Attorney analysis of Public Storage rental agreements and lien policies
Public Storage terms include broad damage disclaimers, aggressive lien sale policies, and required insurance that heavily favors the company.
Public Storage is the largest self-storage company in the United States. While ubiquitous and convenient, their terms of service place virtually all risk on renters. The company disclaims liability for nearly any type of damage to stored items and can auction your belongings relatively quickly for late payments.
Public Storage can begin lien sale proceedings after just 30 days of non-payment in many states. Once auctioned, you lose your belongings permanently with minimal notice.
You must either provide proof of outside insurance or purchase their tenant protection plan. However, this "insurance" has significant exclusions that may leave you unprotected.
Public Storage disclaims liability for theft, water damage, fire, pests, mold, and virtually any other damage to your belongings, even from facility negligence.
Lien sale proceedings can begin after 30-60 days depending on state law. The company has no obligation to get fair market value for your items.
Public Storage can raise your rent with just 30 days notice, and has been criticized for aggressive rate increases after initial promotional periods.
The mandatory tenant protection plan has low coverage limits (often $2,000-$5,000) and many exclusions for common damage types.
Rentals are month-to-month, allowing you to leave without long-term commitment (though rates may be higher than competitors with commitments).
If you fall behind on rent, Public Storage moves quickly to recover their fees. The lien sale process can result in losing everything you've stored with minimal opportunity to catch up.
Once a lien sale is scheduled, you typically have only until the day of the auction to pay all outstanding amounts plus fees. The company profits from these sales and has little incentive to work with you.
If you're at risk of losing your belongings or believe you've been treated unfairly, schedule a consultation.
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