Self storage uwing ex shipping conatiners

Ben M

Member
Location
Suffolk
Would like to hear from anyone who has had success using storage containers as self storage on a decent scale, say 30+ 20ft units. Thanks
 

JACK F

Member
Location
Essex
Keep buying the odd one to help with my own storage then seem to end up letting them and buying another. Got 8 40ft's let now and would say 4 are behind on rent. If you do it, do it properly with strict contracts, and minimum 3 months up front. Spent 10 times more time chasing money on these than all other houses/industrial units put together. That said it is easy money with each one paying for themselves in under 2 years.
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
Whats makes you suggest more trouble then they are worth?

Bad payers, even of they're on direct debit, they could be storing things that cost more money to get rid of than 2 years rent. People in and out of the yard constantly till late at night or weekends, bringing 'friends' or people they're working with.

If a 20' container is around £1800 then £20 a week, it takes nearly 2 years to pay, plus any concrete apron and pad if you're doing it right.
 

Ben M

Member
Location
Suffolk
All them factors are relevant to any form of self storage though imo, not container specific. A decent order of good, hardly used 20ft containers is more like £1,250 and £25 a week is a likely figure, so pay back within the year...presuming full occupancy. No right or wrong answers, just wondered of experience of actual container self storage then general self store...
 

JACK F

Member
Location
Essex
Whats makes you suggest more trouble then they are worth?
One I had were good as gold for two years then no payment. Did not answer phone calls or letters then written. After 6 months emptied container to re let and left stuff in old un weatherproof shed for a year. Then got skip in and got stuff disposed of stuff 18 months later after researching company and seeing they had dissolved after going bankrupt. Year later bloke comes in yard ( 3 years after last payment) asking where his stuff was. Not the bloke I had rented to, saying that it was his property and he had sub let the container. Fortunately had contract in place saying that no space could be sublet and records of all letters, emails etc I had sent saying that property was going to be destroyed. He wanted £10,000 cash for him not to go to police for me destroying his property, which then went to £5000, to £1000 and not heard anything since. Was quite worrying at the time but basically they were trying to get cash out of me for their un saleable goods they had left in the container.
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
One I had were good as gold for two years then no payment. Did not answer phone calls or letters then written. After 6 months emptied container to re let and left stuff in old un weatherproof shed for a year. Then got skip in and got stuff disposed of stuff 18 months later after researching company and seeing they had dissolved after going bankrupt. Year later bloke comes in yard ( 3 years after last payment) asking where his stuff was. Not the bloke I had rented to, saying that it was his property and he had sub let the container. Fortunately had contract in place saying that no space could be sublet and records of all letters, emails etc I had sent saying that property was going to be destroyed. He wanted £10,000 cash for him not to go to police for me destroying his property, which then went to £5000, to £1000 and not heard anything since. Was quite worrying at the time but basically they were trying to get cash out of me for their un saleable goods they had left in the container.
This is a very important point, you are liable for their stuff even if they pay nothing. I don't think contracts make much difference, there is a duty of care that quite frankly I find absurd.
Be careful, I think if they really wanted to they could mount a legal claim to the value of the stuff they had there.
The law is an ass, and needs rewriting imo
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
All them factors are relevant to any form of self storage though imo, not container specific. A decent order of good, hardly used 20ft containers is more like £1,250 and £25 a week is a likely figure, so pay back within the year...presuming full occupancy. No right or wrong answers, just wondered of experience of actual container self storage then general self store...
I'd go for once used containers, so you know the roofs are good,

£20 is more realistic I'd have said, that what's there advertised for next to the A1. I think the higher rates come from, insulated storage containers.

I wouldn't go into any type of self storage, I would only let to a company.
 
hello ben,

a few points to consider from my experience!

i would be surprised if you can get single trip containers delivered for £1250, last one i bought 6 months ago cost £1800 inc delivery if i remember right. normally its two delivered for £300.

my containers have been rates assessed at approximately 25% of turnover

i would assume a non payment rate of 10-15% is reasonable.

Plus there is VAT on containers also.

i get £100 inc vat per month
 

Cowcalf

Member
This is a very important point, you are liable for their stuff even if they pay nothing. I don't think contracts make much difference, there is a duty of care that quite frankly I find absurd.
Be careful, I think if they really wanted to they could mount a legal claim to the value of the stuff they had there.
The law is an ass, and needs rewriting imo


how can you be liable for their stuff unless written into agreement, ( the guys with safe deposit boxes were not covered so how would a container be ) and who would know what had been in the container before it was broken into , any figure could be claimed if that was the case
 

JACK F

Member
Location
Essex
This is a very important point, you are liable for their stuff even if they pay nothing. I don't think contracts make much difference, there is a duty of care that quite frankly I find absurd.
Be careful, I think if they really wanted to they could mount a legal claim to the value of the stuff they had there.
The law is an ass, and needs rewriting imo
Was worried at the time and took legal advice. Thought I covered myself well with contract but as you say this really does not protect you much. Fortunately kept good records of letters, phone calls and emails to prove I had done all I could to make contact. Could prove also company had ceased trading and actually kept goods for an extra 18 months after I had said they were destroyed. Told they could have still taken me to court though. If proved a criminal act of me destroying their property then I would have to pay them, if not criminal then my insurance should cover it. Goods however were valueless and the blokes were trying it on in this case. If they had taken me to court the rent they owed far exceeded the value of the goods.
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
I thought that after 12 months of non payment, goods ect were classed as abandoned and and were able too be got rid of?
You thought wrong I'm afraid, you can sell the goods, but you have to keep records of the proceeds, and if they return looking for them they are within their rights to claim against you for loss, hence being able to show what you sold their old tat for.

Very, very wrong but that is the situation I found myself in with a serial bankrupt con artist. he was only fit for a very long swim wearing very heavy boots.:mad:
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
how can you be liable for their stuff unless written into agreement, ( the guys with safe deposit boxes were not covered so how would a container be ) and who would know what had been in the container before it was broken into , any figure could be claimed if that was the case
There is a big difference between stuff getting nicked and you selling it to cover rent.
 

Ben M

Member
Location
Suffolk
hello ben,

a few points to consider from my experience!

i would be surprised if you can get single trip containers delivered for £1250, last one i bought 6 months ago cost £1800 inc delivery if i remember right. normally its two delivered for £300.

my containers have been rates assessed at approximately 25% of turnover

i would assume a non payment rate of 10-15% is reasonable.

Plus there is VAT on containers also.

i get £100 inc vat per month
Thanks andrew, yes only one i bought was 1800 but doing bit of digging around, a one off big order could substantially lower that figure. Its all just thinking really, not something im likely to do soon. Just wondered how container storage differed to say, self storage stable units, indoor wood boxes etc. Can rates not be included in what you charge?
 

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