Storage unit rental agreement template
A storage unit rental agreement is what lets a facility do its job: collect rent, keep hazardous things out, and, when a tenant stops paying for months, follow the lien process to clear the unit. For the customer, it spells out what they can store, who insures it, and what happens if they fall behind. This template is written for independent self-storage facilities, and for anyone renting out a garage or shed for storage.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 4 min read
The contract
Gray blanks are yours to fill in before you send. Each signer fills in the blanks in their color.
- You, before sending
- Occupant
- Facility
Storage Unit Rental Agreement
This Storage Unit Rental Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on Agreement date between Facility name (the "Facility") and Occupant name (the "Occupant").
1. The unit
The Facility rents the Occupant storage unit Unit number, about Unit size, at Facility address (the "Unit"). The Unit is Unit features, for example climate-controlled, drive-up or indoor. The Occupant uses the Unit only for storage. This Agreement is not a lease of a home, and no one may live or sleep in the Unit.
2. Term and rent
The rental starts on Move-in date and continues month to month. Rent is Monthly rent a month, paid in advance and due on day Rent due day of each month. A one-time administrative fee of Administrative fee is due at move-in. The Facility may change the rent by giving at least Days of notice for rent change days' written notice.
3. Late rent and default
Rent unpaid Days late before late fee days after the due date carries a late fee of Late fee, within any limit the law sets. If rent stays unpaid, the Facility may deny the Occupant access to the Unit, place its own lock on it, and, after giving every notice the state's self-storage lien law requires, sell or dispose of the stored property to recover what's owed. Any money left after the sale and its costs is handled as that law requires.
4. Alternate contact and military service
The Facility may send default and lien notices to this alternate contact as well as to the Occupant: Alternate contact name, Alternate contact address.
- The Occupant is not on active military duty and is not the spouse or dependent of someone who is.
- The Occupant is on active military duty, or is the spouse or dependent of someone who is.
The Occupant will tell the Facility in writing if this changes, because federal law limits the sale of a servicemember's property during military service.
5. What may not be stored
- Anything flammable, explosive or hazardous, including gasoline, propane tanks, paint thinner, fireworks and ammunition beyond what the law and posted rules allow.
- Food, perishables or anything that attracts pests.
- Living things, including people, animals and plants.
- Anything illegal, stolen or that the Occupant doesn't have the right to store.
- Vehicles, unless the Facility agrees in writing and the vehicle is registered and insured.
- Items of special value, such as cash, jewelry, important papers, art or collectibles, which the Occupant stores at their own risk.
6. Value of stored property and insurance
The Facility does not take custody of the stored property and does not insure it. The Occupant will keep the property insured, either under their own policy or through a protection plan the Facility offers. The Occupant states that the total value of the stored property does not exceed Maximum value of stored property. Except where the law doesn't allow it, the Facility is not liable for loss of or damage to stored property unless caused by its negligence or deliberate act.
7. Access and locks
The Occupant may enter during access hours, currently Access hours, using their own gate code. The Occupant provides their own lock and keeps the only key. The Facility may enter the Unit after reasonable notice for inspections, repairs or pest control, and without notice in an emergency, if required by law or government order, or under section 3. If it removes the Occupant's lock, it will secure the Unit again.
8. Care of the Unit
The Occupant won't alter the Unit, attach anything to its walls, or run electrical devices from it unless the Facility allows. The Occupant is responsible for damage they cause to the Unit or the Facility and will follow the Facility's posted rules.
9. Moving out
Either party may end this Agreement by giving at least Days of notice to move out days' written notice. The Occupant will empty the Unit, leave it broom-clean and remove their lock by the end date. Rent already paid for a month in which the Occupant leaves early is not refunded unless the law requires it. Property left behind after the end date may be treated as abandoned and handled as the law allows.
10. General
The Occupant may not sublet the Unit or assign this Agreement. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the state of State, is the whole agreement about the Unit, and can be changed only in writing signed by both parties. Electronic signatures count as original signatures.
Occupant contact details
Mailing address: Occupant mailing address Phone: Occupant phone Email: Occupant email
I have read this Agreement, including that my stored property may be sold under section 3 if rent goes unpaid.
Occupant
Facility manager
Opens it in SignMaster as a template you can edit and send.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review it for your state and situation.
On this page
Why storage needs its own agreement
Self-storage isn't a lease of a home and isn't a warehouse that takes custody of goods. Nearly every state has a self-storage lien law that gives the facility a lien on what's in a unit for unpaid rent, and lets it sell the contents after a set series of notices. Those laws often require the rental agreement itself to mention the lien, sometimes in specific words. A general rental form doesn't do that.
The agreement is also where the facility limits its exposure: the customer insures their own things, states a maximum value, and agrees not to store fuel, food or anything alive.
What the template covers
- The unit: number, size, features like climate control, and a storage-only rule with no living in the unit.
- Rent: monthly amount in advance, due day, an administrative fee and notice before an increase.
- Late rent and default: a late fee within legal limits, lockout, and sale under the state's lien law after the required notices.
- Alternate contact: a second person to receive default notices, which several lien laws ask for.
- Military status: tick boxes, because the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act limits lien sales during active duty.
- Prohibited items: hazardous materials, perishables, living things, illegal goods and unapproved vehicles.
- Value and insurance: the customer insures their property and states its maximum value.
- Access, locks and entry: gate hours, the customer's own lock, and when the facility can go in.
- Moving out: notice, a broom-clean unit and what happens to property left behind.
Mistakes that make lien sales go wrong
- Skipping your state's required lien language. Many statutes say the agreement must notify the occupant of the lien, sometimes in bold or a set font size. Add it word for word.
- No alternate contact or email consent. Some states let you send lien notices by email only if the occupant agreed in writing. Collect it at move-in.
- Not asking about military service. Selling a servicemember's property without a court order can violate federal law, so ask at move-in and before any sale.
- Calling the unit "protected" when it isn't insured. Make clear whether the customer bought your protection plan or relies on their own policy.
- Letting late fees grow unchecked. Several states cap storage late fees; set yours within the limit.
Add your state's lien notice
This template refers to your state's self-storage lien law in general terms. Before using it, have it checked against your state's statute, then add any notice the statute requires in a Text box with the template editor's Markup tools. Saved in your template, it goes out with every agreement.
How to rent units with SignMaster
- 1
Set up the template once
Choose Use this template. It opens in your account with the occupant and the facility as signers. Add your state's lien notice in a Text box from the editor's Markup tools.
- 2
Fill in the unit and the rent
For each rental, complete the gray blanks: unit number, size, features, rent, fees, access hours and notice periods.
- 3
Sign at the counter or online
At the office, hand the customer a tablet with Sign in person. For online rentals, email the link and they sign from their phone, adding an alternate contact and their military status.
- 4
Collect an ID copy
Add an Attachment field if your process asks for a photo of the customer's ID, so it's attached to the agreement they signed.
- 5
Store the signed copy
Both parties get the signed PDF with its certificate of completion, recording when and from what IP address the customer signed. Keep it; if a lien sale is ever needed, it's your first exhibit.
Updating every tenant at once
When you change your rules, add a protection plan or need every occupant to confirm an alternate contact, bulk send sends each tenant their own updated agreement from your tenant list. Name the spreadsheet columns after the gray blanks, like Unit number and Monthly rent, and each row becomes a separate envelope. Save it as CSV UTF-8 if it comes out of Excel or your management software.
Questions? Answers.
Can a storage facility sell my things if I don't pay?
Yes, in nearly every state, but only after following that state's self-storage lien law, which sets the notices, waiting periods and how the sale is advertised. Active-duty servicemembers have extra protection under federal law.
Do storage units need insurance?
Many facilities require it. The facility doesn't insure what's in the unit, so the occupant uses their own homeowner's or renter's policy, if it covers off-site storage, or a protection plan the facility offers.
Can I e-sign a storage unit agreement?
Yes. A storage rental is an ordinary contract, and e-signatures are valid for it. Some lien laws have their own rules about sending notices electronically, so collect the occupant's email in the agreement.
Can I use this to rent out my garage for storage?
Yes. Fill in your name as the facility and describe the space as the unit. Whether a state's self-storage lien law covers a private garage varies, so don't rely on a lien sale without advice.