How to Use This Checklist
Click each checkbox to mark items as complete. Your progress is automatically saved to your browser. Use this checklist to:
✅ Three Ways to Use This Tool
1. Draft new storage agreements: Ensure you don't miss any essential UK contract law requirements
2. Review existing agreements: Audit your current storage contracts against all 48 compliance points
3. Prepare for new customers: Verify your template agreement is legally compliant before signing
⚠️ What Makes a Valid Storage Facility Agreement?
📋 Legal Status: UK storage agreements are governed by common law contract principles. Written agreements are essential evidence in disputes. Clear terms prevent costly litigation.
⚖️ Essential Terms: Parties' names and addresses, unit identification, rental amount and payment terms, term duration, access rights, insurance requirements, prohibited items, liability limitations.
🎯 Common Issues: Unclear liability provisions, inadequate prohibited items lists, missing insurance requirements, insufficient termination notice, vague lien rights, lack of dispute resolution clauses.
💼 Unfair Terms: Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and Consumer Rights Act 2015 protect customers. Terms must be fair, transparent, and not create significant imbalance. Excessive liability exclusions may be unenforceable.
⚠️ Understanding Importance Levels
🔴 Critical: Must have - legal requirement or creates serious liability risk if omitted
🟡 Important: Should have - best practice and strong legal protection
🔵 Recommended: Nice to have - enhances clarity and prevents disputes
1. Parties Identification (5 items)
Provider's Full Legal Name
The storage provider's complete legal name exactly as registered. For companies, use Companies House registered name. Essential for contract enforceability and legal proceedings. Trading names alone are insufficient.
🔴 Critical
Provider's Registered Address
The provider's registered office address. Required for legal notices and dispute proceedings. Must match Companies House records for limited companies. Essential for serving legal documents.
🔴 Critical
Provider's Company Registration Number
Companies House registration number. Not legally required but demonstrates legitimacy and aids customer verification. Best practice for transparency and professional presentation.
🔵 Recommended
Customer's Full Name
Customer's complete legal name. Required for contract validity. Must match ID documents for security and enforcement purposes. For companies, use registered company name. Critical for lien enforcement and legal proceedings.
🔴 Critical
Customer's Address
Customer's residential or business address. Required for legal notices, termination notices, and lien enforcement. Must be kept up to date. Essential for serving notice of default or disposal proceedings.
🔴 Critical
2. Agreement Date and Unit Details (5 items)
Agreement Date
The date the agreement is signed. Critical for determining commencement of obligations, notice periods, and term calculations. Must be clear and unambiguous. Serves as reference point for all time-based provisions.
🔴 Critical
Storage Unit Number/Identification
Specific unit identifier (e.g., "Unit 42", "Bay 3A"). Essential for preventing disputes about which unit is rented. Must be unique within facility. Prevents confusion and access disputes.
🔴 Critical
Unit Size Specification
Approximate dimensions or size description (e.g., "10ft x 10ft", "50 sq ft"). Important for customer expectations and pricing justification. Prevents disputes about capacity. Use "approximately" to allow minor variations.
🟡 Important
Unit Type and Features
Type of storage: standard, climate-controlled, drive-up access, outdoor container. Important for pricing and customer expectations. Climate-controlled units justify higher rents. Drive-up access affects accessibility expectations.
🟡 Important
Unit Location Within Facility
Optional specific location details (e.g., "Ground Floor, Block A"). Not legally required but helpful for customer navigation and security. Prevents access confusion in large facilities.
🔵 Recommended
3. Term and Duration (4 items)
Storage Start Date
The date storage commences. Critical for calculating rental obligations, notice periods, and term end dates. Must be specific calendar date. Determines when customer gains access and rent begins.
🔴 Critical
Agreement Type (Rolling or Fixed Term)
Whether agreement is rolling monthly (continues indefinitely until notice) or fixed term (ends on specific date). Most commercial storage is rolling monthly for flexibility. Fixed terms common for long-term business storage. Must be clear.
🔴 Critical
Fixed Term End Date (if applicable)
If fixed term, the specific end date. Required for certainty. Customer and provider must know when obligations end. Include whether agreement auto-renews or requires new agreement.
🔴 Critical
Auto-Renewal Provisions
Whether fixed term converts to rolling monthly after expiry. Common practice prevents automatic termination. Provides continuity while giving both parties flexibility. Must state clearly if agreement auto-renews or terminates.
🟡 Important
4. Rent and Payment Terms (7 items)
Monthly Rent Amount
Specific rental amount per month. Must be clear figure in GBP. State whether inclusive or exclusive of VAT. Critical for payment enforcement and lien rights. Prevents disputes about payment obligations.
🔴 Critical
Payment Due Date
When rent is due: 1st of month, 15th, last day, or anniversary of start date. Critical for default determination and late payment charges. Must be specific day or clear reference point.
🔴 Critical
Payment Method
How payment must be made: standing order, direct debit, bank transfer, card payment. Important for automation and payment tracking. Standing order places obligation on customer; direct debit allows provider to collect.
🟡 Important
Provider Bank Details
Bank account details for standing order or bank transfer payments. Include account name, sort code, account number. Essential if customer making manual payments. Prevents payment to wrong account.
🟡 Important
Late Payment Provisions
Consequences of late payment: late fees (typically £20-£25), interest charges, access restriction. Must be reasonable under Unfair Contract Terms Act. Critical for enforcement. Include grace period (e.g., 7 days) before penalties.
🔴 Critical
Rent Increase Provisions
Provider's right to increase rent and notice required (typically 30 days minimum). Must give customer right to terminate if they don't accept increase. Prevents surprise price rises. Common law requires reasonable notice.
🟡 Important
Payment in Advance Requirement
State rent is payable monthly in advance. Standard commercial practice. Protects provider from accumulating arrears. Customer pays before receiving benefit of storage for that month.
🟡 Important
⚡
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5. Security Deposit and Access Rights (6 items)
Security Deposit Amount
Deposit amount (typically equivalent to 1 month's rent). Held as security for damages, unpaid rent, or cleaning costs. Must be reasonable. Note: residential storage deposits must be protected in government-approved scheme, but commercial storage deposits typically aren't.
🟡 Important
Deposit Protection and Return Terms
When and how deposit will be returned: timeframe (typically 14 days after termination), permitted deductions (damage, unpaid rent, cleaning), requirement for itemized statement. Essential for transparency and compliance.
🔴 Critical
Access Hours
When customer can access unit: 24/7, business hours (9am-5pm Mon-Fri), extended hours (7am-9pm daily), or custom hours. Critical for customer expectations and operational planning. Higher access = higher value.
🔴 Critical
Security Procedures
How customer gains access: keys, access codes, security cards, PIN codes. Customer responsible for security of credentials. Must not share with unauthorized persons. Prevents security breaches and unauthorized access.
🟡 Important
Third Party Access Provisions
Requirements if customer wants to grant access to others: advance notice (typically 24 hours), authorization in writing, visitor registration. Protects provider from liability and maintains security. Essential for commercial facilities.
🟡 Important
Provider Inspection Rights
Provider's right to inspect unit if breach suspected. Must be reasonable and typically with notice (except emergencies). Protects provider from prohibited items storage. Essential for enforcing usage restrictions.
🟡 Important
6. Insurance and Liability (5 items)
Customer Insurance Requirement
Whether customer must obtain insurance and minimum coverage amount. Standard practice: customer must insure stored goods. Provider's insurance covers building only, not customer goods. If mandatory, specify minimum value (e.g., £5,000).
🔴 Critical
Provider Insurance Clarification
Clear statement that provider's insurance covers facility building and common areas but NOT customer's stored goods. Prevents customer misunderstanding. Essential to manage expectations and limit liability claims.
🔴 Critical
At-Own-Risk Disclaimer
Clear statement customer stores goods entirely at own risk. Provider not liable for loss, damage, or destruction except where caused by provider's negligence or wilful misconduct. Subject to Unfair Contract Terms Act - cannot exclude liability for death/injury.
🔴 Critical
Maximum Liability Cap
Provider's maximum liability per incident (typically £1,000-£5,000). Must be reasonable under Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. Protects provider from unlimited claims while maintaining fairness. Courts will assess reasonableness.
🟡 Important
Consequential Loss Exclusion
Exclusion of liability for indirect, consequential, or special losses. Standard commercial practice. Prevents claims for business interruption, lost profits, etc. Must be reasonable and prominently displayed to be enforceable.
🟡 Important
7. Prohibited Items and Use Restrictions (4 items)
Prohibited Items List
Comprehensive list of prohibited items: firearms/weapons, explosive/flammable/hazardous materials, perishable food, illegal substances, stolen goods, living plants/animals, items with strong odours. Critical for safety, insurance, and legal compliance. Essential for enforcement.
🔴 Critical
Permitted Use Restriction
Unit may only be used for lawful goods storage. Cannot be used as residence, place of business, or for commercial activities. Prevents misuse and maintains facility purpose. Important for insurance and planning compliance.
🔴 Critical
Unit Alteration Restrictions
Customer must not: alter unit without written consent, affix items to walls/floors/ceiling, overload unit beyond safe capacity, cause nuisance to other customers. Protects facility from damage and maintains standards.
🟡 Important
Waste and Cleanliness Requirements
Customer must not allow waste, rubbish, or vermin to accumulate. Must keep unit clean and tidy. Unit must be cleared and cleaned upon termination. Prevents pest infestations and maintains facility standards.
🟡 Important
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8. Termination and Notice Periods (4 items)
Notice Period Requirement
Required notice period for termination by either party: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month (most common), or 2 months. Applies to both customer and provider. Must be in writing. Shorter periods benefit customers; longer periods protect providers.
🔴 Critical
Notice Method Requirements
How notice must be given: email, recorded delivery post, or hand delivery to registered addresses. Must be in writing. Prevents disputes about whether notice was given. Electronic notice acceptable if agreement specifies.
🔴 Critical
Goods Removal Obligations
Customer must: remove all goods by termination date, leave unit clean and tidy, return keys/access cards, pay outstanding rent/charges. If goods not removed, provider may charge holding fees or dispose of goods.
🔴 Critical
Holding Fees for Delayed Removal
If customer fails to remove goods by termination date, provider may charge daily holding fee (equal to daily rent rate) until removed. Prevents abuse and compensates provider for continued storage.
🟡 Important
9. Lien and Disposal Rights (4 items)
Lien Rights on Default
If customer fails to pay rent for specified period (typically 14 days), provider has lien over stored goods. May refuse access, change locks, or remove goods. Common law right but express clause strengthens enforceability.
🔴 Critical
Disposal Rights Timeline
If payment outstanding for specified period (typically 28 days), provider may sell or dispose of goods. Proceeds applied to outstanding debt, storage costs, disposal costs. Must follow Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 procedures.
🔴 Critical
Notice Before Disposal
Provider must give customer at least 14 days' written notice before disposing of goods. Required by Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977. Notice to last known address. Protects customer's property rights.
🔴 Critical
Access Restriction on Default
Provider may restrict customer access if payment outstanding. May change locks or deny entry. Must be exercised reasonably. Provides leverage to secure payment without immediately disposing of goods.
🟡 Important
10. General Contract Terms (4 items)
Entire Agreement Clause
This agreement supersedes all prior agreements, representations, and understandings. Prevents customer claiming "but you promised..." based on pre-contract discussions. Standard clause for contract certainty. Doesn't prevent claims for fraudulent misrepresentation.
🟡 Important
Variation Clause
Changes to agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. Prevents informal variations and oral modifications. Without this, verbal agreements can vary contract terms. Essential for certainty.
🟡 Important
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
Which country's laws apply (England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and which courts have jurisdiction. For UK storage, English law and English courts is standard. Required for clarity on applicable law.
🔴 Critical
Severability Clause
If one provision is invalid or unenforceable, rest of agreement continues. Prevents entire contract failing if one clause is problematic. Court can sever unenforceable clauses. Standard protective clause.
🔵 Recommended
⚡
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Next Steps
Now that you've reviewed the compliance checklist, you have three options:
✅ Use Our Ready-Made Template (Recommended)
Save hours of legal research and drafting. Our professionally-crafted storage facility agreement covers all 48 compliance points with legally-sound wording. It includes lien rights, disposal procedures, insurance requirements, liability limitations, and comprehensive prohibited items lists. Available in both Interview Mode (guided) and Editor Mode (direct editing) for just £10.
📝 Draft Your Own Agreement
Use this checklist as your guide, but remember: getting the legal wording correct is complex. Lien enforcement procedures, liability exclusions, insurance requirements, and disposal rights require precise language. A single error can result in disputes, unenforceable terms, or liability exposure.
⚖️ Book a Legal Consultation
For complex situations, high-value storage, or specialized facilities (climate-controlled, document storage, vehicle storage), consider booking a consultation with our legal professionals for personalized advice tailored to your specific circumstances.