Are There Cancellation Fees For Storage Units In The UK?

Yes, some providers will charge a cancellation fee if you no longer need your storage unit; however, this will vary between storage companies.

While not all providers charge a cancellation fee, some can be fairly strict when it comes to the cancelling process, a notice period and rules about refunding. 

At The Box Co., our storage by the box solutions offer maximum flexibility with no need to pay a cancellation fee or any extra costs - simply pay for the amount of time you want to store with us. When you’re ready to have your items back, we deliver them within 48 hours. No fuss, no unwanted fees, just simple storage!

 

Do Storage Companies in the UK Charge Cancellation Fees?

 

Some storage companies charge a cancellation fee for cancelling your unit; however, most UK providers won’t charge a fee just for the cancellation of a storage unit. 

What you need to be aware of is notice periods and outstanding payments as this is where added fees might arise.

For example, certain storage providers have strict policies about the cancellation process which must be properly followed to avoid any fees. This might include a certain amount of days in advance that you will need to give notice.

You also need to ensure that any payments have been made on time. If you have missed any payments you could incur late fees, lose your deposit or even lose access to your items.

 

What to Know About Notice Periods for Storage Units

 

More than cancellation fees, the best thing to inform yourself about is the notice period policy at your storage facility. 

This varies from storage company to storage company but could be: 

No notice needed

More flexible storage companies like The Box Co. allow you to leave whenever you want to, without any additional fees. You just pay for the days that your items were in storage.

7 days

A 7 day notice period is common across many UK storage companies.

14 days notice

Major storage providers and national chains may require 14 days notice. 

+14 days notice

Not common for general self-storage, some larger units or business storage may require as much as 28-30 days notice.

Whatever the notice period, it should be outlined in the initial storage contract so make sure to check.

 

Do Storage Units in the UK Have Cooling-Off Periods?

 

Some UK storage companies will have a “cooling-off period” - a legally mandated timeframe where, upon signing a contract for the storage unit, the consumer can change their mind, cancel their agreement and be refunded, without any penalty.

For certain storage companies, this period is 14 days. During this time, the consumer may be able to cancel and be refunded for any unused days as long as they have cleared their stuff out of the unit. 

Again, this is something that can be checked in the storage contract as the exact arrangements will vary between different storage companies.

 

Can You Get a Refund if you Cancel Your Storage Unit in the UK?

 

Refunds are sometimes available if you cancel your storage unit but usually only if you have followed the cancellation process, given notice according to their policy and have cleared your unit out. 

If you meet those requirements, you may be entitled to:

• A refund of unused rent - usually on a pro-rata basis for any days paid beyond your move-out date
• Deposit - your deposit will be returned based on the storage facility inspecting the unit and confirming that it is empty, clean and undamaged.

For those who fail to give a proper notice, they’ll likely be charged until the end of the notice period.

 

What Happens if You Fail to Pay or Abandon Your Storage Unit?

 

When you sign a contract for a storage unit it is legally binding. That means that if you stop paying you are in breach of the contract. 

This could result in:

• Late fees
• Restricted access to your items
• Legal notices sent out
• Possible possession and sale of your items at auction

Failing to make timely payments could lead to important legal and financial ramifications. If the storage facility reports the missed payment, it could impact your credit score. This, in turn, could make it more difficult to get a mortgage, rent a flat or even apply for jobs in the future.

 

How Can You Cancel Your Storage Unit?

 

There are a few steps to take if you want to cancel your storage unit.

Check the contract

This will tell you the cancellation process and specify any notice period.

 

Tell your provider

If you're storing with a company like The Box Co., just let us know so we can arrange the redelivery of your items back to you!

Give notice (if needed)

Notice can usually be given by email but it is always good to check.

Clear your storage unit

Make sure you take all your belongings with you and leave the unit clean and in good condition. You might need to get someone to come and check the unit before you leave,

Return keys

Where relevant, you’ll need to return any keys or access cards.

Then, if you are entitled to a refund, the storage company should confirm your cancellation and that a refund is on the way.

 

Keep Your Storage Flexible with The Box Co.

Don’t get caught out with tricky cancellation policies and hidden fees. At The Box Co., we offer fully flexible storage solutions so that you only ever pay for what you store and for the length of time that you’re storing with us.

You can store your items with us for as long as you need, customising the storage duration to fit your specific timeline.

Get a quote today for a personalised storage solution!