HELP WITH STORAGE UNIT

Catwoman67

Hello, I have a storage unit and the owner has issued me with an eviction notice. Giving me two weeks notice.
The problem is that for four months he didn't request the direct debit payment, even though it was set up. I only realised this month and I got in touch straight away. I had rather stupidly spent the money not realising that I hadn't made this payment. I offered to pay in installments, however the owner says he wants all the money now.
To add further complications, I have not signed the new agreement that was sent to me (I didn't know I had to, as it was in a generic format).
At no point in the last four months have they been in touch to request the new agreement or payment.
He has attached a letter to the front of my container, saying that I had refused to sign the new agreement and that I was being "evicted" for non payment. My full name, address and telephone number are on this letter, and it is a complete fabrication. He has blocked me getting on the site, and changed the padlock on the door, so if I don't pay up within the two weeks he's going to sell everything inside the container. Any advice, would be appreciated 💜

user1977

I would suggest you pay what's owed? I can't see you have any rights to do otherwise.

You'd have a data protection complaint about your details being on the notice, but that doesn't help you with the fundamentals.

Alderbank

Catwoman67 said:

Hello, I have a storage unit and the owner has issued me with an eviction notice. Giving me two weeks notice.
The problem is that for four months he didn't request the direct debit payment, even though it was set up. I only realised this month and I got in touch straight away. I had rather stupidly spent the money not realising that I hadn't made this payment. I offered to pay in installments, however the owner says he wants all the money now.
To add further complications, I have not signed the new agreement that was sent to me (I didn't know I had to, as it was in a generic format).
At no point in the last four months have they been in touch to request the new agreement or payment.
He has attached a letter to the front of my container, saying that I had refused to sign the new agreement and that I was being "evicted" for non payment. My full name, address and telephone number are on this letter, and it is a complete fabrication. He has blocked me getting on the site, and changed the padlock on the door, so if I don't pay up within the two weeks he's going to sell everything inside the container. Any advice, would be appreciated 💜

Welcome to the forum.

Contracts don't have to be signed, but signing is a useful way of showing that both parties are in agreement.

If you saw the contract and didn't dispute any terms but proceeded to put your stuff in the unit then you have agreed it by your actions.

What does the contract say, especially about non-payment or late payment?

He can't just sell your stuff. Legally he is called a bailee. That means he has possession of your goods but not legal ownership of them.

What are your goods? Are they just personal possessions like your clothes and furniture, or are they work related such as tools of your trade or stock which you buy and sell?

Ergates

Catwoman67 said:

My full name, address and telephone number are on this letter, and it is a complete fabrication.

What's a complete fabrication?  Do you mean the details are incorrect?

Catwoman67 said:

if I don't pay up within the two weeks he's going to sell everything inside the container

Does it state that they can do this in the contract?  I would imagine it's a fairly likely clause in any storage unit contract - that they can sell off the contents to cover unpaid bills.

Catwoman67 said:

To add further complications, I have not signed the new agreement that was sent to me (I didn't know I had to, as it was in a generic format).

Does this coincide with the payments stopping?  i.e. did they stop taking payments when you didn't sign the new agreement?


Fundamentally though, I'm not sure you have much choice here.   You *haven't* signed the new contract and you *haven't* been paying the bill.  Whilst it would be nice if they were helpful and allowed you to pay in installments, I don't see that you have the legal right to insist on that.  Storage units are not (as far as I know) a regulated industry.

Catwoman67

Alderbank said:

Catwoman67 said:

Hello, I have a storage unit and the owner has issued me with an eviction notice. Giving me two weeks notice.
The problem is that for four months he didn't request the direct debit payment, even though it was set up. I only realised this month and I got in touch straight away. I had rather stupidly spent the money not realising that I hadn't made this payment. I offered to pay in installments, however the owner says he wants all the money now.
To add further complications, I have not signed the new agreement that was sent to me (I didn't know I had to, as it was in a generic format).
At no point in the last four months have they been in touch to request the new agreement or payment.
He has attached a letter to the front of my container, saying that I had refused to sign the new agreement and that I was being "evicted" for non payment. My full name, address and telephone number are on this letter, and it is a complete fabrication. He has blocked me getting on the site, and changed the padlock on the door, so if I don't pay up within the two weeks he's going to sell everything inside the container. Any advice, would be appreciated 💜

Welcome to the forum.

Contracts don't have to be signed, but signing is a useful way of showing that both parties are in agreement.

If you saw the contract and didn't dispute any terms but proceeded to put your stuff in the unit then you have agreed it by your actions.

What does the contract say, especially about non-payment or late payment?

He can't just sell your stuff. Legally he is called a bailee. That means he has possession of your goods but not legal ownership of them.

What are your goods? Are they just personal possessions like your clothes and furniture, or are they work related such as tools of your trade or stock which you buy and sell?

Thank you for replying. The original agreement I signed when I put my stuff in storage, however a new agreement was issued about five months ago. I have both personal possessions and stock that I sell.

kazwookie

Did you not put the rent money to one side, ready for the DD to work, or for you to do a BASC payment to the landlord??

You owe the LL, I suggest you pay up, with the side aside money.

Then arrange to get your things out of the lock up and move on with your life.

Re your details on the notice, I would suggest you write to the LL and ask for this bit to be removed. But if you are locked off site, I have no idea how you would check this.

born_again

Catwoman67 said:

Alderbank said:

Catwoman67 said:

Hello, I have a storage unit and the owner has issued me with an eviction notice. Giving me two weeks notice.
The problem is that for four months he didn't request the direct debit payment, even though it was set up. I only realised this month and I got in touch straight away. I had rather stupidly spent the money not realising that I hadn't made this payment. I offered to pay in installments, however the owner says he wants all the money now.
To add further complications, I have not signed the new agreement that was sent to me (I didn't know I had to, as it was in a generic format).
At no point in the last four months have they been in touch to request the new agreement or payment.
He has attached a letter to the front of my container, saying that I had refused to sign the new agreement and that I was being "evicted" for non payment. My full name, address and telephone number are on this letter, and it is a complete fabrication. He has blocked me getting on the site, and changed the padlock on the door, so if I don't pay up within the two weeks he's going to sell everything inside the container. Any advice, would be appreciated 💜

Welcome to the forum.

Contracts don't have to be signed, but signing is a useful way of showing that both parties are in agreement.

If you saw the contract and didn't dispute any terms but proceeded to put your stuff in the unit then you have agreed it by your actions.

What does the contract say, especially about non-payment or late payment?

He can't just sell your stuff. Legally he is called a bailee. That means he has possession of your goods but not legal ownership of them.

What are your goods? Are they just personal possessions like your clothes and furniture, or are they work related such as tools of your trade or stock which you buy and sell?

Thank you for replying. The original agreement I signed when I put my stuff in storage, however a new agreement was issued about five months ago. I have both personal possessions and stock that I sell.

I think you need to be clearer on the dates when you signed the 1st contract & when the 2nd appeared, that you did not sign.
Which if was 4 months ago fits in with payments not being taken as contract was not signed.
So what is the difference between the 2 contracts?