You rent a unit because you need space, but you still need to answer one question: Do I need storage insurance for what I store? If you compare ‘storage insurance’, ‘self storage insurance’, or ‘contents insurance for storage unit’ options, you usually see the same core idea: cover applies to your goods while they sit in the unit, but it also comes with exclusions, limits, and steps you must follow. This guide explains what storage insurance covers, what storage unit insurance exclusions to look for, and how to value your items, so your declared amount reflects what you actually store.​

What does storage insurance cover?

• ‘Customers’ goods’ cover is insurance that a self-storage operator holds to cover customers’ property against loss or damage while it is stored. You become the beneficiary of that cover when you meet the obligations described in the Summary of Cover.​
• The Summary of Cover says you can claim for loss, destruction, or damage to your property unless an item or cause is excluded or restricted. This means you get cover in principle, but you must read the excluded and restricted lists before you decide what goes into the unit.​
• The Summary of Cover says the insurer settles a claim by replacement, repair, and/or compensation at its option. It also states it does not pay depreciation that results from the repair.​
• For total loss or damage beyond repair, the Summary of Cover states the settlement basis is ‘New for Old’ replacement or reinstatement (substantially the same as the original when new, but not better). It also states, ‘New for Old’ does not apply to household linen and clothing, and insurers take account of age, quality, degree of use, and market value for those items.​
• For documents, the Summary of Cover says settlement is limited to the physical cost of replacing the documents, including reasonable costs of reprinting, reissue, or reconstitution (and, where applicable, fresh research/exploration to obtain essential information). If you store paperwork, this pushes you toward scanning key documents, so you reduce the risk and the admin burden.​
• The Summary of Cover states that an excess applies, and you do not receive the first £50 of any claim. You factor this in when you decide whether it makes sense to insure low-value items or to focus coverage on higher-value contents.​
• The Summary of Cover says the cover is in force while your property is stored at the operator’s premises. It also says cover extends to loading/unloading or transit only where transportation into or out of the store is arranged by the operator, and then only for the specific events listed in the summary.​

Storage unit insurance exclusions (what to spot early)

• The Summary of Cover says theft cover does not apply unless it follows violent and forcible entry to, or exit from, the storage unit. When you think of ‘storage unit insurance exclusions,’ treat this as a key decision point because the claim can depend on evidence of forced access.​
• The Summary of Cover excludes accidental damage caused by you. This matters because many real-world losses happen during stacking, packing, and handling, so you reduce risk by packing well and leaving clear space for safe movement.​
• The Summary of Cover excludes loss or damage during loading/unloading and transit, except where the operator arranges transport and then only for listed perils (impact to or overturning of the vehicle or trailer, fire, lightning, explosion). If you plan a DIY move, do not assume the Summary describes coverage for your personal drive to the site.​
• “Excluded Property” in the Summary includes items that are irreplaceable or have sentimental or personal value, and it states that no amount is payable solely as compensation for personal or sentimental value. It also excludes money, coins, bullion, deeds, bonds, securities, livestock, plants, perishable goods, explosives, and flammables.​
• “Restricted Property” in the Summary includes jewellery, watches, precious stones, precious metals, and stamps exceeding £1,000 in total. It also sets a combined total limit of £15,000 for categories such as furs, fine art, perfumery, tobacco, cigars/cigarettes, beers/wines/spirits, and similar items.​
• The Summary restricts electronic items exceeding £15,000 in total and defines “electronic items” broadly (including phones, TVs, computers, software, hard drives, cameras, and other equipment). If you store business kit, you total it as one bucket before you decide what level of storage unit insurance you need.​
• The Summary excludes wear and tear, gradual deterioration, inherent vice, and latent defect. It also excludes mould, mildew, or rust unless it results from water ingress from a source external to your unit, and it excludes atmospheric or climatic causes (including loss or damage to property not suitable for storage within containers).​
• The Summary excludes ordinary leakage, ordinary loss in weight or volume, evaporation, and damage caused by leakage of liquid from any receptacle or container unless it comes from a source external to your unit. If you store liquids or anything that can leak, treat this as a red-flag risk and consider not storing it at all.​
• The Summary includes a “Pairs & Sets” exclusion, meaning if you claim for an item that is part of a pair or set, insurers pay the value of that item alone. This matters for matching items because you do not get extra compensation just because it forms part of a set.​
• The Summary excludes electrical, electronic, or mechanical derangement, and it excludes loss or damage to electronic equipment from configuration failure of controlling software and/or microchip. In plain terms, this cover is not a warranty for devices that stop working by themselves.​

How to value your items (so cover fits reality)

• The Summary of Cover requires you to declare the value of your property on a replacement-as-new basis. It also warns you not to under-value your property because the settlement can be reduced when you under-declare.​
• The Summary explains “Underinsurance”: if your declared value is less than the actual total value at the time of loss, you only receive the proportion of the loss that matches how much you declared versus the true total. This is why “what is the cheapest cover” is the wrong question, and “what value do I actually store” is the right one.​
• Build a two-list inventory so you do it fast and still stay accurate: list big-ticket items first (TVs, laptops, bikes, tools), then list “box groups” (kitchen box, books box, clothes box). This method keeps you aligned with the Summary’s replacement-as-new valuation expectation without turning it into a full-time project.​
• Price boxes in bundles, not item-by-item: you estimate what it costs to replace a full box with similar items new, then you round up slightly to reflect forgotten small items. This stops the most common under-valuation issue, where small items quietly become the largest part of the total.
• Split restricted categories into separate totals before you set your declared value: you add up jewellery as one figure and electronics as another. This helps you spot whether you sit near or above the Summary’s restricted-property thresholds and whether you should store those items elsewhere.​
• Keep proof as you build the inventory: the Summary asks for proof of ownership (including receipts) where possible and evidence to show replacement value for items lost, stolen, or beyond repair. You make this easy by saving receipts in a folder and taking clear photos of high-value items and their serial numbers.​

If you need to claim (steps renters miss)

• The Summary says you must report any loss or damage to your self-storage operator immediately upon discovery and before removing any items from your unit. It also says you must provide full details of your claim within seven (7) days of discovery.​
• The Summary requires photographs of damaged items and further photographs showing all items stored, including undamaged items. Take wide shots first, then close-ups, because you want to show both the loss and the full context of what is in the unit.​
• The Summary says you must make every effort to prevent further damage, including moving wet items away from undamaged property and away from any water source or leak. Acting fast here protects your goods and also supports the claim record.​
• For theft, the Summary says you must photograph the door, walls, or padlock to evidence forced access and notify the police immediately, taking note of the Crime Reference Number. Without this evidence trail, you can struggle to meet the Summary’s theft conditions.​
• The Summary says you must not repair or replace items until you have authorisation, and it says you may need repair estimates for insurer approval where items can be professionally repaired. If you replace too early, you can lose the ability to evidence damage and value in the way the Summary expects.​

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