Not everyone who rents a new apartment automatically gets a storage room or basement storage room as well. In many cases, the landlord already claims the available space in the basement. Others move into houses where the basement space is fully used for installations such as heating systems or as a communal laundry room. In addition, there are houses that were built entirely without a basement.
Nevertheless, tenants and homeowners without basement storage rooms have the same need for storage and warehouse space as other households with a basement. Bicycles, excess household goods, and other inventory also limit living space here, and people start looking for alternative basement storage rooms.
Many housing portals and real estate platforms nowadays offer a large selection of basement storage rooms for rent. Tenants and homeowners who are running out of space at home can rent a basement storage room outside their own four walls here.
Before you decide to rent a basement storage room elsewhere for the storage of your private or business belongings, however, you should consider a few points. In addition to renting basement storage rooms, there are also alternatives available to you that may even be better suited for the storage of household items or business inventory.
Below, we give you an overview of what you need to consider when renting basement storage rooms and how you can avoid some common pitfalls.
When is it worth renting a basement storage room?
The need for alternative storage of items usually arises when you feel that you can no longer move freely in your apartment or business premises. A certain sense of helplessness may arise when the house or office can no longer be cleaned properly because items, files, or tools cover all available surfaces in the living or working area.
In other cases, people unexpectedly find themselves with a mostly short-term surplus of furniture because family circumstances have changed. Renovation or a move can also lead to looking for temporary storage space.
The immediate neighborhood is probably the first place to look when you are searching for a rented basement. Here, you will soon find that most basement storage rooms available for rent are located in commercial areas or in smaller towns or villages outside metropolitan centers. This means you need to plan for long travel times if you want access to your belongings.
In addition, many of the basement storage rooms are not necessarily suitable for the items you want to store. Your collection of books, records, or documents will already be severely affected even by short-term storage in a damp basement storage room. The same applies to clothing, and the piano inherited from Aunt Margot will never sound the same again after just one week in the cold as it did before being stored in a basement storage room.
So if you are looking for a basement storage room to rent, you need to consider the following:
- Your location and that of the basement storage room
- The type of items you want to store
- The general condition of the basement storage room being offered
- The security measures available in the rented basement storage room
- Access to the rented basement storage room and how this may be restricted by opening hours and/or physical barriers
There are, however, some circumstances under which storage in a basement storage room really makes sense.
For moving, renovation, or seasonal storage: When a rented basement storage room really makes sense
Not all basement storage rooms are damp and cold or located in shady surroundings far away from your own location. You can also make some preparations yourself to store your property safely, at least for a short period of time.
In the case of a renovation or a move that requires short-term storage of one month or less, you can certainly keep certain items even in less than ideal premises, as long as you pick them up again quickly.
Pay particular attention here to packaging and use plastic moving boxes and other materials that protect against moisture, cold, or dirt. When storing furniture for a short time, make sure that it at least benefits from some degree of air circulation, and protect your tools by not placing them directly on the bare basement floor.
Even in a basement storage room for storing seasonal items that you will collect again after a few months, you should make sure that they do not come into direct contact with the floor. Get pallets or shelves on which you can place the items, safely packed in plastic boxes.
In addition, there are some items that can also be stored in basement storage rooms over a longer period of time.
Which items can be stored safely in the basement?
When it comes to the safety of storing inventory and items in a basement, a distinction is generally made between two types:
- The safety of your items from environmental influences such as moisture, cold, heat, or flooding.
- The safety of your belongings from access or vandalism by unauthorized persons.
In addition, there is also your own safety when you visit the basement storage room to store your items, pick them up, or simply just look at them. Television programs such as “Tatort” and “Aktenzeichen XY ungelöst” base their entire reason for existence on eerie events in dark basements, but more on that below.
The safety of your items is not only important to you, but also to your insurance company. If you nevertheless store items there that are definitely not suitable for damp basement storage rooms, you will lose your insurance coverage. The same applies if you store your bicycle in a basement that cannot be properly locked.
Items stored in the basement should be reasonably robust and relatively insensitive to environmental influences and should tolerate moderate temperature fluctuations or weather changes well in an unheated environment. These include:
- Tools in secure toolboxes, stored raised off the floor.
- Bicycles for winter storage, provided they have been adequately protected against rust.
- Plastic garden furniture out of the reach of light coming through basement windows.
- Household goods stored in plastic boxes, including glasses, dishes, cutlery, etc. Please note that cardboard is not suitable for unheated basement storage rooms because the material dissolves under the influence of moisture.
- Winter or summer tires, but only if they are stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Preserving jars in a well-sealed condition. Please note that canned goods are not suitable for storage in damp basement storage rooms because they can rust through and thereby attract vermin.
Which items you should never store in a damp basement under any circumstances
When you place your belongings in a basement, you probably assume that you will be able to take them out again in the same condition. If, however, you store the wrong items, you may experience some unpleasant surprises.
Many basements, especially in older buildings, are not only damp but also have a cold indoor climate that is not suitable for items you depend on. There can be many causes of the moisture. Inadequate insulation, wet earth pressing against the walls, and condensation that forms when the warm air from outside meets the cool air in the underground rooms are among the typical triggers.
In addition to damp floors and walls, basement storage rooms normally suffer from insufficient or inadequate ventilation. The result is mold infestation, bad odor, and, in relation to metal parts, rust as well.
Here are some of the things that can be particularly damaged by moisture, low temperatures, or other poor weather conditions:
- Electronics, including laptops and computers, game consoles, tools, as well as gadgets
- Paper items such as files and documents, books, paintings, posters, stamp collections, etc.
- Clothing, regardless of whether it is made of textiles, leather, or synthetic fiber
- Wooden and metal furniture
- Valuable items such as jewelry, coin collections, or art objects
Anyone who thinks that the above-mentioned items can at least be protected temporarily during storage by using plastic boxes will also be disappointed. Not only does moisture have a tendency to seep through. In many cases, plastic has the unpleasant ability to absorb moisture as well.
What security does a rented basement offer against access by unauthorized persons?
Once you have made sure that no major damage can occur due to weather conditions during storage in the basement, you need to think about security against theft and break-ins.
Basements are among the favorite targets of burglars. Many people treat basement storage rooms according to the motto: “Out of sight, out of mind.” Often, basement storage rooms are several flights of stairs away from the actual living areas, and thieves can work undisturbed, especially at night.
In very few cases are rented basement storage rooms equipped with CCTV/video surveillance or alarms. In addition, there are inadequate locks that can be picked quickly.
Anyone renting a basement storage room must also place a great deal of trust in the other basement tenants. Does everyone really lock the door every single time? Do they all comply with the rules about what may not be stored in the basement, or is someone hoarding highly flammable materials, weapons, or drugs? And who has access to the basement at all and is therefore at any time in the immediate vicinity of your property?
What other risks could a rented basement storage room involve?
As you can already see, both the moisture in basement storage rooms and the security of your inventory give cause for concern. If you are one of the lucky ones who find a climate-controlled basement storage room with security monitoring, you still need to watch out for additional pitfalls when renting.
While you may not have to worry about access by others, at the same time your own access to your belongings may be limited by opening hours or contractual restrictions. As soon as you can no longer access your belongings around the clock because they may be located in a completely secure but locked commercial area in the evenings and at night, your comfort is impaired. Storage in a rented basement can quickly become stressful.
With regard to the rental agreement for the basement storage room, you need to pay attention to the fine print. While you may only be looking for a short-term solution in connection with a renovation or a move, your future landlord may be more interested in a long-term rental. Therefore, pay particular attention to notice periods, deposits (usually three months’ rent), and usage restrictions before you sign.
Also bear in mind that houses, including basements, often change hands. You may be relying on your belongings being safely stored for a longer period of time. Then, out of the blue, you could receive a notice informing you that a new owner with new terms is taking over possession of your basement unit.
Of course, there are different standards in basement rentals. Many landlords, mostly in commercial parks, nowadays offer fully climate-controlled, dry, and clean basement storage rooms. However, these do not come cheap, and depending on the size, the rental price is rarely below 200 euros.
Basement storage rooms for rent in older buildings and from private landlords are generally much cheaper, but they come with the already mentioned risks of moisture, lack of security, and uncertainty about the characteristics of the other tenants.
In this context, you may also have to accept problems with parking near the basement, poor basement lighting, and possibly also issues with your household contents and/or personal liability insurance.
If, however, you are thinking about renting a basement storage room for your company, there are a few additional factors to consider.
What is the difference between private and commercial use of a rented basement storage room?
Private tenants generally need quick storage for excess furniture, renovation work, seasonal items, and when a move is imminent. In this case, details such as security or even moisture may not play such a major role at the outset. After all, the solution is intended to be temporary.
For commercial customers, the situation looks somewhat different because the state steps in here. Not only must the rental agreement and possibly the location of the rented basement comply with certain legal regulations. Commercial insurance and the obligation to provide a safe workplace to possible employees who have to visit the basement regularly to unload or collect stored business documents, office materials, tools, goods, or other business inventory will also be of decisive importance.
Anyone looking for a storage option for business purposes is probably much better served with a business solution. Proper invoices in accordance with the German VAT Act, professional monitoring, and not least predictable access to the rented storage unit are far more important in a business context than in a private rental between private individuals.
Basement storage room or full-service storage: Which solution suits your needs better?
When you set out to look for a basement storage room to rent and scroll through real estate platforms, you may wonder why other people are making this space available at all. After all, most households, regardless of size or number of members, generally have things they want to remove from the immediate living area.
In many cases, it will turn out that the basement storage room landlord has already made use of an alternative storage solution, such as self storage or full-service storage. This decision is not necessarily based on the basement being dirty, damp, or generally unpleasant, but on the fact that the landlord considered professional storage for their personal property to be appropriate.
Full-service storage in particular has emerged as an excellent alternative. With this option, logistical problems are solved in addition to secure storage. With full-service storage, the items are collected by the provider and transported to the storage facility by trained staff. There, the stored goods are catalogued using a barcode system before being professionally stored. Full-service storage providers such as BOXIE24 also return your belongings in full or in part.
What is the best solution for private and commercial use?
Regardless of whether you are aiming for commercial storage or need storage space for private use, the type of storage is determined by the items you want to keep. As already mentioned, a number of items are not suitable for storage in basement storage rooms.
Full-service storage has no such restrictions because the space offered has already been optimized for storing even the most sensitive and valuable items. In addition to fully climate-controlled storage facilities, full-service storage also offers security systems, professional handling of your stored goods, and professionally trained staff who are there to support you with advice and assistance. For commercial customers, there is also the advantage that the company receives invoices issued in accordance with legal regulations and that neither the tax advisor nor the tax office will object to.
Full-service storage is generally cheaper with regard to employees, who can turn to other tasks instead of having to make the trip to your basement storage room.
A rented basement storage room can nevertheless prove to be a good alternative in comparison if you want to store items of low value or with robust construction. Also, if you need regular access to your stored goods around the clock, you may be better served with a rented basement storage room.
Checklist for renting a basement storage room
Before you make a final decision on the storage space that is suitable for you, you should consider the following criteria when it comes to storage:
Security
How valuable are your belongings and how much protection do they need? Also look at your insurance policies to find out what they prescribe for the storage of your property.
Condition of the stored goods
How robust are the items you want to store? Can they withstand moisture and temperature fluctuations, or do they need to be stored in climate-controlled, well-ventilated rooms?
Access
Do you need continuous access to your belongings, or should they simply be put away to create more space elsewhere?
Location
Is there a suitable storage facility near you, and can you reach it easily? Also pay attention to parking options, traffic conditions, and travel time.
Rental period
Do you only need short-term storage for your belongings, or do you want to store them over a longer period of time? Pay particular attention to the fine print in your rental agreement, including notice periods, deposit, and minimum rental term.
Size of the storage area
Do you want to store all your belongings at once, or scale the storage room over time? Will your stored goods always have the same volume over time, or do you want to increase or reduce the storage area regularly as needed?
Budget
How much can you pay for storage?
Once you have considered all these points, you can start, based on your needs, to look for a basement storage room to rent, or obtain offers from self storage and full-service storage providers.
