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Storage spaces are rented for many reasons. In the context of downsizing, moving, an inheritance or simply to benefit from additional storage space. This article explains the right procedure to follow to rent a storage space, including advice on what to take into account when renting a storage space. It also answers the two most important questions: how much does a storage space cost and what should its size be.

Which types of storage space are there?

There are three types of storage spaces: self-storage units, closed premises, and separate storage compartments. Self-storage units are separate warehouses, operated in a professional manner. Many different units are available for rent on a self-storage site. Closed premises are, as their name indicates, premises suitable for storage and can be rented separately. The conditions vary according to the providers. Separate storage compartments are comparable to storage units, but do not offer the same privacy, as they are generally separated only by wooden slats. Like the closed premises, separate storage compartments are generally not operated in a professional manner and the rental conditions vary from one provider to another.

self-storage unit

Self-storage units are storage spaces operated in a professional manner, generally separated by metal walls. Most of the time, many premises of this type are integrated in a hall so that they can be rented individually. Self-storage is characterized by a high quality of storage (ambient temperature and humidity controlled, access points monitored by video, etc.), flexible contractual conditions and immediate availability. The providers of high-quality storage units are generally members of the local self-storage association or their storage units are distinguished by the storabble certificate. The membership in the association as well as the storabble certificate must be visible on the website of the respective providers.

Closed premises

Recreation rooms, free rooms in the basement, former server rooms, storage rooms in commercial premises. There are many premises that can be rented and that are perfectly suitable as storage space. If you are lucky, you will find such a premise near your home. These premises are as a rule less expensive than storage spaces in self-storage and the rental conditions vary according to the providers, the conditions are often less flexible than in self-storage and notice periods of three months or a minimum duration of a few months are not rare. An exception are the premises that can be rented directly on storabble, because these storage spaces can be rented and terminated with the same flexibility as the storage units.

Separate storage compartments

The separate storage compartments are found most often in the basements or the attics and can be rented individually. They differ fundamentally only by the fact that they are not opaque. These compartments, being separated by wooden slats, do not offer the same confidentiality as the storage units or the storage premises. The storage compartments are also rented under different conditions, the greatest flexibility being given to the premises that can be rented directly via the storabble platform.

What to take into account when choosing a storage space

When choosing a storage space, it is important to choose the size according to the needs and to ensure a good location. Likewise, it is appropriate to make sure that the stored goods are safe thanks to a high-quality storage space.

Size of the storage space

In general, about 10% to 15% of the living area is sufficient as storage space to store all the furniture of the house. The right size is important, because a space too large leads to high costs and a storage space too small does not offer sufficient room for the personal belongings. Also note that you can save a lot of area by stacking. As a rule, the storage spaces have a height of 2.5 m to 3 m. You will find in the linked article a table that helps you to estimate the necessary size of a storage space, as well as other advice and comparisons that help you to estimate the size of a necessary storage space.

The ideal location for a storage space: how to find storage spaces nearby

If you wish to rent a storage unit nearby, the simplest way is to use a comparison platform specialized in storage spaces such as storabble as well as the comparison with the relevant real estate portals such as dreamo.ch.

Find the storage spaces available near your home in three steps

  1. Search your location on storabble.com (for example for a storage unit in Geneva or a storage unit in Lausanne) and use filters to refine the results.
  2. Compare the storage spaces at a glance.
  3. Select the desired storage space and rent it directly online from the provider, directly online on storabble or send a contact request to the lessor.

If you wish to manually search for storage spaces to rent on Google, you can use the search terms "rent a storage space in..." and "rent a self-storage in..." to identify and compare the websites of the different providers. Note that some providers are difficult to find and sometimes appear only relatively late on Google.

The quality of the storage spaces

Make sure to rent a high-quality storage space. If you must end up struggling with a damp storage space and damaged goods, it is not worth a few francs saved on the rental price. Dryness and security are essential for a positive storage experience. When renting a self-storage, the security features such as surveillance cameras and security locks are essential, as well as suitable access hours. Think about the necessity of air-conditioned premises for sensitive objects and inquire about the rental conditions, including the insurance options. Also take into account the additional services possibly offered, such as transport or help with loading and unloading, in order to make the best choice for your needs and your budget. If a provider of storage spaces is a member of the local self-storage association (for example 3SA in Switzerland) or is distinguished by the storabble quality label, this means that the basic quality conditions are certainly fulfilled.

The rental costs of the storage spaces

Whereas the self-storage units in Switzerland are rented on average for CHF 32 per m2 per month, the storage premises as well as the storage compartments can be rented for an average of CHF 22 per m2 per month (average values according to the FEDESSA 2023 study and the storabble Analytics 2024 study on the costs of storage spaces). These final prices of the storage spaces vary of course according to the provider, the location, the equipment and the current demand.