storage unit fiasco [long]

[keziak]

On Jan 6th I went to my unit and found it heavily damaged and the door broken. Looks like a heavy truck backed into it. It's now Feb 19th and it is still not repaired.  I got the property manager to talk to me twice but that was weeks ago and no more response to calls or texts. I"ve talked to corporate several times and all that has done is get me credits towards my rent.  The last I heard was that they need access to the unit next door in order to repair a load-bearing wall. I guess they haven't been able to reach that person. 

Any thoughts on what to do about this? I have thousands of dollars of inventory in there so naturally am not selling it. I contacted the insurance company to see if they will pay out the value of it, then I could cancel auto payment and walk away. Would you do that....or wait around longer....or? All they said was they never had this particular situation, would need to ask the boss. Nothing since then.

I don't have much time left to deal with the stuff even if I got back in because I anticipate being in recovery from surgery in March. What do you think, wait until April then bail out if still not able to get to my stuff?

[divwido]

I'm so sorry.  That someone would do that and then just drive away is horrible.

Now, your rental place is being a real jerk.  They could relocate you to a secure place where you could keep working.  I'm a big fan of getting in someone's face when they won't help me, they need someone to yell at them and ask why they don't care to help you.

Then I'd lean on  the insurance.  Your stuff has been damaged and left open to the elements.  Pay up and hurry.  Another person whose face I'd be in. 

Have you done any inventory and figured out the damages?

[a_c_green]

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@keziak wrote:

On Jan 6th I went to my unit and found it heavily damaged and the door broken. Looks like a heavy truck backed into it. It's now Feb 19th and it is still not repaired.  I got the property manager to talk to me twice but that was weeks ago and no more response to calls or texts. I"ve talked to corporate several times and all that has done is get me credits towards my rent.  The last I heard was that they need access to the unit next door in order to repair a load-bearing wall. I guess they haven't been able to reach that person. 

Any thoughts on what to do about this?

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Six weeks without access is ridiculous. I'm surprised that you have allowed this to go on for so long.

Let's keep this simple. The whole problem boils down to a door that won't open. Tell them in person that you expect to get access to the contents of the unit this week. If they cannot locate someone with a Sawzall or a chopsaw within the week, you will bring in your own contractor and bill them for the cost. (He should have the door cut open in fifteen minutes, though his minimum billing will probably be two hours.)

Don't go in seven different directions here; just keep the focus on what you need to do to get your contents out of there and over to a more competent business.

[dhbookds]

I'd ask the lawyer in the house..................seems like not having access to your business inventory ought to be worth more than "free" rent on a unit you cannot access........... 

[collectfest]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@keziak wrote:

On Jan 6th I went to my unit and found it heavily damaged and the door broken. Looks like a heavy truck backed into it. It's now Feb 19th and it is still not repaired.  I got the property manager to talk to me twice but that was weeks ago and no more response to calls or texts. I"ve talked to corporate several times and all that has done is get me credits towards my rent.  The last I heard was that they need access to the unit next door in order to repair a load-bearing wall. I guess they haven't been able to reach that person. 

Any thoughts on what to do about this?

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Six weeks without access is ridiculous. I'm surprised that you have allowed this to go on for so long.

Let's keep this simple. The whole problem boils down to a door that won't open. Tell them in person that you expect to get access to the contents of the unit this week. If they cannot locate someone with a Sawzall or a chopsaw within the week, you will bring in your own contractor and bill them for the cost. (He should have the door cut open in fifteen minutes, though his minimum billing will probably be two hours.)

Don't go in seven different directions here; just keep the focus on what you need to do to get your contents out of there and over to a more competent business.

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I agree 100% with this post with one exception. I'd give them an hour. I would not leave. I'd spend the hour making calls securing professional to open unit. If they threaten me with police, I advise them, I will welcome the police involvement, good idea please call. You are NOT trespassing.

This exact think happened to me, they got me in without any drama.

[dhbookds]

While I understand the reasoning and the need, I really would not hire someone to open the unit.... I think you lay yourself open to legal action.  You need a lawyer to write a demand letter on his stationery outlining what you want done, by what date.......  (and I would include them providing another unit and moving the contents to that new unit)....... and what the consequences will be if the matter isn't straightened out. 

If necessary, I'm sure you could get a court order to get the unit opened......but I wouldn't do it without that........ 

[fern*wood]

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@dhbookds wrote:

I'd ask the lawyer in the house..................seems like not having access to your business inventory ought to be worth more than "free" rent on a unit you cannot access........... 

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My thoughts exactly.  I'd be asking my husband this question.

P.S. That post wasn't long.  I had a longer once this week just trying to send a freakin invoice.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Doubtful that insurance would pay you out for the items inside if they are still intact. If flood damage or burned, different story. 

[slippinjimmy]

First thing you need to do is review the lease, it's probably completely slanted in favour of the storage company and because it's a commercial lease the usual landlord/tenant protections do not apply.

That said, the fine print may allow you to break the lease. It's also possible that as long as they credit the rent for the period that the space is not accessible you are out of luck.

[popblox]

Storage unit lease contracts are similar to tenant/landlord contracts, so think about it that way. If your landlord drove a bus into your front door and you couldn't access your home, how would you react? 6 weeks without access to your home (or storage) is inexcusable.

Based on what you've told us, I wouldn't recommend attempting to contact them again. Contact a lawyer asap and, as dhdbooks mentioned, ask them to send a formal demand letter. I've had to do this in the past for a similar situation - I'm sure the prices vary, but at the time, it cost me $150 and took about 30 minutes. When you meet with the lawyer, be sure and bring all relevant documentation, such as the lease, texts, cell records, etc.

It's also possible that the contents are damaged and the owners know that, so they might be buying time until they can figure out what to do. Regardless, there's zero excuse and a tenants rights/civil rights attorney will run all those scenarios and be able to give you the best advice on how to proceed.

[fern*wood]

Her husband is a lawyer.

[keziak]

I'm married to a lawyer and at first he said don't bring the law into this. But then he said tell them I have a lawyer. I guess I should sit down with him or a colleague and discuss options. 

Just to clarify  my original post, the door is the rollup kind had it's springs detached and went off it's runner. One of the only two times the manager would talk to me I asked if they were going to tear the door down=expose my stuff to the elements. She said no, they would be able to fix it without doing that. But by now her name is mud. 

I've been advised by  friends to get a unit at a better location but I really do not want to act like it's 2020 and load up another unit. What I WANTED to do was empty THIS unit by the end of the year. I was on a roll, yanked a lot out. Still leaves a lot though. And now I"m off schedule. 

[ekmadonna]

Why is it they will not give you another unit with a working door? seems to me that that would be automatic for any storage unit facility to do to accommodate you.

[mod-designs4u]

Since the storage management company needs to access you neighbor's storage unit for the repair I would ask them if they can hire a locksmith or use boltcutters to break the lock in order to access their unit. A compromised load-bearing wall is a major problem since the weight of the roof can cause a collapse destroying the inside contents or injuring someone inside the building. If the storage unit is in an area prone to natural disasters (earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) the risk of a building collapse is much higher. I'm pretty sure that most storage unit contracts include a passage where the renter can "access" their storage unit anytime during normal business hours. It sounds like you can't "access" your storage unit and would have a legal remedy but I'm not an attorney rendering legal advice. Good luck!

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I would insist that they provide me another unit ASAP & I might insist they move my goods, depending on if I wanted them knowing what was in it.   But like the first responder said, getting in someone's face & staying there is key!   Do not leave, do not accept promises, stay in their face until they do it.   Pretty soon they'll do anything you want just to get rid of you 😉