Southgate Storage Service Terms and Conditions
These service terms and conditions set out the basis on which Southgate Storage provides storage-related services to customers in the UK. By making a booking, paying for a service, or placing items into our care, you agree to comply with these terms in full. They are intended to be read carefully before any agreement is made, as they govern the relationship between you as the customer and Southgate Storage as the service provider. These terms apply to all self storage services, storage unit hire, and related handling arrangements offered under the Southgate Storage name.
For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean Southgate Storage, and references to “you” or “your” mean the person, business, or organisation entering into the storage agreement. The agreement begins when a booking is confirmed, a payment is made, or items are delivered to our facilities, whichever happens first. By proceeding, you confirm that you are legally able to enter into a binding contract and that any information you provide is accurate, complete, and not misleading. A storage agreement may only be relied on to the extent that it is consistent with these terms.
These terms are designed to be fair, lawful, and practical. Nothing in them affects your statutory rights where those rights cannot be excluded by law. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remainder will continue to apply. Southgate Storage may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of your booking will normally apply to that booking unless a change is required by law. All customers are encouraged to review the terms before storage begins.
Booking Process and Service Acceptance
A booking with Southgate Storage may be made in person, by telephone, by email, or through any other booking method we make available from time to time. A request to book does not guarantee acceptance. We may decline a booking at our discretion where we believe the requested service is unsuitable, where capacity is unavailable, or where we are unable to verify the required information. Before acceptance, you may be asked to provide identification, contact details, payment information, and details of the items to be stored. This helps us confirm that the proposed storage service is appropriate and lawful.
We may require you to declare whether any items are fragile, valuable, hazardous, perishable, odorous, or otherwise special in nature. You must ensure that all information supplied is correct and kept up to date. If your declaration is incomplete or inaccurate, we may refuse the booking, end the agreement, or take whatever action is necessary to protect our staff, other customers, and our premises. Acceptance of a booking by us is confirmed only when we issue written confirmation or otherwise expressly confirm the reservation.
The booking process may include selection of unit size, service period, access arrangements, insurance requirements, and any special conditions that apply to the items to be stored. If you are booking on behalf of a business or another individual, you warrant that you are authorised to do so. You are responsible for ensuring that all persons you permit to access the storage area comply with these terms. Any statement made during the booking process forms part of the service record and may be relied on in the event of a dispute.
Once a booking is confirmed, you will be expected to pay the charges due for the agreed service period and any additional services requested. Charges may include storage fees, admin fees, moving assistance, packaging supplies, access charges, or other agreed costs. Unless stated otherwise, all fees are payable in advance and must be settled in cleared funds. We accept payment by the methods we specify from time to time, and we may suspend access or decline handover of items if payment is overdue.
Prices are normally quoted exclusive or inclusive of VAT depending on the nature of the service and the applicable tax treatment. If VAT applies, it will be shown separately or incorporated into the advertised price as required by law. Where the length of storage changes, or where additional services are requested after the original booking, the total amount payable may increase. You agree to pay any such additional charges promptly on request. Any storage unit hire continues to attract charges until the agreement is properly ended and all items are removed.
If a payment fails, is reversed, or is disputed without reasonable grounds, we may charge reasonable administration costs and may also withhold access to stored goods until the account is brought up to date. We reserve the right to review prices periodically and to alter charges for future bookings. Any price change will not normally affect a booking already accepted and paid for, except where the price change arises from a change in law, tax, or required service specification. Customers remain responsible for keeping payment details current and ensuring enough funds are available.
Cancellations, Changes, and Early Termination
You may cancel a booking before the service begins by giving us notice in the manner we specify. Cancellation rights may depend on when the cancellation is made, whether the booking is for a business or consumer purpose, and whether any service has already started. If you cancel within a notice period stated at the time of booking, you may receive a refund of some or all of the fees paid, less any non-refundable charges or costs we have already incurred. If you cancel after the service has started, we may retain the fee for the period used and any applicable administration cost.
Where a booking has been made at short notice or is customised to your requirements, a cancellation fee may apply. This is because we may have reserved capacity, arranged staff, or declined other bookings in reliance on your reservation. If you wish to change the dates, unit size, access terms, or length of the agreement, we will try to accommodate the request, but changes are subject to availability and may result in revised charges. Southgate Storage is not obliged to accept amendments that would materially alter the original storage arrangement.
We may terminate the agreement immediately if you breach these terms, fail to pay, give false information, store prohibited items, or create a risk to health, safety, security, or lawful operation. We may also terminate if we are required to do so by law or by a competent authority. On termination, you must remove all goods by the date we specify and pay any outstanding amounts. If items are not collected, we may exercise any rights available to us under the law, including the right to recover costs and, where permitted, to dispose of goods after proper notice.
Stored Items, Liability, and Customer Responsibilities
You remain responsible for all items placed in storage, including their condition, ownership, and legality. You must not store items that you do not own or for which you do not have full authority to store. You must also ensure that all goods are properly packed, sealed, and labelled where appropriate. We are not responsible for damage caused by unsuitable packaging, inherent defects, normal wear and tear, moth, mould, damp due to the nature of the goods, or deterioration caused by the passage of time. If items are particularly delicate, valuable, or temperature-sensitive, you must tell us before storage begins.
Subject to any legal limits, Southgate Storage will not be liable for indirect loss, loss of profit, business interruption, or consequential loss. Our liability for direct loss or damage caused by our negligence or breach of contract may be limited to the level of cover we reasonably maintain or to the amount otherwise required by law, whichever is greater. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. Customers are strongly encouraged to maintain suitable insurance for the full replacement value of their belongings.
You must take reasonable care when using any access route, equipment, or facilities provided. You must not overload shelving, interfere with locks, bypass security controls, or permit unauthorised access. If you notice damage, a leak, a security issue, or any other problem affecting the stored goods or the premises, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible so that appropriate steps can be taken. Failure to do so may increase the risk of loss and may reduce any claim you might otherwise have. Our obligation is to provide the service with reasonable care and skill.
Southgate Storage is not liable for loss caused by events outside our reasonable control, including fire, flood, storm, power failure, industrial action, civil disturbance, terrorism, governmental action, or interruptions to transport and utilities. If such an event occurs, we may suspend the service for as long as necessary and will use reasonable efforts to resume normal operations. Where a force majeure event makes continued performance impossible, we may end the agreement by notice without fault on either side, and fees will be adjusted fairly for the unused portion of the service where appropriate.
You agree to indemnify us against losses, claims, costs, or expenses arising from your breach of these terms, from the presence of prohibited items, or from unlawful acts committed by you or anyone you authorise to access the stored items. This indemnity includes reasonable legal costs and any sums we have to pay to third parties because of your actions or omissions. If we are asked by law enforcement, a court, insurer, or regulator to produce information relating to your booking or stored goods, you consent to reasonable disclosure where permitted by law.
If we need to move, inspect, isolate, or dispose of any item to protect health, safety, security, or compliance with law, you authorise us to take those steps as reasonably necessary. We will normally give notice where practicable, but immediate action may be taken if urgent. Any self storage terms should be understood as setting the minimum standards for customer conduct, payment, and lawful use of the service. Your cooperation is essential to maintaining a safe and reliable storage environment.
Waste Regulations, Prohibited Items, and Environmental Compliance
Customers must comply with all applicable UK waste regulations when using Southgate Storage. You must not deposit waste, rubbish, hazardous waste, clinical waste, asbestos, solvents, oils, fuel, gas cylinders, explosives, fireworks, batteries not allowed under law, or any other substance that is regulated, dangerous, or environmentally harmful. Items must be stored only if they are lawful to possess and lawful to keep in a storage environment. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, you must ask us before placing it in storage. The fact that an item is legal to own does not automatically mean it may be stored safely or lawfully.
Any waste created by you while using our facilities must be removed promptly and disposed of in a lawful manner. You must not leave packaging, pallets, refuse, damaged goods, or unwanted materials in or around the premises unless we have expressly agreed to accept them. If any item is abandoned, leaks, emits odour, or presents a contamination risk, we may treat it as waste and arrange for its removal, cleaning, or lawful disposal at your expense. You will be responsible for all costs arising from improper disposal or breach of environmental requirements.
We may inspect items where reasonably necessary to verify compliance with these terms, to protect safety, or to meet legal obligations. If we believe prohibited or unlawful items are present, we may refuse access, quarantine the goods, notify the relevant authorities, or terminate the agreement. These rights are in addition to any other rights we may have. Customers must ensure that all items are packaged in a way that avoids spillage, leakage, infestation, contamination, or other environmental harm. Compliance with waste law is a continuing obligation throughout the storage period.
If we reasonably suspect that your stored goods are causing damage, contamination, or danger, we may relocate them, isolate them, or take reasonable steps to mitigate the issue. We will try to act proportionately, but you acknowledge that urgent action may be necessary. You are responsible for ensuring that any insurance you maintain remains adequate throughout the period of storage. We do not act as insurer of your goods unless expressly agreed in writing. A customer using the Southgate Storage service accepts that secure operation depends on both parties complying with these responsibilities.