The Top 5 Best Self-Storage in Belfast – Find the Perfect Storage Facilities Near You

Self-storage prices vary by region and are ultimately determined by the size of the unit you rent, and the type of belongings you plan to store in there. Additionally, other factors such as local demand and availability for certain sizes of storage units in a market can also affect the price of a self-storage unit.

Nevertheless, it is important to compare various self-storage prices as these vary so much from one company to another and most companies tend to ask for weekly or monthly payments. Here are the average storage costs for storage units:

• Smaller units (11 to 25 sq ft) – £25 to £70 per month
• Medium size units (50 to 110 sq ft) – £85 to £180 per month
• Bigger units (135 to 300 sq ft) – £240 to £260 per month

(*Coventry Self Storage)

The size of self-storage needed is highly dependent on your personal needs. This is because there are varieties of self-storage units to choose from. However, if you have never used a self-storage unit previously, this might be a challenging choice.

A majority of self-storage facilities offer a wide range of storage units for rent, which consists of basic self-storage unit sizes that generally range from 5 × 5 ft. (which is one of the smallest storage units) to 20 × 100 ft.

If you are confused about the storage size you need, most self-storage companies provide a storage size calculator on their website that allows customers to figure out the storage size they need.

 Here is a table with popular storage options and their equivalent:

Just as you have insurance for your health, you must insure your belongings whilst in storage as most self-storage companies in the UK won’t include insurance with unit rentals. Self-storage insurance is vital because things can go amiss and if you store particularly valuable items, then they need to be insured as well. With insurance, your belongings are protected from hazards such as floods, fires, break-ins, explosions, civil commotion, and windstorms or hail. Even if most self-storage facilities are very safe, accidents are unpredictable and can be outside of the storage company’s control, which is why you need insurance. Nevertheless, self-storage unit insurance coverage varies from company to company, hence it is important to ask for full details.

Every self-storage company has its minimum rental period and it’s generally two weeks. If you’re remodeling your home or you just want to store some items for a short period, you can rent a storage unit with self-storage companies from two weeks to even long-term as most companies won’t have a maximum rental period. Note that self-storage companies usually ask for a 2-week notice before you leave.

Before renting a storage unit, it’s important to get informed about the self-storage access hours. Note that it will often depend on the store if they have multiple locations. Not all self-storage companies are accessible around the clock and those who do might have restrictions on who can use their 24-hour service. Thus, few self-storage companies have 24/7 access especially if the customer books ahead of time. But it’s not impossible to find one that does.

One of the benefits of 24/7 access to a self-storage unit is that you can access your belongings any time of the day and whenever you’d like. Some self-storage companies instead offer 7 days of access, while others operate only 5 days a week and during business hours alone. Some are even closed on Sundays. Additionally, some storage companies can offer extended access hours if the customer asks for it in advance. 

Ensure you’re informed of the company opening hours and that they clearly explain to you special access before you rent a storage unit.

Most self-storage companies will forbid those categories of items as they are illegal and can create hazards or hygiene problems to facilities and customers: 

• Animals – Whether alive or dead, it is not permitted to store animals in a self-storage unit. This is because it is illegal and unsafe to keep any living entity in a storage unit.
• Tires– Tires are not to be stored in a self-storage unit because it requires lots of money to discard them if they are left behind. 
• Illegal/firearm goods – It is not permitted to store illegal firearms in a storage unit because it could lead to prosecution of both the owner and the self-storage company.
• Flammable or toxic materials – The storage of any flammable, toxic, or hazardous materials such as compressed gas, propane tanks, kerosene, motor oil, acid, grease, corrosives, fertilizers, etc. is highly prohibited.

Perishable food items – All perishable food items cannot be stored in a self-storage unit because, after a while, they tend to decay and attract vermin.

Whether you are moving or simply looking to store belongings safely, you might be interested in the portable storage concept (also known as mobile storage, container storage and box storage). Mobile storage is very convenient as the storage box will typically be deposited directly on your driveway and it can then be filled easily within your desired timeframe. The container then gets moved back to the company’s facilities where it will be stored. An advantage of portable containers is that they are bigger than standard regular units and thus great for removals. However, as these are large containers that are usually stacked on top of each other, your unit may not be easily accessible. 

Portable storage is great when you’re looking to store your belongings for a short duration such as during a move and if you know you won’t need to access them frequently.