Cheap self storage units
At university, it can feel like you move house more times than you eat hot dinners. Self storage for students is a very handy way to keep your things safe when between houses.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Summer approaches and you have to move house (again!). It can be a real pain to bring all your stuff home for a few months if you haven't worked out where you'll be living next term.
Whether you need somewhere to keep your belongings safe for a few nights or for the whole summer, self storage is a pretty straightforward option that guarantees your stuff will be kept safe.
But how do you find the right self storage unit for you? And how much will it cost? We have all the info you need, as well as the best and cheapest student storage companies to go for.
Student storage
Do you need self storage?
Policies on moving out during the summer do differ from place to place. And as we warn in our tenancy agreement checklist, some landlords have rules against storing items in houses over summer – even if you're paying rent. Be sure to check your contract and know your rights as a tenant!
Even if you're lucky enough to get a place in uni halls for a second year, you'll probably be required to move your things out before your new tenancy agreement begins.
Also, if you're planning to spend a semester of your degree living abroad, self storage is probably the most hassle-free option for storing your belongings safely.
Packing up and taking everything home with you over summer is obviously an option, but depending on how much stuff you actually have, it can be easier to just store most of it in a storage container.
And, of course, if you're an international student, self storage will practically be a necessity. It's a waste of time (and money) to move everything back home for a couple of months, only to have to bring it back to university.
How much do self storage units cost?
As with most things, the prices of self storage units will differ depending on how much stuff you need to store and where you are in the country. Prices can also be dependent on demand. You may find that if a self storage company has limited storage space left, their prices will be higher.
Most self storage companies will give you a quote on their website, which will be specific to the location and size you want. So with a bit of research, you should definitely be able to find some cheap self storage options.
Companies also often offer introductory deals for the first four or eight weeks, which can work out perfectly if you're just looking for storage for a couple of months over summer.
As a quick guide, for a smaller storage unit of 25sqft you could be looking at around £200+ for 8 weeks storage if you take advantage of any introductory offers and student discounts. If you've got more stuff and need a larger 50sqft unit, you could be looking at up to £300 for 8 weeks.
If you only have a few boxes that need storing, you may find companies like Lovespace offer a cheaper alternative.
Lovespace charges per box stored. The price per box per week will decrease as the number of boxes and length of time increases. While this does mean that you only pay for the storage you need, it makes it harder to estimate how much you'll be paying until you know how many boxes you have.
On top of the cost of the storage, many companies will charge extras for things like insurance if you don't have any. You'll also usually be required to use a secure padlock, which you can either purchase through the company or buy yourself. Always check each company's website for details of any extra costs you may entail.
How to get cheap student storage
Credit: Karolis Kavolelis – Shutterstock
Here are some top tips for saving money on student self storage:
- Use a self storage comparison site such as Compare the Storage to find out what the cheapest option near you is.
- Choose a storage centre as close to where you're moving to as possible so you can keep petrol prices down.
- Ask the storage company if they offer a free van for the move, or even better, a van and a driver to help carry boxes! This is quite common practice, so be sure to ask.
- Ask for an upper-level storage container, as these tend to be cheaper.
- Check if they offer any discounts for students. For example, Safestore offers as much as 50% off to students for the first eight weeks (this should cover your summer holiday).
- Planning to use the space for longer than a few months? If you can confirm you'll be using the container for a longer period, you might be in with a chance of getting a discount of around 25%, so try your luck.
- Chance your arm – ask the storage company if they can throw in any moving boxes for free. If you have no luck there, try asking your local shop or supermarket if they have any spare boxes lying around. If you don't ask, you don't get.
- Think carefully about how much storage space you'll need. Overestimate this, and you could be forking out for extra space that isn't used. Underestimate, and you might need to get two containers.
- Try teaming up with a friend if you don't think you can justify the cost of a self storage unit for yourself alone. Sharing the price of a container is an ideal situation – that's a 50% discount straight off the bat.
- Look into getting your own insurance. Most self storage companies offer insurance, but you don't have to go with them. Safestore quoted us £1.79 a week for insurance covering up to £1,000. But we were able to find insurance elsewhere for a similar price that covered much more. Shop around, but make sure it offers enough coverage!
- Buy your own padlock. Self storage companies sometimes charge as much as £15 for one, when you can get a decent padlock for under £10 on Amazon.
- You can move your belongings to a different self storage unit after your trial/discount period has ended. Obviously, it takes a bit of effort, but it could save you a lot of money!
- Make sure you know about the cancellation period – at some places, you'll need to give at least 14 days' notice.
Best self storage companies for students
These are the best companies for cheap self storage:
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Safestore
There are so many Safestore units across the UK that you're unlikely to find yourself much more than a short drive from a branch, wherever you are in the country.
Safestore offers a 50% student discount on the first eight weeks of unit rental. Prices start from £3 a week with the discount, making it one of the cheapest self storage deals for students.
If you're taking the student storage deal, you'll need to pay upfront, meaning there's no notice period at the end of your contract. However, if you choose a different contract, be sure to check it before signing up, as notice periods will differ.
The deals they offer can vary for longer-term storage, so it's worth getting in touch with a member of staff to find out more details. Don't forget to haggle the price down!
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Big Yellow Self Storage
One of the cheapest self storage companies out there, Big Yellow is also a really convenient option for students.
Big Yellow offers up to 50% off for new customers, plus discounts on van hire (when booking a 35 sqft room or bigger for at least 12 weeks) and 50% off your next bill if you refer a friend.
They have the choice of either big lockers with a key and PIN code, or larger units that will be big enough to store furniture too if necessary.
However, you do need to give them fourteen days' notice before you clear out your unit.
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Lovespace
Lovespace is a self storage company that's ideal for students who have lots of little things to pack away in boxes over summer.
With Lovespace, you can simply pack up the cardboard boxes they send and a driver will come and collect them all from you. All boxes are fully insured up to £100 per box.
Unfortunately, there are things that they don't allow, such as mirrors, but they will take things like crockery provided they're bubble-wrapped (and you let them know in advance). Enquire within!
While you can choose to pay for a whole storage unit, you can also just pay for the number of boxes you actually need to store. Prices can vary, but as a guideline, you can expect to pay around £10 per month for a small box, or about £22 for a large suitcase.
Also, you can arrange for the driver to then deliver your stuff at a later date anywhere on mainland UK, so no worries if you've not worked out where you'll be living next term yet. And you won't have to transport a single box yourself – ideal.
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Stashbee
Stashbee works a little differently compared to the other self storage companies. It's a platform that allows people to rent out empty rooms or garages as storage space. It's kind of like Airbnb but for storage.
The identity of all hosts on Stashbee has been verified, and for a fee, the company offers an item guarantee of up to £3,000, making it even more secure.
To hire a storage space on Stashbee, you can search for your location, and it will show you all the available spaces. Prices will vary depending on the location and the space, and some hosts require you to pay a safety deposit.
Apart from offering storage space, it's also possible to hire/rent out a parking space with Stashbee.
Unfortunately self storage isn't the only thing you'll need to get sorted when moving house. Luckily, we've got a moving house checklist you can work through to make the process simple.
* All information is correct at the time of writing. Prices may vary by location and size of storage unit required.
