A question for those of you who use van storage

maz

maz

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Is it usual for the storage company to want a set of your keys?

Thank you.
 
I had to leave a set in my last storage near chard. It's in case the alarm went off but the one I'm in now doesn't require them. I'm near New Milton.
 
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Depends why they want them? If there were a fire on site, would you want your van moved away from it?

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No. I am surprised they want the responsibility, most wouldn’t.
 
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No
Why ?
If they want the keys, then they can also pay the insurance bill

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According to their terms:

A complete set of keys must be left at reception for emergency and maintenance access.

Does this translate into shuffling vans around to make more space maybe?
 
In my case yes, it's quite common - the last storage I used, which through negligence allowed my van to get damaged, always had a set of keys so when I moved it recently to a new storage site I was not surprised to be asked to leave a set of keys. In storage sites vans are close together so I would certainly want my van moved if there was a fire. I have no problem with this Maz. Hope all is ell with you!
 
Viennese said:
In my case yes, it's quite common - the last storage I used, which through negligence allowed my van to get damaged, always had a set of keys so when I moved it recently to a new storage site I was not surprised to be asked to leave a set of keys. In storage sites vans are close together so I would certainly want my van moved if there was a fire. I have no problem with this Maz. Hope all is ell with you!
Click to expand...

So if there is any damage to your van how do you prove it was caused by them?

What do your insurance say about the storage holding keys ?

Does their insurance cover the loss if the van is stolen with the keys left by them ?
 
Viennese said:
In my case yes, it's quite common - the last storage I used, which through negligence allowed my van to get damaged, always had a set of keys so when I moved it recently to a new storage site I was not surprised to be asked to leave a set of keys. In storage sites vans are close together so I would certainly want my van moved if there was a fire. I have no problem with this Maz. Hope all is ell with you!
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Hi Cat and thanks for that. A different take on the issue. :Smile:

I have started looking into storage as once lockdown is lifted I am hoping to sell my van. As a fulltimer this is a bit tricky so I need to find somewhere to store it short term (hopefully), while it is up for sale. This is where the difficulties start ......

Storage sites in the Winchester sort of area are either full, want me to pay for either a year or six months in advance, want me to pay for three months in advance (which I would be ok with but they won’t let me show anyone round the van - nothing to do with Covid19), or want to charge me a lot more than anyone else and want a set of my keys.

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maz said:
According to their terms:

A complete set of keys must be left at reception for emergency and maintenance access.

Does this translate into shuffling vans around to make more space maybe?
Click to expand...

I'd like to see they key storage facility.

Who has access to it and how do they access it ?
For example is it a big safe, bolted to the floor, with two keys held by different people ?
(Something more secure than an ATM safe which seem to be blown open regularly using calor gas and a fork lift truck )

There are fairly regular reports of "non-paying members of the caravan club" hitting storage facilities mob handed, "dealing" with the security people and removing several caravans or motor homes in one go.
If they keys were easy to get hold of then I'd think about another storage place.

My van is fitted with a VanBitz device that ensures the engine can not be started unless I instruct it to via my smart phone. So even with the keys, and the alarm fob the van is not leaving in under 2 hours except on the back of a low loader.
 
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Brains said:
I'd like to see they key storage facility.

Who has access to it and how do they access it ?
For example is it a big safe, bolted to the floor, with two keys held by different people ?
(Something more secure than an ATM safe which seem to be blown open regularly using calor gas and a fork lift truck )

There are fairly regular reports of "non-paying members of the caravan club" hitting storage facilities mob handed, "dealing" with the security people and removing several caravans or motor homes in one go.
If they keys were easy to get hold of then I'd think about another storage place.

My van is fitted with a VanBitz device that ensures the engine can not be started unless I instruct it to via my smart phone. So even with the keys, and the alarm fob the van is not leaving in under 2 hours except on the back of a low loader.
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Yes, I am not convinced that leaving keys is a good idea. Also, this particular storage company are noticeably more expensive than anywhere else I’ve found so far - even tho’ they are not even CASSOA rated.
 
maz said:
Yes, I am not convinced that leaving keys is a good idea. Also, this particular storage company are noticeably more expensive than anywhere else I’ve found so far - even tho’ they are not even CASSOA rated.
Click to expand...

I have found that CASSOA rating does not seem to give a benefit to either storage company or van owner.
It basically means that the storage place has agreed that:
Their main business is storage of motorhomes, caravans, boats etc and not something else.
They have CCTV
They have 24hr security or people who live on site
They have a locked/gated entrance
They have a secure compound with fencing and/or a berm
They pay a wodge of money each year to CASSOA to get on the list (CASSOA never inspect)

I insure using Comfort.
They sent me a questionnaire form which asked all the above questions and I store my van in a place that tick all the boxes, but it does not have CASSOA membership.

Interestingly, the first place I was looking at, which was an equestrian center, with a secure compound, that ticked all the boxes, it was filled with motorhomes and horse boxes and a load of those very expensive half motorhome/half horse box vehicles. Comfort turned down the Equestrian place on the basis the primary business was horses not storage, even though their security was better than the place I have it now.
 
No it’s not and it’s likely the practice of a greedy ‘pack em in tight’ storage site that wants to maximise it profits by getting as many in as possible.
Ours has always had a dedicated numbered and marked out pitch area.

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