Restrictions
The self storage branch prides itself on its lack of restrictions and compliance. One of its major goals is to make things as easy as possible for its customers. Why? Because that’s where its strength lies, that’s where it has its advantage over traditional storage operators. It’s also an area of competition with its namesakes. Getting to your storage unit has to be easy, the easier it is, the more will people be tempted to make use of it.
It’s cheap and you can store almost anything, so they say. Easy storage, cheap storage, and almost anything storage, that’s their sales pitch.
But, of course you can’t store everything, there are laws against possessing let alone storing certain things. We deem it prudent for your own peace of mind, to question your storage operator on which materials it will not or cannot store.
Meanwhile, we’ve taken the liberty to compile a list of the most obvious items that face restrictions on storage in self storage facilities.
These are:
Explosive and inflammable substances
Everyone knows why you don’t really want to have things like that around, they can do extensive damage to both staff and facility. And not just those either, customers and stored materials are also at risk. Forbidden substances are gas, petrol, and kerosene. Also fireworks and every sort of ammunition. All fuel tanks are to be emptied before entering into storage, right down to a simple lawnmower.
Guns and rifles
There are storage operators who will allow you to store these and others that won’t.
In case they do, there will be security conditions attached to the storage of such items.
Drugs and ill-gotten gains
No self-respecting storage provider will enjoy being caught storing drugs and other illegal substances such as smuggled booze, cigarettes and counterfeit items or money. Storing these at self storage facilities is therefore prohibited by self storage operators.
Jewels and other valuable items as such.
Not all self storage operators will allow you to store items like these.
If they do they may ask you to adhere to certain conditions, things like jewelry and precious metal coins or ornaments may have to be properly insured.
Odours, scents and aromas
There are self storage facilitators that will not store stuff that reeks, they prefer to keep their premises odour free, whether pleasant or foul.
Animals
Animals must be kept in areas that are specifically made for them such as zoos, farms,
pet shops or animal ponds. It is prohibited to keep them at self storage facilities.
You cannot keep your pet in your unit and feed it there. Animal fodder and other foods
specifically meant for animals will attract rodents and insects and is therefore forbidden
to be kept at storage facilities.
Plants and vegetables
Plants and other forms of vegetation are prohibited at self storage facilities, they can’t be stored there, they will attract insects and rodents.
Food
You can’t put your boxes of cereals in with the rest of your kitchenware when you pack up the kitchen to put it into storage.
The same goes for coffee, tea, bread, sugar, noodles, rice, flour and every other staple food. They’ll attract rodents, ants cockroaches and other such like creepy crawlers.
Spray cans
Spray cans containing deodorant, hairspray, pepper spray etc. are other things that are forbidden to store by some self storage operators.
Dangerous substances
Chemicals, toxic substances and other hazardous materials are also substances that cannot be stored in self storage facilities, as they can cause serious damage in case of fire increasing the risk of explosions.
