What Not to Store in a Storage Unit

Posted by Ashima S on April 19th, 2019

Even with the benefits that come with a self-storage unit, there are restrictions to what you can store and what you cannot. Therefore, it is highly recommended for you to find out what can be kept in a storage facility and what cannot. If you keep what is not allowed in a self-storage unit, you may either incur losses or face legal charges depending on what you kept in there. Therefore, self-storage unit customers should stay advised that there are things not to keep in a storage unit. Here are some of the common types…

Valuable Items

This is first, for your own safety. High-end items and any form of valuables should not find their way into a public storage facility. Anything that would be tempting enough to force people to break into a self-storage store should not be kept in there. Even with the security measures put in place, it is advisable not to keep such items in a self-storage unit. It is not worth it putting your highly-valued items to such great risks. Always have them with you all the time if you really value them.

Live Pets and Animals

This is not uncommon. There are those who have thought using a self-storage unit to be a good idea for storing pets in them. It is unlawful to do so and the self-storage owners know it. Therefore don’t expect to leave any live animal a storage facility. There are options for dealing with your pet if you are traveling like leaving it with a friend. Keeping them in a dark room for a long time is not an option.

Stolen Goods

Self-storage units are not rooms for illegal activities. All many people are tempted to do so, it is against the public storage regulations. If you don’t have legal ownership of the items, don’t think of putting them in a public storage facility. This also includes an item whose true owner has not permitted for such kind of storage. If the management finds out of such a case, the security authorities may be called upon to conduct investigations. This will land you in problems with the legal authority for being in possession of illegal goods.

Plants

It is not animals alone. Plants are also excluded from the items that one would keep in a storage facility. We all know that plants need fresh air, water and light to thrive. All these conditions are not available in a storage unit. For that reason, it would be pointless to keep plants in a storage facility. If you cannot carry the plants to your new destination, you can always donate them to family and friends. It is better to do so than killing them in a storage unit.

Hazardous substances

Substances considered hazardous should not find their way into a self-storage unit. This includes anything that has the potential to cause damage if spilled or opened. Good examples in this category include explosive materials, corrosive and flammable substances. All these pose serious risks of damaging the premises in no time. Therefore, storage facilities are not available for such items as aerosol cans, gasoline, paint thinners, weed killers, liquor, charcoal, car batteries, and fireworks among others!

Food Items

Self-storage safety rules don’t allow the storage of food items in these facilities. This covers all kinds of foodstuffs including those for your pets. Leaving food in an enclosure for such a long time raises safety concerns. The food may either start to smell and attract rodents to the store or even rot. As rodents find their way into the store, they can lead to further damages on other items kept in the store.  If not, bacterial and mold can develop on the rotting food making the situation worse.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for storage units Boston services, be informed that there are goods that you cannot keep in them. Having information about this will help you stay on the right side of the law and most important safeguard you from incurring losses. If you are not sure of whether it is legal to keep certain items or not, it is important to consult with the management for guidance. Don’t assume anything because a simple mistake can turn out to be a huge problem.