Storage unit security tips
simple habits that make a difference

What the building provides

It is worth being clear about what is in place at The Rock Factory and what is down to you. Every tenant gets free app access to CCTV covering the entrance and the area outside the units, so you can check on things from your phone. There is 24-hour access, which means you can visit whenever you need, and lighting is connected in every unit.

Inside your unit, security is in your hands. You choose and fit the padlock, decide who has a key, and decide what goes in. The rest of this guide is about doing that well.

Think of it as two layers: the building's shared measures outside, and your own choices on the other side of the door.

Choosing a padlock

The padlock is the single most important thing you buy. It is worth spending a little more.

• Closed or shrouded shackle. A padlock where little of the shackle is exposed is much harder to cut with bolt cutters.
• Hardened steel body and shackle. Cheap brass padlocks are easy to break.
• Disc-style padlocks are popular for storage because their shape leaves almost nothing to grip.
• Security rating. Look for an independent security grading on the packaging. Higher grades take longer to defeat.
• Size that fits. Check the shackle fits your shutter or door fitting without a lot of free play.

Weather and grit can stiffen any lock. A squirt of lock lubricant every few months keeps it working smoothly.

Keys and codes

Every spare key is a way in. Keep track of yours.

• Keep the spare at home, not on the same keyring as your car or house keys.
• Know exactly who has a copy. Write it down if more than two people do.
• If you use a combination lock, change the code from the factory default, do not use birthdays, and change it when someone no longer needs access.
• If a key is lost, replace the padlock straight away rather than hoping it turns up.

When you share a unit with housemates, a business partner or family, agree access rules at the start. It avoids awkward conversations later.

A little discretion goes a long way

Thieves look for easy, valuable targets. Do not give them a reason to pick yours.

• Keep the door or shutter closed while you work inside if you are storing tools or high-value stock.
• Use plain boxes rather than the original packaging for televisions, power tools and electronics.
• Do not post photos online that show the inside of your unit and its contents.
• Close and lock up every time, even if you are popping to your vehicle for a minute.

The best security for some things is not storing them at all. Cash, jewellery, passports and anything irreplaceable are safer at home, in a safe or with a bank. The same goes for the only copy of photos or important files. Keep backups somewhere separate.

Our list of what not to store goes through the rest, and the document and archive guide explains how to protect paperwork that contains personal data.

Keep an inventory and photos

An inventory is useful for finding things, and essential if something ever goes wrong. It need not be complicated.

1. Number your boxesWrite the number on two sides.
2. List the contentsA simple note on your phone or a spreadsheet: box number, contents, rough value for anything worth more than a few pounds.
3. Photograph valuable itemsInclude serial numbers for tools and electronics.
4. Photograph the unitTake a photo of the loaded unit each time you make a big change.
5. Keep a copy off-siteStore the list in cloud storage or email it to yourself.

Insurers often ask for proof of what was stored. Our storage insurance guide explains why this matters.

Visit, check and use the app

Units that are visited regularly are less likely to have a problem go unnoticed. With 24-hour access, a quick check fits round any schedule. Look at the padlock, make sure nothing has been moved, and look for any signs of damp or pests at the same time.

Use the CCTV app between visits, especially if you are away for a while. If you see anything that worries you, tell us and, if a crime has happened, report it to the police.

Security is about more than theft

Most losses in storage are not break-ins. They are damp boxes, chewed cardboard, a stack that toppled, or something forgotten and never found again. Treat these as part of security too.

• Never store food, which brings in pests that can move between units.
• Keep boxes off the floor on pallets or shelving, and away from walls.
• Stack heavy boxes low and keep stacks stable.
• Check your stored items regularly, not just the lock.

The packing guide has more on loading safely.

Extra steps for business tenants

If you store stock, tools or records for a business, a few extra habits help. Keep a log of who visits and what they take. Limit keys to the people who need them. Do a stock check from time to time so you notice anything missing quickly. Check what your business insurance requires, as some policies specify the type of lock or how goods must be stored.

For businesses choosing between unit types, the 160 sq ft unit has a personnel security door rather than a roller shutter, and some units have interconnecting doors so you can combine shutter and personnel-door access. Ask about the options when you message us on WhatsApp.

When you move out

Security matters at the end of a rental as well as the start. Check every corner of the unit before you hand it back, as small boxes and loose items are easy to miss in poor light. Take your padlock with you. If you used a combination lock, change the code before you use it elsewhere.

Update your inventory and your insurer if your goods are moving to a new address. And if anyone else had access to the unit, let them know you have left, so nobody turns up later expecting to find their things there.

Questions

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.