{"id":2292,"date":"2018-07-02T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2018-07-02T16:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.storewithneighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=2292"},"modified":"2024-01-29T18:08:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T01:08:11","slug":"4-ds-of-self-storage-death-divorce-dislocation-downsizing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/4-ds-of-self-storage-death-divorce-dislocation-downsizing\/","title":{"rendered":"The 4 D’s of Self Storage: Death, Divorce, Dislocation, and Downsizing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Like ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, change is the only constant in life. While life is full of small changes, we sometimes experience big changes that bring major stress and heartache. Four of these major life events are known in the storage industry as “the four D’s of storage”: death, divorce, dislocation, and downsizing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Death\"Dealing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Losing a loved one is difficult. This tragic event can become even more painful in the days following the death of your loved one as you plan for funeral arrangements, legal business, and taking care of the estate. Consumer Reports offers a complete checklist of <\/span>things to do when a loved one dies<\/span><\/a> to help keep you on track during the aftermath of a tragedy. While taking care of official business, you can relieve some of the stress by having a safe place to store your loved one’s possessions until the estate is settled. Neighbor<\/a>, a peer-to-peer storage community, can help you find the perfect last-minute storage space in an area close to you with a flexible month-to-month contract. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is a good chance your loved one may already have a storage unit when they pass away. This means you will need to make decisions about what to do with the property in the unit and go through legal processes to obtain it. Below are some FAQs about what happens when a storage tenant dies.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Happens to a Storage Unit if the Renter Dies?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Just because a storage tenant passes away doesn’t mean their rights pass away with them. Unless you have the codes and keys to get into the storage unit on your own, you will need to obtain some legal papers to access the unit. Management can’t unlock the unit for anyone unless they have an official death certificate and court letter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leasing Obligations After the Death of a Tenant<\/span><\/h3>\n

Settling an estate in court can take well over a month, meaning rent will need to be paid on the storage unit during that time. Management can place a lien against the unit and eventually auction off the contents if rent is not paid or if no family comes to claim the unit. After heirs take the desired possessions out of a unit, they can choose to continue paying rent on the unit, close the contract, or leave the unit to be auctioned off.<\/span><\/p>\n

What About the Safety Deposit?<\/span><\/h3>\n

It is usually the person appointed by either the will or a court as the administrator of the unit who receives the safety deposit. If management can’t find the administrator, they will send the safety deposit to the deceased tenant’s last-known address for the remaining heirs and courts to deal with.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How Neighbor is changing storage<\/h2>\r\n <\/header>\r\n
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Transparent monthly savings<\/h3>\r\n

Renters save 30-50% on self storage, on average. No rate hikes.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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Keep your items nearby<\/h3>\r\n

Hosts in your neighborhood means that your things are always close by.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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Storage made simple<\/h3>\r\n

Don't settle for stone age tech and long contracts. Neighbor makes it easy.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\r\n