Is it legal to live in a storage unit? The answer is absolutely not. It is illegal to live in a storage unit because it poses a health risk to the tenant. Since self-storage facilities are zoned for exclusively commercial use, they do not have to meet codes that residential homes must meet. For example, most storage facilities do not have running water, climate control, or fire alarms in the units.
For these reasons and others, it’s essential to discourage renters from living in their storage units as much as possible. Read on to learn how.
Preventing Live-in Renters
Prevention is a great way to reduce the likelihood that someone will try to inhabit your self-storage units.
When your new renter signs the lease, be sure to have them verify their primary residence’s address. That way, you can be sure that they currently have a place to live. Also, explain to them that your facility has a firm and enforced “no loitering” policy. You can go over your storage unit rules and regulations and detail the security measures you have in place to not only protect their personal belongings, but also to enforce your no loitering policy.
You could also make your units less inhabitable to discourage tenants from thinking about taking up residence in one. Lock your gates after hours and install motion-detecting lights to keep people from coming and going at odd hours.
Tips for Removing a Live-in Renter
When you find a tenant living in a self storage unit, there are a few things you should do.
Tip #1: Gather Evidence
Once you suspect someone is living in their unit, start to gather evidence. Look for unusual activity like cars that are parked in your lot overnight or storage unit doors being left cracked open. If you have security camera footage of people walking around after hours or of any other odd behavior, be sure to collect that as well. You will most likely need to present this evidence when filing for eviction.
Tip #2: Act Quickly
If you have established that the tenant is in fact living in their self-storage unit, it’s important to act quickly since living in a storage unit is not only a health and safety hazard but also illegal.
Slip a note under the tenant’s door and inform them that you have noticed their unusual behavior and that living in a storage unit is prohibited by law. You should tell your tenant that their lease will be terminated, and they should start to find alternative living arrangements.
Tip #3: Research and Follow State Eviction Procedures
Each state has their own procedures for evicting someone from a self-storage unit. Be sure that you follow their guidelines and remember that you can always hire the sheriff to remove the tenant after receiving a court order if they refuse to leave. Explain to the tenant that if they refuse to vacate the unit, you will obtain an order for removal and that the sheriff will eventually be sent in to remove them.
Tip #4: Connect Them with Local Resources
It can be helpful to keep flyers for local homeless shelters, ministries, or food banks in your office just in case you find yourself in this situation. These organizations have important information regarding how to best go about connecting someone with resources to find housing, as well as information for the renter about how to find immediate food, shelter, or other resources.
Tip #5: Don’t Get Personally Involved
Although you may feel like you want to help this person in need, it’s important that you don’t give out your personal contact information or offer them a place to stay. Not only does this compromise your personal safety, it also could hinder their long-term success at finding housing. It’s best to connect them to the professionals who are trained in how to best cater to people in this situation.
Conclusion
Evicting a live-in renter is a delicate situation that calls for a lot of sensitivity, but also requires you to take swift action. Keep in mind that evicting someone who is living in a self-storage unit is what is best for both them and your business. When in doubt, contact a professional at a homeless shelter, or a lawyer if you’re unsure about your legal rights as a landlord handling an eviction.
