When looking for a place to live, either temporarily or permanently, a storage unit usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However for a few people, inhabiting a storage unit may be tempting. The main reason for this being cost.
Renting a house/apartment etc. can be expensive, whereas the rent on a storage facility can seem more affordable. So why not try and live in one? If the thought has ever crossed your mind, we are here to outline some of the reasons why living in a storage facility is not the best idea.
Is it legal to live in a storage unit?
The simple answer – no. It is not even legal to sleep in storage facilities. This is because the units are not built to be inhabited by anyone or anything. They do not have proper ventilation, lack insulation, and do not have the requirements for basic human needs such as running water, or a toilet. They also do not have any power, making it impossible for you to use any electricity. The living conditions of a storage unit would be very poor, not to mention the complete lack of natural light is not good for your health, both mentally and physically. For all these reasons and more, living in a storage facility is dangerous and illegal. But let’s dive deeper into why.
Liability and safety
As mentioned above storage units are not built to be lived in – and is illegal. This means, should you try to inhabit one, changes to the unit itself would need to be made. Things like extension cords can sound like a brilliant idea to get electricity into your unit, but running multiple appliances off one cord is extremely dangerous. If one of the appliances surges, or even the extension cord itself, this could result in a fire breaking out. In such a small space, the fire would spread rapidly and could also result in your neighboring units becoming damaged too. The worst case scenario of this is someone losing their life.
Other changes to the unit, such as building in insulation, would also need to be made. The units are not built to retain heat, so in the winter they will be freezing. On the flip side of this, in the summer, the unit will act like a tin can and trap in the stuffy air. The make-shift insulation and the extension cord combined are also a disaster waiting to happen and a serious fire hazard.
The ventilation of a unit is extremely poor. As noted, there are no windows to open and gain a surge of fresh air, and the only way in and out is the one door which will need to remain closed. This will result in a lack of properly circulated air which is not good for your health.
The door itself is also a hazard. Typically they are not meant to be opened from the inside and if you are sneaking into your unit to live (and you will need to sneak in as no storage facility will allow you to inhabit a unit) you will need to close your door to not get caught. Even if you do leave the door slightly ajar, chances are the facility workers will notice the door left open and push it closed. This can result in you being trapped in there with no way of escape unless someone happens to open your storage unit – and then you will be in trouble for breaking the law.
It’s unsanitary
A storage unit is not built with sanitary options such as showers and toilets. This means that choosing to live in one will be very unsanitary. Not only will you not be able to use the toilet when you need to, you will not be able to clean up. Yes, most facilities may have public toilets on site you could use, but during the night time this could be a huge risk and could result in you getting caught.
Not only will there be nowhere for you to shower, but there will be nowhere for you to do little things like clean your dirty pots, or even wash your hands. With no running water, none of these things will be possible and will affect your health.
Mental health
Storage units are usually the size of a small room. Although they can come in different shapes and sizes, none are big enough for a person to live in. The sheer lack of space combined with the enclosed walls with no windows and natural light can seriously harm your mental health. Although you may be fine for the first couple of days you soon will start to feel isolated – physically and mentally – and alone. As you will also need to sneak in and out of the unit, your interaction with other people will also need to be kept to a minimum around the facility. You may also become constantly on edge due to all the sneaking around you will be having to do and keeping quiet. This again, can negatively impact your mental health.
Although living in a storage unit may seem like a viable option at the time, it is not worth risking your mental wellbeing and your health.
The unit cost
As noted above, in order for you to “successfully” live in a storage unit you will need to make changes to the unit itself. This can be anything from placing insulation onto the walls, building shelves to store your things, creating a hole for your extension cord to go through, you name it. All of these things will result in you having to modify the unit and ultimately breaking most storage facility contracts. When you do move out (or get caught) you will more than likely have to pay damage fees for the modifications you made.
Wiring up an extension cord to the facility’s electrics can seem like a stroke of genius. Not only will you have running electrics but you will be getting it all for free. However, after a while the facility will start to absorb the cost. The electrics will be running on a daily basis and much more often than they are used to. This could encourage the facility to increase their rent prices to cover the cost of your electricity. They could also become suspicious of the electricity rates being used and decide to investigate this.
Security
Most storage facilities have a dedicated team and CCTV system solely for watching the units. Their main responsibility is to keep your storage items safe. However, believe it or not, it is quite common for people to attempt to live in their units. For this reason, they are also on high alert for any abnormal behaviour which may allude to someone inhabiting the storage space. Most facilities also have a log system which can track who has come in and out of the building. If the amount of times you are entering does not add up with the amount you are leaving, and/or you are entering late at night and not seeming to exit until morning, this will flag up.
The storage companies are not monitoring this to spoil your fun or to be mean. They are actually looking out for your safety and health. It is not that they would rather see someone without a roof over their head, it is just a principle of knowing that living in a storage unit is not safe and also not legal.
Other options
Although it may feel like living in your storage unit is a good, if not, the only option you have, there are always other solutions. People occupying their storage space temporarily, and in some cases permanently, is more common than you may think. Speak to your facility manager; you may be surprised how many times they have had the same conversation with others, and they just might be able to get you in touch with the relevant people who can offer solutions to your situation.
