by Tony Gonzalez
May 10, 2011 10:31 PM
Typically, when people imagine self storage units they picture a room the size of a closet or as large as the average living room with nothing but stuff from wall to wall. The self storage industry has almost become mainstream as the economy has tanked and people have had to downsize their homes, but did not want to get rid of their stuff.
However, while most self storage units are actually used for storage that is not always the case.
It is not unheard of for bands to use self storage units as practice space. Some people have bought units and used them like an extra room for their house and turning them into game rooms and other fun things like that. One renter in the UK runs a mixed martial arts training gym in his 800 square foot storage unit from 7 AM to 7 PM.
"I've wanted to run my own gym since I was 12," says Phillip Else, now 35 and a professional mixed martial arts trainer and fighter. "It's not a proper gym; it's not a David Lloyd – there aren't people on treadmills with their headphones in. But it's a hardworking gym, a fighting gym, and we like the spit-and-sawdust feel."
Sometimes the things people want to do are a bit more inventive. One self storage manager in Canada got a call from a person asking if he could rent a unit for his pet coyote to run around and play in.
Of course, whatever does go on in self storage units have to be something that is allowed under your rental agreement or at least not specifically prohibited.
There are some things that are pretty much no-brainers. Nothing illegal is allowed, i.e. drugs, hiding stolen goods, etc. One thing that goes without saying is illegal to do in a self storage unit is to live in it.
However, there is one case that has popped up at several self storage units across the UK that has some managers perplexed as to whether it qualifies as “inhabiting” the unit or if it is okay.
A number of people are using their self storage units like cheap hotels, as a spot for illicit affairs.
“Self storage is usually stable and boring, however we did had a couple who rented space, visited it regularly but never filled it up. This is taking ‘the big friendly storage company’ theme to an extreme,” said a manager at Lok n Store.
Another self storage manager said,”If you bring in drugs or explosives than you're thrown out straight away. A visit with a lady friend? Well, I suppose we'll turn a blind eye, though it's hardly going to be very comfortable, is it?"
When times are tough, sometimes you have to get creative!
Sources Used:
“Self-storage affairs of the heart.” The Telegraph; 07 May 2011.
“Strange ideas for a storage space.” Self Storage Social Network; 20 December 2009.
“Chambers of secrets: What people really get up to behind the steel shutters of Britain's private lock-ups.” The Observer; 29 November 2009.