Storage Rental Agreement

What Are the Main Types of Storage Units?

The main types of storage units are mobile, indoor, drive-up and outdoor. Renting a unit is a good way to free up space at home and keep your things secure, whether you need room for a small vehicle, unused furniture, a private closet for papers, or just extra space.

A few questions help you pick the right type:

• How much room do your items take up?
• Will you visit the unit often, or only once in a while?
• Do your things need shelter from rain, heat or humidity?
• Do you plan to park a vehicle in the unit?

Mobile

You may need storage space on your property for a short period of time while you are renovating. To solve this problem, individual containers or pods are delivered to your home and left for an agreed-upon period of time by mobile storage companies. These options come in a variety of sizes and materials.

Indoor

Indoor storage comes in a variety of sizes, from small closets to huge rooms. Dollies or other equipment may be available to help move things from your car to your storage unit. During working hours, employees might also be available to help with heavy lifting.

Drive-Up

These units are available in a variety of sizes and the height varies depending on the type of storage facility. These rooms’ doors are made of a special material that rolls up like a garage door. However, even though they seem to be garages, check with management to see if the company allows vehicles to be parked there.

Outdoor

An outdoor storage unit is a common and cost-effective option since many vehicles are commonly stored in outdoor plots. Covers with wire mesh partitions are popular materials to use in an outdoor setup. You’ll want to look for various types of storage units if your things need to be protected from rain and other weather.

What Does a Storage Rental Agreement Cover?

A storage rental agreement covers the payment setup, the rules for using the unit, the notice each side gives and each side’s responsibilities. Some self-storage contracts are straightforward, whereas others can leave you completely perplexed, so read every part before you sign on the dotted line.

Each commercial lease template is unique, as terms can differ depending on the laws of each state. These four main areas will be covered in all contracts:

1. Discuss the payment setup. The monthly payment due will be specified in any contract when renting a unit. It will also specify how payments will be accepted, such as by electronic means, check, or credit card.
2. Follow guidelines. Every property has its own set of rules, and every lease should clearly explain what a lessee can and cannot do with their unit. The contract’s liability clauses should also indicate what will happen if either party violates the law, which may include an additional fee, eviction, or even financial loss.
3. Give timely notifications. Almost all self-storage contracts are month-to-month, so if you don’t call to give notice by a certain date, your contract can renew for another month. When preparing to shift things out of your storage unit, keep those timelines in mind. There could be other times when you need to notify the property owner, such as if you’ve moved to a new place or changed your phone number.
4. Check the scope of your responsibility. A lease agreement for self-storage is a two-way route. The facility has some rights and obligations too. There are limits on what they can and cannot do, and those limits should be spelled out in the contract. Facilities normally have fixed, non-negotiable terms for the safety of all occupants in accordance with the law. While each party has his or her own responsibilities, most of the liability rests on the owner, so all provisions in the contract must be clear.

Storage Rental Agreement Form Details

The FormsPal storage rental agreement is a PDF made for one owner and one occupant. It has 42 fillable fields and takes about 9 minutes to fill out.

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Filling Out the Storage Rental Agreement

These steps follow the FormsPal template this page hands out. Create it online with the Create My Document button, or download the PDF and complete it with the FormsPal PDF editor. Work through the steps in order. The names and amounts in the screenshots are made-up examples.

Have these details ready before you start:

• The names of the owner and the occupant
• The property address, the unit number and the monthly rent
• The fees the owner charges and the address for rent payments
• The start date and the occupant’s phone number, mailing address and email

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Storage Rental Agreement template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.

Step 1: Date, Owner and Occupant names

Type the agreement date, the Owner’s full name and the Occupant’s full name in the three blanks of the opening paragraph. The Owner is the landlord and the Occupant is the tenant who rents the unit.

Step 2: Section 1: Basic Information

Fill in the property name and address, the monthly rent, the day rent is due, the start date and the storage unit number. Then enter the Occupant’s name, both phone numbers, mailing address and email.

For example, write the rent as $300 and the due date as Every 15th. A home or a business address both work as the mailing address.

Step 3: Military, insurance and climate-control boxes

Tick each box in Section 1 that applies: Occupant is in the Military, Insurance provided by Owner, and Climate Control. If the Owner provides insurance, enter the cost and the “per” period, such as a month. The facility can tell you the cost.

Items such as leather or untreated wood are worth a second thought if the unit has no climate control.

Step 4: Lock provided by Owner or Occupant

Tick Lock provided by Owner or Lock provided by Occupant, whichever you agree on. Many occupants bring their own lock. If the Owner provides the lock, enter a lock fee in Section 9 (step 7).

Step 5: Section 5: Maximum Value

Sections 2 to 4 and Section 6 are printed text with nothing to fill in, so read them before you move on. In Section 5, enter the highest total value of the items you plan to store in the unit.

For section 5, write the estimated value of the property stored inside the storage unit. To avoid complications, landlords may limit the maximum value to the amount covered by the policy provider. You may ask the landlord to include this information on blank 1, but take note that the owner is not liable for theft or loss.

Once both parties agree to Sections 2 to 6, you may now proceed with filling out the next section.

Step 6: Section 7: payment address

Write the address where rent payments are delivered or mailed. If the facility’s office is somewhere else, confirm the address with the owner. Section 8, Right of Access, sits just above it and has no blanks.

The above section discusses the strict guidelines for access. These are usually non-negotiable but writing a simple written notice can allow access to other family members or trusted friends.

Step 7: Section 9: fees due at signing

Tick each fee that applies and write the dollar amount beside it:

• Security deposit: tick the box if the owner asks for one.
• Lock fee: tick it if the Owner provides the lock in step 4.
• New account fee: tick it if the facility charges a one-time fee to set up your account.
• Monthly invoice fee: tick it if you want the owner to mail you a monthly invoice.

Step 8: Section 9: late fee and other charges

Enter the number of days before a late fee applies, then the late fee, the return check charge and the auction or publication fee. Use the dollar amount the owner quotes for each one.

Step 9: Section 9: lock cut fee

Write the Lock Cut Fee amount in the last sentence of Section 9, at the top of page 4. Ask the owner for the amount before you write it in.

Step 10: Owner signature block

Read Sections 10 to 22 on pages 4 and 5 first. They are printed text with nothing to fill in. Then enter the Owner’s name, the signer’s signature on the By line and the signer’s Title, such as “President” or “Administrator”.

The above sections discuss legal defaults and liability clauses, so it is a must to review everything. After reading sections 10 to 22, both parties can proceed with signing the agreement in the next step.

Step 11: Occupant signature block

The Occupant signs on the By line and prints their name on the Print Name line. The form has no notary or witness block.

How to Sign and Use the Storage Rental Agreement

Once every step above is filled in, read the agreement through with the other side. Then follow these steps to sign it and keep it safe. Use the same names on the signature lines as in the first step.

1. Read it together. Check the names, the unit number, the rent and the dates before anyone signs. If a clause is unclear, ask an attorney to read it first.
2. Sign and date. The Owner and the Occupant each sign on their own line. By signing the document, each party agrees to all the terms and accepts the liability attached to the lease.
3. Keep a copy. Give each side a signed copy and store yours with your other papers.

If you are a customer or renter, securing a storage rental agreement is the best way to ensure the safety of your personal belongings and other valuable items. On the other hand, if you are the owner, having this document can save you from legal battles and problematic tenants. Either way, Formspal can definitely help you create a detailed agreement for renting a storage space.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Jennifer M. Settles

Author & Attorney

With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.