This is where storage becomes absolutely critical. You could pay a fortune for somewhere with suitable storage space for all your stuff – or you could go for the far more affordable option of self- storage.

Here, we’ll look at some of the many reasons that self-storage for renters in London can be an absolutely game-changer.

It’s a cost-effective alternative to upsizing

If you have a lot of stuff and you’re unwilling to part with it, you’ll have tried all the small flat storage ideas and hacks you (and everyone else on the internet) can possibly think of. But you can’t magic up more room – at some point, you’ll reach critical capacity.

So, you may be tempted to look for a bigger flat. But that extra bedroom or box room can be prohibitively expensive in a city like London. Is it worth it just for some extra space to keep your winter sports equipment, pile of photo albums or boxes of family heirlooms?

Self-storage can be a far more cost-effective alternative. It’s an extra room, but away from home –with prices typically much lower than the additional rent you’d pay for a larger apartment.

Crucially, it can also give you back your living space, so you can declutter and enjoy your new home more.

It can bridge the gap between rentals

Moving doesn’t always go exactly to plan. There are often times when you need to stay somewhere for a few weeks until your new place is ready, or vacate a few days early and sleep in a friend’s spare room. But what do you do with all your stuff in these in-between times?

This is where self-storage comes in. Whatever the delay or situation, you can pop your non- essential stuff into storage and not have to worry about schlepping it from place to place.

Self-storage is flexible, so you can book just a few days, weeks or months – and extend if you need to. So if it takes a little longer than you expect to move into your new place, you don’t have to stress over all your boxes and furniture.

It’s perfect if you’re in shared housing

With space at such a premium and demand for rental properties so high, it’s no surprise that London has a high number of people sharing accommodation. In fact, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that over half a million people in the capital share a house or flat with others.

Co-living offers lots of benefits – cost-saving being one of the main ones – but it does come with a fairly major downside. This is a chronic lack of space. You can only take up your fair share of allocated space in a shared property, so you’ll need to find another solution if you have lots of stuff.

Self-storage lets you safely keep all your favourite items, treasured possessions and things you don’t necessarily need right now. After all, in many cases, living in shared housing is a temporary situation. If you end up moving to a place of your own, your stuff will be there waiting for you in your storage unit.

Easier, hassle-free moves

If you’re like many Londoners, you may move house quite a bit. This may be because of changes to your rental contract, the need to find cheaper accommodation or simply a desire to be closer to work, friends or family.

Moving is stressful, but there are ways to make it a little easier. Self-storage is one of them, as it means you only need to move your stuff once. You don’t need to move absolutely everything you own from place to place – you can simply leave it in storage until you have more room available or settle somewhere permanently.

Get more from self-storage with these space-saving hacks

Although it can be much cheaper than renting a larger flat in London, self-storage nonetheless comes with a cost.

Here’s how you can get maximum value out of your self-storage unit, and make use of every last inch of space:

• Pick the right unit size - use our space estimator tool to avoid paying for unused space
• Stack upwards – make full use of the unit’s height with safe, vertical stacking (larger things on the bottom)
• Use same-size boxes – they’re easier to stack, and fit neatly in the unit without leaving nooks or crannies of dead space
• Roll clothing – this can be more space-efficient compared to folding. You might also want to look at using vacuum storage bags for bedding and textiles, as removing the air from storage bags can shrink them right down to size.
• Dismantle furniture - flat-packed items take up far less room
• Fill empty spaces - pack smaller items into drawers, suitcases and wardrobes
• Plan access - make sure to keep any items you’ll need access to near the front
• Protect items properly – use covers and wrapping to prevent damage.