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Why Self Storage Is Continuing to Thrive During the Pandemic
The self-storage industry is continuing to thrive even during the coronavirus pandemic – in contrast to many other property-based industries which have seen rents and occupancy badly affected.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer Safe N Stored self-storage rentals at two sites near Diss, look at why this sector is still in high demand from both domestic and commercial customers.
An Upsurge in Home Improvements
The UK’s Self Storage Association (SSAUK) reports that many people are taking advantage of the enforced absence from work and the additional time spent at home by carrying out major renovation projects on their properties. In many cases householders need somewhere to put bulky items such as furniture while the work is being done.
Shops and Businesses’ Need for More Space
The SSAUK has also noted that businesses need more space on the shop floor to implement the social distancing and cleaning measures as laid down by the Government’s health experts. This has seen an increase in stock being sent into self-storage units.
Some businesses have consciously made the decision to downsize, or close temporarily, and consequently need somewhere secure to store some of their office equipment, such as high-tech goods like PCs and laptops, as well as paperwork and records.
The Revival of the Housing Market
The property market has remained strong during 2021. Estate agents have been able to conduct house viewings and buyers are still able to move, despite the coronavirus restrictions in place across the UK.
Many people, particularly first-time buyers, have been looking to take advantage of the extended stamp duty holiday announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. This has meant that, in England, buyers will pay no property purchase tax on dwellings costing under £500,000 provided they complete before the end of June 2021 (after that the subsidy will be gradually reduced).
This has seen a big rise in the number of house purchases. For example, 190,980 house sales went through in March this year, almost double the number recorded a year earlier and 32% more than in February, as buyers sought to meet an initial deadline. And the more house moves there are, the more people use self-storage as a temporary measure. Some people need to declutter before moving day, while others find themselves stuck in a chain or between houses – or simply prefer to move their belongings into their new home gradually rather than on one stressful day.
There are other reasons why self-storage is still flourishing among property owners. Some families are consciously downsizing because of financial worries relating to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, meaning they have a lot of possessions which they don’t have space for any longer. Also, many renters, particularly Millennials and the younger generation, have been moving back in with their parents or families during the lockdowns and need somewhere to store their belongings.
The Personal Reasons Still Apply
The SSAUK notes that the traditional, life-changing events are still happening and so people are continuing to use self-storage if there has been a birth or death in the family, or a relationship has either started or finished.
When a new baby arrives, families may need to use a self-storage unit to help create space for a nursery. A bereavement also means you may have a house clearance to sort out, or possessions to sell; putting items into storage will give you some valuable time to make a decision about what to keep and what to sell.
The Contactless Nature of the Business
Self-storage facilities are relatively low risk when it comes to health and social distancing measures. Households can still use their storage rooms or units (and don’t need to go into anyone else’s) avoiding contact with anyone else.
Many storage companies have introduced a system of contactless payments and online booking appointments which reduces the need for face-to-face interaction even further.
Self-Storage Rentals near Diss from Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals is continuing to operate its two self-storage depots, at Aldeby and Harleston. Our self-storage site at Harleston, which has a number of self-storage rooms of different sizes, is currently open Monday to Friday from 09:15am – 17:15pm (if you need to visit your unit outside these times call our sales team to see if this can be arranged). The premises are protected around the clock by CCTV cameras which are linked to Norfolk Police.
Our Aldeby base has a number of self-storage containers from 5’ to 20’ in size making it ideal for larger items such as motorbikes and caravans. The containers are also protected by CCTV and has both secure key fob entry and high security padlocks.
Social distancing is in place at both sites, and at Harleston, where our packaging materials store is located, we are still despatching online orders. Our shop stocks cartons of various sizes (and for specific items such as pictures and clothes), as well as bubblewrap, tissue paper and tape.
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