Contents Insurance for Storage Units
London-based specialist broker — UK wide bespoke storage cover, FCA-authorised.
Chelsea Insurance writes bespoke storage cover for internal storage facilities. We can look at domestic and commercial goods between £5,000 and £250,000. Cover ranges from one month to twelve, with goods in transit to and from the facility included as standard. Larger commercial stock or business inventory storage above these limits is handled by our sister brokerage Kensington Insurance.
What contents insurance for a storage unit covers
Contents insurance for a storage unit — also known as storage contents insurance, self-storage insurance, or goods in storage insurance — protects your belongings while they’re held in a facility away from your home or business premises. Most household and business policies exclude items the moment they leave your address, which is the gap a dedicated storage unit policy is built to fill.
Our standard cover includes all-risks protection (fire, flood, storm damage, theft, accidental damage) and goods in transit to and from the storage location. The policy can cover one month to 12 months, and can be extended with a No Claims Discount (NCD).
Single-item limits on a standard policy are £5,000 for home contents and personal possessions, £1,000 for fine art, and £500 for mobile phones, portable electronics, and pedal cycles. Higher limits and individually scheduled items are available — speak to us if you have something that exceeds those caps.
Storage container & shipping container insurance
If your goods are stored in a metal shipping container — whether at a self-storage compound, on a development site, or as part of a relocation — standard household and business policies almost always exclude them. Container storage carries its own risk profile: condensation, security perimeter rather than monitored building, exposure to weather, and movement during loading.
We cover all common container scenarios: external self-storage containers at facilities (Big Yellow, Safestore, Access, and independent yards), shipping containers on private land or compounds, removals containers during a house move or office relocation, and site containers holding tools, equipment, or stock.
Container insurance through Chelsea includes the same zero-excess options and goods-in-transit cover as our self-storage unit policy. Sums insured can be tailored to domestic effects, business stock, equipment, or a mix.
Level of Cover
Cover is valid for your goods in a variety of storage types, including external metal container storage, internal, individual lockable rooms and interior storage with exterior access.
All Risks Cover incl. Flood & Storm
No Excess
Goods in transit cover as standard
24/7 Customer support
Possible Extensions
Fine art, antiques and collectibles in storage
Fine art in storage policy extension provides coverage which is better adapted to the risks of owning art and collectible items than a conventional household or self-storage policy, even with declared values. Works of art can be lost or damaged for a wide variety of reasons with damage during transit being the most common so our policy will cover this too.
Musical Instruments in storage
Your instruments are probably your prized possessions and they are very valuable. Musical Instruments are expensive pieces of equipment and whilst they are fairly safe whilst being kept at home, as soon as they are placed into storage the chances of loss, theft or damage may increases.
Sports or leisure equipment in storage
If you own large pieces of sports equipment such as kayak, kite surfing gear, snowboard, skis or golfing equipment you may consider keeping them at a self-storage location. While this is automatically covered by our storage insurance policy we would suggest you to specify every expensive item to avoid disappointment in the even of a claim.
Business equipment and/or stock
If you have run out of space for in your office or need to keep your business equipment whilst moving offices, using self storage is a great option. Getting adequate cover in place will put your mind at ease, knowing that your equipment can be easily and quickly replaced if it is damaged during transit or stolen from self-storage unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need insurance for self storage?
Most reputable self-storage facilities in the UK require you to have insurance in place before they’ll let you store goods — it’s a condition of the unit licence, not a sales upsell. The facility’s own policy covers the building, not your contents. You can buy cover from the facility, from a household-policy extension, or from a specialist broker like Chelsea.
Does homeowners insurance cover self storage?
Sometimes, but not by default. A handful of household policies extend “contents temporarily removed” cover to a storage unit for up to 30, 60, or 90 days, often at reduced limits and with strict conditions on the type of facility. Beyond that window — or for higher-value items — you’ll need dedicated storage insurance. Always check the wording before relying on it.
What evidence do I need if I make a claim?
You can make a claim online on our website or call us, and we coordinate everything with the insurer on your behalf. We always recommend you keep an inventory of your goods and values — including photos for the larger items.
When making a claim, gather all supporting documents:
- Photos or videos of the items
- Receipts or invoices for your items
Submitting everything correctly the first time keeps the process fast and reduces delays.
Why choose Chelsea for contents insurance on a storage unit?
We’re an FCA-authorised specialist broker (FCA 445714) based in Mayfair, writing storage and contents cover for over a decade. We deal with you directly — no third-party commissions, no call-centre handovers.
How affordable are your policies?
Direct client handling and no third-party commission mean we keep premiums competitive without compromising the cover or the claims service. Most domestic storage policies sit in the £15–£40/month range depending on sum insured and duration; commercial and container policies are quoted bespoke.
What are the single-item limits?
Standard limits are £5,000 for home contents and personal possessions, £1,000 for fine art, £500 for mobile phones, £500 for portable electronic gadgets, and £500 for pedal cycles. We can write higher limits or individually schedule specific items — speak to us if you have something that exceeds those caps.
Is insurance required on a storage unit?
Yes, in almost every case. The major UK self-storage operators (Big Yellow, Safestore, Access, Shurgard, Lok’nStore and most independents) require evidence of insurance at sign-up. You’re free to choose your provider — facilities can’t legally tie you to their in-house policy. Single-item limits on our standard policy are £5,000 for home contents, £1,000 for fine art, and £500 for mobile phones, portable electronics, and pedal cycles.
What’s the cheapest storage contents insurance?
The lowest-headline-price options are typically the storage facility’s own add-on policy, often £8–£15 per month for £3,000–£5,000 of cover. Specialist brokers like Chelsea sit slightly higher but offer zero-excess options and transit cover that the budget options frequently exclude. See our storage insurance cost guide for a 2026 price breakdown.
What's not covered?
We can’t cover theft from any unattended motor vehicle, or vehicles themselves (motorcycles, mopeds, caravans, boats and trailers). Living creatures and plants are also excluded. Everything else within your declared sum insured is in scope.
Does the policy cover goods in shipping containers?
Yes. We write cover for goods stored in metal shipping containers at self-storage compounds, on private land, on building sites, and during removals. The same zero-excess options and transit-cover terms apply where available.
How quickly can a policy be put in place?
Most online quotes can be bound within minutes; complex or commercial policies are usually placed within one to two working days. Cover starts on the date you specify on the application date, typically the day your goods arrive at the facility.
Claim Philosophy
You only really know how good your insurance broker is when you need to make a claim. We're committed to resolving your claims and make you whole in days, not months.
From the moment you tell us about your claim until the moment you receive your settlement we will be with you and take away the pain.
About Us
We understand your treasured finds reflect your own personal journey, and that the larger your collections become, the greater your need for the right protection.
For more than 10 years service HNW clients and understand their demands and expectations. We’re proud of our glowing 5-star reviews from our happy clients!
What Our Clients are Saying
Insure the items you love…
Chelsea Insurance Brokers are a trading name of:
Kensington Insurance Brokers
Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority: 445714
Company Registration Number: 03001530
Our Services:
- Jewellery Insurance
- Fine Art & Collectibles Insurance
- Home & Contents Insurance
- Landlord
- Business & Commercial
Our Address:
10-12 Old Bond Street, Mayfair
London
W1S 4PN