What you can and cannot store

Items you cannot store

You cannot store:

• Food or drink (anything perishable, or anything that can attract pests)
• Living things (plants or animals)
• Flammable or combustible items (fuel, gas, solvents, some paints)
• Explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, fireworks
• Hazardous or toxic materials (chemicals, asbestos, radioactive materials, biological agents, toxic waste)
• Anything that leaks, gives off fumes, or creates strong odours
• Illegal, stolen, or prohibited goods
• Certain high risk battery items (details below)
• Vehicles (including caravans)
• Portable heaters

If your items are normal household goods or normal business stock, you are almost certainly fine.

Why these items are restricted

Most restrictions come down to three risks:

• Fire and fumes
• Leaks and contamination
• Pests, mould, and odours

Even items that seem harmless can cause problems once they sit in a closed unit for weeks.

Flammable, pressurised, or hazardous items

• Petrol, diesel, fuel, oil, and similar fuels
• Gas bottles, canisters, or compressed gases
• Cleaning solvents, strong chemicals, hazardous liquids
• Fireworks, explosives, ammunition, firearms, weapons
• Aerosols and similar pressurised items (if unsure, check first)
• Paint, thinners, and anything similar that is flammable or gives off fumes

Food, damp items, and anything that can contaminate a unit

• Food and drink of any kind
• Perishable goods
• Anything likely to encourage pests or cause infestation
• Anything that is damp, mouldy, or likely to deteriorate badly in storage

Illegal or restricted goods

• Illegal items, stolen goods, or prohibited goods
• Any goods that require a special licence

Valuables and items that are hard to cover

We may refuse items where the value is hard to assess, or the category is excluded from cover.

If you are storing anything valuable, it is worth checking what storage insurance covers before you move items in.

Examples include:

• Currency, deeds, and securities
• Collections and similar valuables (if you plan to store valuables, speak to the branch first)

Batteries and lithium powered items

Battery rules are where most “surprises” happen, so here is the plain version.

Not allowed

• Portable battery chargers and power banks (or any similar portable power source)

Lithium batteries over 160Wh

• You cannot store lithium ion batteries over 160Wh unless they are built into an otherwise permitted item and cannot be removed.

E scooters, e bikes, e skateboards

• You can store up to one of these only if the battery has been removed and the battery is not being stored in the unit.

Limits on common battery devices

• Do not store more than ten items like laptops, tablets, children’s toys, or similar items containing built-in batteries.

If your permitted items contain built-in batteries

• They must be free from visible defect or damage
• Do not stack them, store them with air circulation
• Keep batteries at the lowest practical charge
• If any of the above sounds close to your situation, contact your local branch and we will give you a clear yes or no.

Common items people ask about

• Fridge or freezer: yes, as long as it is fully defrosted and cleaned before storage.
• Furniture, boxes, clothes, files, and normal business stock: yes.
• Shelving: yes if it is free-standing. It cannot be fixed to the unit.