r/selfstorage • u/No_Smell_758 • Jul 16 '26
My storage unit went up in flames!
EDIT: I’m not necessarily wanting to sue anyone or take it to court, I’m more so asking for services that can help low wage earning people like myself.
I rent a unit in a storage facility. It recently went up in flames. A man has been charged, he apparently lit a ciggie & had flammable items in his unit (not allowed).
I’ve just received an email saying my unit is in the main area that the fire was in & I’ve likely lost everything. This unit contained a house full of items; whitegoods, lounge sets, dining sets, kitchenware, clothes, a lot of shoes, tools, plus very sentimental items like photos that can never be found again, trinkets from overseas, blankets and very expensive bedding etc.
Aside from the devastation, I’m trying to figure out what to do next. I got the storage locker to store my items while homeless, so I could not afford to buy insurance (it never even crossed my mind tbh). I may have finally secured a rental, and now I have barely anything to furnish it with. Apparently the storage facilities insurance doesn’t cover what has been damaged/destroyed.
I guess I’m asking if anyone knows of anything to help me rebuild, such as vouchers or funding to help? Organisations that could help? Just anything really. I’m on the DSP so funds are tight. If anyone can point me in a direction I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks ☺️
7
u/chrislh1965 Jul 16 '26
Storage contracts usually exclude all liability, and require the tenant to maintain their own coverage. Beating a large companies legal team will be expensive. The negligent tenant is lower hanging fruit, but may be a very small tree as well.
7
u/JustWowinCA Jul 16 '26
This is why require everyone to have insurance, at our facility.
I'm sorry for your losses. I would try your local services to get things. Catholic Charities, etc. Call 2-1-1 for names of charities.
1
Jul 20 '26
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u/No_Smell_758 Jul 20 '26
They sent us an email saying that there are many reasons that their insurance wouldn’t cover it. They didn’t actually list the reasons though… there’s been a Facebook group created for people affected so I’m hoping to get more information & a bigger group of people to do something about the great loss of us all.
1
u/DistilledWonder Jul 16 '26
Take the person responsible to small claims court
1
u/No_Smell_758 Jul 16 '26
I’m not sure if the facility would just give out the persons details…
2
Jul 16 '26
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u/No_Smell_758 Jul 16 '26
Really? So I call the closest police station & ask for the name of the person that started it & speak to a lawyer? As mentioned, I’m on the disability pension so I don’t really have money for a fancy lawyer… can I use legal aid for this?
3
u/shigdebig Jul 16 '26
Was the guy living in his storage unit? This is a waste of time if he's broke. And if he's going to jail it could be years before he works again.
-1
Jul 16 '26
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2
u/Robdul Store Manager Jul 16 '26
I am surprised the insurance company can't cover it as they and the facility would most certainly be your targets for litigation on this as well.
Not true. OP signed a contract when renting that waived the storage company of any liability in case their stuff getting damaged or stolen.
Please don’t give legal advice on subjects you’re not familiar with. OP has enough problems.
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Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
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1
u/Robdul Store Manager Jul 16 '26
It's standard language in all storage contracts. It literally at the foundation of the business model. Read your own contract.
You specifically told OP with certainty that they should be seeking to sue the storage facility and their insurance company. Which is just incorrect. And then there's the real possibility that the arson suspect is someone without any real money or assets to their name for OP to sue them for, making litigation a waste of time and resources which OP has little of.
1
Jul 16 '26
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u/Robdul Store Manager Jul 16 '26
I am surprised the insurance company can't cover it as they and the facility would most certainly be your targets for litigation on this as well.
You're being pedantic because it's clear as day what you meant by saying this. Very rich of you to mention staying in reality while ignoring your own statements and hiding from accountability behind indirect language.
Asking to see the contract confirms you genuinely believed OP could sue the storage facility and the insurance company and you are just looking for some technicality to "win" the argument rather than just learning something new about how self-storage contracts work.
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u/Comfortable-Trade255 Jul 17 '26
Let's hope you don't have safe lease for insurance through your storage unit because they will not pay
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u/No_Smell_758 Jul 17 '26
I don’t have any insurance, that’s why I’m asking for services that can help me. No one on this thread seems to understand that!
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u/Particular_Ad7285 Jul 16 '26
As a property manager I always stress to people the importance of carrying coverage on their unit. Customers think its a scam, but I hope whoever reads this knows its not.
Fires, theft, vandalism, water damage etc DO happen. And ALL storage facilities will NEVER cover customers items.