It can be very convenient to have storage units in Dubai. It is like an extra room or space that you can hire to put your things in safely. It can be especially handy for when you’re moving houses, temporarily downsizing, doing some renovations around the house or just want some space to put things you don’t need at the moment but will need in the future (for example, nursery furniture).
However, there are rules regarding what you can store in such units. This is to ensure the safety of not only your own possessions but also that of other people, as well as the storage facility. When you get in touch with a storage service in Dubai to hire a unit, they will likely share a list of items that you are not allowed to keep in it.
Here are five things you should never be putting in storage and the reasons behind them:
- Valuables – Storage units are not ideal for highly valued items, whether the value is high monetarily or for sentimental reasons. For example, it is not recommended to keep your family heirlooms or your expensive jewelry in storage units. While security at such facilities is taken very seriously, it is better not to take any risk. Hold onto these items yourself, even during moves, use a safe deposit box or entrust them to a friend or family member to retain for you.
- Food & Perishable Items – Food items are generally not allowed, including pet food, especially when they are stored in either cardboard or plastic, have short shelf lives, or require refrigeration. Canned food, on the other hand, is permitted. This is because food can rot easily, attracting insects and rodents, which are likely to damage other items stored in your unit; as well as the possibility of the rest of the facility getting infested as well. On the chance that rodents etc. can’t find their way into any of the units, bacteria and mold certainly will. If you’re moving and find yourself with too many perishable items, give them to neighbors or friends, or donate to a nearby shelter.
- Hazardous Materials – These are defined as anything that can cause damage if spilled or opened, that is, substances which are toxic, combustible, flammable or explosive; and hence, are off-limits. It is vital that the storage facility, workers, customers, as well as all the stored things (including your own) should be safe at all times. Such dangerous substances endanger them and hence, this serious threat means they are illegal and prohibited to place in storage units. Hazardous materials generally include (but are not limited to): chemicals, aerosol cans, acids, gases, gasoline, propane tanks, lamp or motor oils, paints, paint thinners, cleaners, pesticides, weed killers, car batteries, fireworks, liquor, charcoal, yard equipment with fuel still in them, firearms, explosives, and more.
- Animals & Plants – We feel this should be common sense but it is better to say it to avoid any confusion or mistake. Storage units are not meant to be lived in. They are dark and closed spaces with little to no ventilation and hence, are not to be inhabited. Yup, they are not ‘free’ office space or a place to temporarily crash at night either. Therefore, no storage company in Dubai will allow you to keep any animals, pets or plants in your unit. Not only is it dangerous, inhumane (in case of animals) and illegal, they can also attract pests and bugs. It is recommended to hire proper sitters for your pets or have them stay with a trusted family or friend’s place. Similarly, it is also better to donate plants rather than ‘kill’ them in storage.
- Machinery or Vehicles – Generally speaking, storing machinery and vehicles in storage units is allowed under certain conditions. Some types of machinery and construction equipment are exclusively forbidden while with others, there can be some rules. For example, as mentioned above, yard equipment cannot be stored unless it is emptied of fuel. It is always better to ask the management of the self-storage units about what is allowed. Where vehicles are concerned, unregistered and non-operational vehicles are a big no-no. Any vehicle placed in storage must be registered, licensed, operable and insured. This is because it is you who will be solely liable for the car, rather than the storage company. Storage companies also often regulate the number of tires that can be stored in a unit at one time (usually the limit is four) as the cost of tire disposal is high.
Self-storage units can be a godsend when you really need that extra space and that too at not too high a cost! Yet, safety comes first and it is vital that all rules and regulations of the storage unit must be followed. The storage company in Dubai hiring out these units will let you know these policies and will be able to clarify any and all questions that you might have, making it easier for you to plan what to store. For the most reliable storage companies in Dubai, try ServiceMarket and get free quotes about hiring a unit
