Property services
Storage providers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Self storage and containerised storage between moves.
Storage comes in two forms: self storage, where you have a unit you can access, and containerised storage, where your goods are loaded into wooden containers and warehoused. Containerised is usually cheaper for long periods; self storage is better when you need access.
Most storage in a property transaction is short: the gap between selling and buying, decluttering before photography, or holding furniture while a refurbishment runs.
When Edinburgh owners call storage providers
- Your sale settles before your purchase and there is a gap.
- You are decluttering before marketing and want rooms to photograph well.
- A refurbishment needs furniture out of the way for several weeks.
- You are downsizing and need time to decide what to keep.
Local context: Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's storage sites cluster around Sighthill, Newbridge, Loanhead and Leith, so a city-centre move usually means a van run out of town. Factor the removal cost in both directions into the comparison, not just the monthly rent.
Demand and pricing peak alongside the student cycle in June and September. Booking early in those months makes a real difference to the rate offered.
What this work typically costs
Published ranges are market context gathered from local jobs, not a quotation. We do not price work, arrange it or take a cut of it — always get your own written quotes.
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| 25 sq ft locker, per month | £25-£55 | Suits boxes and small furniture only. |
| 75 sq ft unit, per month | £90-£160 | Roughly a one-bedroom flat's contents. |
| 150 sq ft unit, per month | £160-£280 | Roughly a three-bedroom house. |
| Containerised storage, per container per month | £45-£90 | Cheaper long-term, but access needs notice. |
| Insurance for stored goods | £8-£30 per month | Priced on declared value; check what is excluded. |
Tenements and common repairs
Tenement flats have little built-in storage, and the shared attic or basement box room is common property with allocated use set out in the deeds. Assuming a cellar is yours because you have always used it is a common and expensive mistake at the point of sale.
If you are marketing the property, check what the deeds actually say about the cellar or attic before it is described in the schedule. Buyers' solicitors query it routinely.
What to check before you instruct
- Insurance cover for stored goods
- Access hours
- Notice period to end the contract
- Insurance requirement
- Most sites require cover and many sell their own. Check whether your home insurance already extends to goods in storage.
- Access hours
- Confirm whether access is 24 hours or gated, and whether containerised goods need booking days ahead.
- Notice period
- Ask the notice required to end the contract and whether part-months are refunded.
- Condition and security
- Visit the site. Look for alarm, CCTV, dryness and whether units are internal or external containers.
We publish factual detail supplied by each business. We do not rate, rank, endorse or guarantee anyone listed, and no business pays for placement. Checking registration, insurance and references is always your decision.
Questions to ask before you instruct
- What size do I actually need for this list of furniture?
- Is the price a promotional rate and what does it rise to?
- What insurance is required and is my own policy acceptable?
- What notice do I give to leave?
- Can I access the unit at weekends?
- Is there loading assistance or do I need to bring help?
Businesses listed
Loading…
Lothian Property is a property information and professional-introduction service operated by Maybury Scotland Limited. Lothian Property is not an estate agency. Where requested, we may connect homeowners with independent estate agents and other property professionals. How we work.
Read our guide on storage providers
Storage providers: common questions
- How much storage space does a typical flat move need?
- A one-bedroom flat commonly fits in 35–50 sq ft, a three-bedroom house in 100–150 sq ft. Most providers will size it from a room list rather than guesswork.
- Is my stored property insured by the storage company?
- Usually not automatically. Cover is either arranged through the provider or added to your own policy, and high-value items may need to be declared individually.
- What notice is needed to end a storage contract?
- Typically one to four weeks, and some contracts bill in whole months. Ask before you move in, because a delayed Scottish settlement date can extend storage by weeks.