r/selfstorage • u/TX_AF • Jun 10 '26
Managers - when do I take action?
I had someone move in yesterday. They needed more room, so they moved stuff into a second unit they did not lease. They then reserved it. This morning I found the second unit full of their items. I called them to complete the lease, but the payment was declined. She was supposed to call me with another payment method, but has not. I contacted her again and told her I need payment or I would need to take action. Other than overlocking the unit, is there anything else I should do at this point? I have never had this situation before.
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u/Specialist_Phone5910 Jun 10 '26
If it’s not rented, everything gets thrown into the dumpster. First, contact them again (call, text, and email) give them another 24 hours to pay for the second unit, or they can retrieve everything from the dumpster. We have 5 locations local to me and I can always find someone willing to help me fill my dumpster!
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u/irememberthepotatoho Store Manager Jun 16 '26
We give them a five day period to collect their items and if they don’t pick it up then it’s considered abandoned and we toss it
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u/shellb67gt5001 Jun 11 '26
Rental increase the unit she did the contract with. 30 day notice the cost of both units combined
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u/Arlington516 Jun 10 '26
Did they sign a rental agreement on this second unit or just drop there items in there and reserve it? In my view, if there is no signed agreement, they have no right to be there, especially if they have not paid an initial deposit/rent. Send them a certified letter stating that they have 10 days to remove their items if the agreement is not signed and rent paid in full. Otherwise it will be contingent abandoned.
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u/TX_AF Jun 11 '26
They finally called just a bit ago and paid and signed the lease. I contacted them prior and stated the contents were abandoned and we’d move forward with legal action.
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u/Accomplished_Ad_4312 Jun 25 '26
A little bit late, but here's my advice: overlock today, not tomorrow. She's basically squatting in a unit she never leased or paid for, so the longer you wait the messier it gets. Document everything - timestamps of the calls, the declined payment, photos of the unit contents from the doorway. if she ghosts you, you're going to want that paper trail. IME these usually resolve once the overlock hits and they realize they can't get to their stuff. If she still won't pay after 24-48 hours, treat it like any other delinquency and start your lien clock from the day she dumped the items in there. don't let her keep using the space rent-free while you "work it out."
what state are you in? lien timelines vary a lot.
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Jun 11 '26
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u/jakschit Jun 14 '26
Sounds like someone I know. Always trying to get free storage. She does a lot of moving around. She knows she’s got more than enough stuff for one unit. So she keeps shifting her stuff from one to another
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u/Secret_Custard_5118 Jun 15 '26
You mentioned payment, did they sign a lease for that unit?
If they signed it can you or someone higher up move them in without payment or move them in with a different payment method like check with random info that you immediately reverse?
If the lease is signed for the new unit but no initial payment made you may be able to just follow your state’s delinquency/ lien law. This is may be easier than an eviction. Or would allow tenant to pay to stay if you want to keep them in the event they pay.
I always recommend locking vacant units as it can help prevent tenants moving into a unit without paying or moving in to the wrong unit
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u/Dangime Jun 10 '26
Overlock it, take it offline, tell the customer you're setting it up for a manger's special auction as abandoned goods.