What Happens If We Have to Sell Your Goods – A Guide for Customers
At Self Storage Hire Ltd, we always aim to provide secure, affordable, and professional storage solutions to all our customers. In most cases, storage agreements run smoothly, and customers collect their belongings when they’re ready. However, occasionally we’re placed in the difficult position of having to recover outstanding debts when storage fees haven’t been paid.
In these rare situations, we want to be transparent about the process — including your rights and how the law works. This article explains what happens when we are legally required to sell stored goods under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, and how we handle this responsibly and lawfully.
Why Might Goods Be Sold?
If you fall behind on your payments, we will make every reasonable effort to contact you and work out a solution. But if the debt remains unpaid and efforts to recover it fail, we may, as a last resort, have to sell or dispose of your goods to recover the money owed to us.
This is not something we take lightly, and it is governed strictly by UK law.
The Legal Framework: Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977
Under UK law, specifically the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, a storage provider like Self Storage Hire Ltd is considered a bailee — someone who is temporarily holding goods on behalf of another (the bailor).
When the bailor (you) defaults on payment, and communication fails, the bailee (us) can take steps to dispose of the goods provided certain legal steps are followed, particularly those under Schedule 1 of the Act.
What the Law Requires Us to Do
Before we sell your goods, we are legally obliged to:
- Give you written notice of our intention to sell the items.
- Send the notice to your last known address (and we may also use email or phone if available).
- Clearly state in the notice:
- That you owe us money for storage
- That if payment is not made within a specific period (typically at least 28 days), your goods may be sold
- The amount due and how to pay it
- Our contact details and any further actions you can take
This is called a notice of intention to sell under Schedule 1 of the 1977 Act.
What Happens If the Goods Are Sold?
If no payment or contact is made within the notice period:
- We may proceed to sell the goods, typically by public auction or other means that are fair and transparent.
- The money raised is used to pay off your outstanding storage fees and reasonable costs associated with the sale (e.g. auction fees).
- If there is any money left over, we will attempt to return the surplus to you.
- If we cannot contact you after reasonable attempts, we will retain the funds in accordance with legal guidelines.
If You Are Asked to Vacate Your Unit
In some situations, we may ask a customer to vacate their storage unit — for example, if:
- The storage agreement has come to an end
- There has been a serious breach of contract (such as non-payment or misuse of the unit)
- The unit is needed for urgent maintenance or operational reasons (with appropriate notice)
If you are asked to vacate your unit:
- We will give you reasonable notice in writing with a clear deadline for emptying the unit (typically 7 to 14 days, depending on the circumstances)
- You must remove all items and leave the unit clean and secure
- If you do not remove your belongings by the deadline, we may treat the goods as abandoned, and they may become subject to the same process outlined above under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, including sale or disposal
We strongly encourage you to contact us as soon as possible if you are unable to clear the unit in time — in many cases, we can agree an extension or help you arrange collection.
Your Rights as a Customer
Even if you’re behind on payments, you still have rights. These include:
- The right to reasonable notice before your goods are sold
- The right for us to act fairly and legally throughout the process
- The right to request an itemised statement of charges and how any sale proceeds were used
- The right to claim any surplus funds after the sale of goods
Our Commitment to Fairness
At Self Storage Hire Ltd, we understand that life can be unpredictable. Our team will always try to:
- Send reminders well before things reach the legal stage
- Work with you to find a solution
- Offer flexible payment options where possible
Selling stored goods is always a last resort, never our first.
Contact Us
If you’re worried about payments or would like to discuss your account, please contact us as soon as possible:
📧 Email: sales@selfstoragehire.co.uk
📞 Phone: 01603 552030
🏢 Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Disclaimer: This article is intended as a general guide and does not constitute legal advice. If you are unsure of your rights or obligations, you should seek independent legal advice.