stops?
• Are some items excluded, such as valuables, business goods or electronics?
• Does theft cover require visible signs of forced entry?
• Do you need to tell the insurer the address and what is stored?

Read the policy wording, then call or email your insurer and ask. Get the answer in writing if you can.

When you are between homes

Moving house causes a common gap. If you have sold your home and not yet moved into the next one, your contents policy might be tied to the old address and may stop when you leave. Your new policy might not start until you move in.

If that applies to you, ask your insurer specifically about cover for goods in storage between addresses. Some insurers handle this easily. Others do not, and specialist storage insurance fills the gap. Our moving house guide covers the rest of the planning.

Option two: specialist storage insurance

Specialist storage insurance is designed for goods kept in a self-storage unit. It is usually priced on the value of what you store and is often sold monthly, which fits rolling storage terms.

When comparing policies, look at:

• What events are covered: fire, flood, theft, accidental damage.
• The excess you pay on any claim.
• Single-item limits, which matter if you have one valuable piece.
• Conditions on how goods must be stored, such as off the floor or in sealed boxes.
• Whether it covers business stock, if you are a business.

Check that any insurer or broker you use is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can search the FCA's Financial Services Register online.

Option three: business insurance

If you store business stock, tools or equipment, your business insurance is usually the right place for cover. Some policies cover stock at another location only if the insurer is told. Others need it added. Tools often have separate cover with its own conditions.

Our small business insurance guide looks at the main types of business cover, including public liability, which matters if customers or clients visit you at the unit.

Work out what it is all worth

Underinsuring is common. People guess the value of their stored goods and guess low. If you claim, the insurer may reduce the payout in proportion.

1. List everythingGo box by box from your inventory.
2. Value at replacement costAsk what it would cost to buy again, not what you paid years ago, if your policy is new-for-old.
3. Note high-value itemsAnything over the policy's single-item limit may need to be listed separately.
4. Keep evidenceReceipts, photos and serial numbers make any claim much smoother.
5. Review itUpdate the value when you add or remove a lot from the unit.

Our storage security tips explain how to keep a simple inventory.

Common gaps people miss

• Cover ending after a set period of goods being away from home, when storage carries on.
• Business goods in a personal policy. Household policies often exclude stock, tools used for work or equipment.
• No accidental damage cover, so a dropped television or a knocked mirror is not included.
• A single-item limit lower than the value of your most expensive piece.
• Not telling the insurer that goods are in storage, which can affect a claim later.

None of these is unusual, which is why it is worth a short phone call before you move in rather than finding out when you need to claim.

If you ever need to claim

1. Do not move things more than you need toTake photos of any damage exactly as you found it.
2. Report a crimeIf anything has been stolen, report it to the police and note the crime reference number. Insurers usually ask for it.
3. Tell usLet us know what has happened so we can check the building and help with any information we hold.
4. Contact your insurer promptlyMost policies require you to report a claim within a set time.
5. Send your evidenceYour inventory, photos, receipts and serial numbers will make the claim much easier.

Reducing the risk in the first place

Insurance is the safety net. Good habits make it less likely you will need it. Use a strong padlock, pack well, keep things off the floor, and leave out anything we do not allow, such as bulk flammable liquids or gas cylinders. Storing banned items could affect any claim as well as the building.

Keep the most valuable and irreplaceable things somewhere else entirely. Our page on what not to store explains what to leave out.

If an insurer asks you questions about the site that this page does not answer, message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we can.

Questions

Sources and official guidance

• Financial Services Register (Financial Conduct Authority)

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Business use needs prior approval. Car storage is not permitted.