Self storage offers many businesses a place where they can bring most of their business operations, allowing them to get their home back to normal. Within some self storage companies, you will find offices to rent which will allow you to bring all your business operations over to the self storage company. In the event that the company doesn’t have office spaces to rent, can you use self storage as an office?

Within this article we will answer the question – can I use self storage as my office? And guide you through the things you need to consider before deciding to do this.

Can I Use Self Storage As My Office?

The short answer is yes. 

Yes, you can use your self storage as your office but there are some things that need to be considered such as making sure you set it up in a practical and safe way. 

What Is Self Storage?

Self storage is an industry which began in the 1960s in the US. The first self storage facility in the UK was called Abbey Self Storage and was opened by Doug Hampson in central London in 1979. 

Self storage facilities offer storage units which you can rent in order to store domestic or business assets. The units are usually housed within a secure facility and often come in a variety of sizes. 

The primary use of self storage units is to store business stock and/or equipment or personal belongings whilst doing something such as house renovations or moving home. Self storage gives you a safe place to store these items.  

Legal and Practical Considerations

Before deciding to use your self storage unit as an office it is important that you check with the facility manager that this is okay. We can tell you that it is fine to do this at Cinch Self Storage but we cannot speak for other self storage facilities. 

Even with our units, you will want to talk to the team as not all our units have electricity sockets so you will need to rent a unit that has these installed. 

Also, within some regions, you cannot legally register a storage unit as a business address. This is due to local regulations, the nature of your business,insurance and liabilities etc. An easy fix for this is to register your home as your business address and then use a storage unit to run your business from.  

Benefits of Using Self Storage as an Office

There are many benefits to using self storage as an office. Here we will discuss some of the benefits.

Cost-effective 

Using self storage as an office can be much more cost effective than renting a traditional office space. With an average rental rate of £29.13, businesses operating from a storage unit can save a significant amount of money compared to renting a traditional office space. 

Flexible rental agreements 

Many self storage companies offer flexible rental contracts which will allow you to make alterations to the unit you are renting or, if you need to, leave it before your rental period has expired. With our flexible rental agreements, if you want to leave your unit earlier than expected, we just need 14 days notice.

And the flexibility doesn’t stop there. Self storage companies will have a variety of units for you to choose from, giving you plenty of options when it comes to choosing a unit. 

Security 

Self storage facilities are often well lit, clean and extremely secure due to high-quality security systems, 

Our self storage is manned by 24/7 CCTV surveillance and each of the units is fitted with an intruder alarm and smoke and fire detectors, making our facility a very safe place to keep your stock and business files when you are not on site.

Tips for Setting Up a Storage Unit Office (if applicable)

If you are using your self storage unit to store stock as well as an office, you will want to make the most of the space. 

You can add shelving or racks in order to store your stock in an organised manner whilst leaving space to set up a desk and chair for your office space. What equipment you will need within your office will obviously be dependent on the type of business you have.  

Safety and Security Concerns

Self storage facilities will see a lot of people moving in and moving out and some people could be using their unit in order to store large, heavy items. And many people will be using trolleys in order to move their belongings. It is important that you remember this when walking about the self storage facility and take notice of what is happening around you. 

When it comes to security aspects, we do all we can to keep your unit safe but you have to have the same diligence. Do not tell your pin-code to anyone who is not authorised to enter your unit and make sure to buy a high-quality padlock for your unit. 

Using Self Storage as my Office

Yes, you can indeed use your self storage as an office and doing this comes with a great deal of benefits. It is much more cost effective, you will have a flexible rental contract and you can rest assured that your belongings will be kept safe. 

There is a lot to consider too though and you must speak with the facility team before deciding to use your self storage unit as an office. You will need to do thorough research and consider all the factors. 

If you would like to know more about our self storage, please head to our website to find your local store.