Downe Storage Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to all storage services provided by Downe Storage and set out the basis on which customers may reserve, use, and end a storage arrangement. By making a booking, entering into a storage agreement, or otherwise using the storage service, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming your reservation. These terms are designed to create a clear and fair relationship between Downe Storage and its customers, covering the booking process, payment obligations, cancellations, liability, prohibited items, waste rules, and the law that applies to the agreement.

In these terms, references to “you” and “your” mean the customer, account holder, or any person authorised to act on the customer’s behalf. References to “we”, “us”, “our”, or “Downe Storage” mean the storage service provider. These terms apply whether you are arranging self-storage, temporary storage, or any other storage solution we make available. If there is any inconsistency between these terms and a written storage agreement signed or accepted by you, the written agreement will prevail to the extent of that inconsistency.

We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in business practice, operational requirements, or applicable law. Any revised version will apply from the date stated in the updated terms or, if no date is stated, from the date we communicate them or make them available. Your continued use of the service after such updates will be treated as acceptance of the revised terms. Where a change materially affects your rights or obligations, we will take reasonable steps to give notice in advance where required by law.

1. Booking Process

To reserve a storage unit or storage space, you must provide accurate and complete information when requested, including your name, contact details, billing details, and any identification or verification information we reasonably require. A booking request is not confirmed until we have accepted it. We may decline a booking at our discretion, particularly where we cannot verify identity, where the requested service is unavailable, or where we believe the booking may breach these terms or applicable law.

Once a booking is accepted, you may be required to sign or otherwise accept a storage agreement, provide a payment method, and confirm the intended use of the unit. You are responsible for ensuring that the unit size and type you reserve are suitable for your needs. Any description of space, access arrangements, or features is provided in good faith, but availability may vary, and minor operational changes may be made without reducing the overall service materially.

You must not use the storage facility for any unlawful, dangerous, or prohibited activity. The storage service may be used only for lawful goods owned by you or goods you are authorised to store. You must ensure that any person acting for you, including movers, contractors, or agents, complies with these terms and with any reasonable site rules that we communicate to you. We may require access controls, identity checks, or vehicle registration details for security and operational reasons.

2. Payments, Charges, and Deposit Terms

All charges must be paid in accordance with the rates and billing cycle agreed at the time of booking or as later amended in writing. Fees may include rent, administration charges, lock or key replacement charges, late payment charges, cleaning or disposal costs, and any other amounts stated in your agreement. Unless otherwise agreed, charges are due in advance. Your account will be deemed overdue if payment is not received by the due date.

We accept payment by the methods made available from time to time. You must keep your payment details current and ensure sufficient funds are available. If a recurring payment fails, is reversed, or is cancelled without our agreement, you remain responsible for the outstanding balance. We may suspend access to the storage unit, deny entry, or exercise any rights available under the agreement if payment is late or incomplete, subject always to applicable law.

We may review and change our charges by giving reasonable notice where required. If you continue to use the storage service after a notified price change takes effect, you will be deemed to have accepted the revised rate. Where a deposit is taken, it may be used to cover unpaid sums, damage caused by you, cleaning costs, disposal costs, or other amounts due under the agreement. Any remaining balance will be returned after proper deduction and reconciliation.

3. Cancellations and Ending the Storage Agreement

You may cancel a booking before the storage start date in accordance with any cancellation policy communicated to you at the time of booking. If no specific policy is stated, cancellations should be made as soon as reasonably possible. Where a booking has already started, you may end the arrangement by giving written notice in line with the notice period in your agreement. Access to the unit must cease by the end of the notice period and all goods must be removed.

Any refund entitlement will depend on the circumstances of cancellation, the timing of notice, and any non-refundable charges already incurred. We may deduct sums owed to us before making any refund. If you fail to remove your goods by the end date, we may treat the unit as continuing to be occupied and may charge further fees until the unit is emptied. We may also take such steps as are permitted by law to deal with abandoned property.

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend the storage arrangement immediately where you materially breach these terms, make false statements, store prohibited goods, fail to pay amounts due, or behave in a way that creates a safety, legal, or operational risk. In such cases, we may deny access to the unit until the issue is resolved, and we may require removal of goods on an accelerated timescale where lawful and reasonable.

4. Use of the Unit and Customer Responsibilities

You are responsible for securing the unit with an approved lock or other security measure where required. Unless we expressly agree otherwise, you retain control of access to your stored goods, and you should not share keys, codes, or entry devices except with authorised persons. You must inspect the unit when you first take possession and notify us promptly of any issue that would prevent ordinary use. Continued use of the unit will be treated as acceptance that it is suitable except for defects already notified to us.

You must keep the unit clean and free from pests, odours, leaks, and contamination. You must not carry out repairs, modifications, painting, welding, charging of batteries, or any hazardous activity in the unit unless we have agreed this in writing. You are also responsible for ensuring that your goods are packed and stored safely so that they do not damage the unit, other units, or any person. Any damage caused by your negligence or misuse may be charged to you.

We may enter the unit in limited circumstances, including where we reasonably believe there is an emergency, a risk to health or safety, a suspected breach of law, a serious breach of these terms, or a need to inspect, maintain, or protect the facility. Where lawful and practicable, we will give notice before entry. In any emergency, however, immediate access may be required to protect people, property, or the premises.

5. Liability, Insurance, and Risk

Storage is provided on the basis that the customer retains responsibility for the goods placed in storage. You are strongly advised to obtain adequate insurance cover for the full replacement value of your items. Unless we have agreed to insure the goods on your behalf in writing, any insurance arrangement remains your responsibility. You should check that the policy covers risks such as theft, fire, flood, escape of water, accidental damage, and storage-specific exclusions.

We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the storage service. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for loss or damage to goods caused by events outside our reasonable control, by the inherent nature of the goods, by your failure to pack or store items properly, or by your breach of these terms. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

If we are found liable for loss or damage to your goods, our liability will, where lawful, be limited to the direct loss suffered and will not include indirect or consequential losses such as loss of profit, loss of business, loss of enjoyment, or loss of opportunity. Any claim must be supported by reasonable evidence of ownership, value, and the circumstances of the loss. You must notify us promptly after discovering any alleged loss or damage.

6. Waste, Prohibited Items, and Environmental Rules

You must not store waste unless the service is expressly offered for that purpose and the arrangement complies with applicable waste law. For the purposes of these terms, “waste” includes discarded items, refuse, scrap, broken goods, or anything you intend to throw away. If items are brought to the facility with the intention of disposal, they must only be handled in accordance with all relevant environmental and waste management requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that any goods placed into storage are lawful to store and do not create a nuisance, hazard, or pollution risk.

The following items are prohibited unless we have given prior written consent and the law allows it: hazardous substances, flammable liquids, explosives, toxic materials, asbestos, firearms, illegal drugs, stolen goods, perishable food, live animals, and any item that could endanger people, property, or the environment. You must not store items that require a licence, special containment, or regulated handling unless you have obtained all necessary approvals and informed us in advance. We may inspect or remove prohibited items where reasonably necessary and lawful.

If you leave waste, prohibited items, contaminated goods, or items requiring specialist disposal in the unit or at the facility, you will be responsible for all related removal, transport, handling, cleaning, treatment, and disposal costs. We may also recover administrative expenses and any fines, claims, or losses arising from your breach. You must not use the storage premises for dumping, fly-tipping, or any activity that could breach environmental legislation or local waste controls. Any such conduct may be reported to the relevant authority where appropriate.

7. Data, Notices, and General Terms

We will process personal data in line with applicable data protection law and only for legitimate business purposes connected with the storage service, including booking administration, account management, security, fraud prevention, and legal compliance. You are responsible for ensuring that any personal data you provide is accurate and that you have the right to share it with us. Any notices we send to you using the contact details you provide will be deemed received in accordance with the delivery method used, unless proved otherwise.

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in enforcing any right or remedy will operate as a waiver of that right or remedy. Any waiver must be in writing and will apply only to the specific circumstances for which it is given. You may not transfer your rights or obligations under the storage agreement without our prior written consent, but we may assign or transfer our rights where lawful.

These terms, together with any written storage agreement, booking confirmation, and applicable site rules, form the entire agreement between you and Downe Storage in relation to the service. They replace any prior discussions or representations to the extent permitted by law. You confirm that you have relied on your own judgement in deciding whether the service is suitable for your needs, and that you have read and understood the terms before use.

8. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. If you use the service from elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the mandatory consumer protections of the jurisdiction in which you are habitually resident may also apply where required by law. Nothing in these terms affects any statutory rights you may have as a consumer.

Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally should be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales, which will have exclusive jurisdiction unless applicable law requires otherwise. By entering into a storage agreement with Downe Storage, you acknowledge that you have read these terms, understand your responsibilities, and agree to comply with all applicable legal and operational requirements throughout the term of the arrangement.