Big Yellow Self Storage Security Statement

With over 25 years of experience in the self storage industry and as the leading UK self storage brand, Big Yellow ensures that our customers and our 85 stores are protected with a series of security procedures. The security of our self storage buildings and our customers’ possessions are our upmost priority.

Big Yellow has worked closely with our security partners, the Self Storage Association (SSA) UK, and with the Police, Fire Authorities and other statutory authorities, to ensure all our stores comply with (and often exceed) any regulations and that our systems are up to date and fit for purpose. Big Yellow has continuously made significant investments in our storage facilities and their security systems to ensure we have the best security service for our customers. Big Yellow and the SSA UK both take issues of safety and security very seriously.

We provide the highest levels of security in the self storage industry in the UK – in particular for customers that are using our stores after our trading hours (i.e. using extended access). Every self storage unit in every store is individually alarmed – and is monitored 24 hours a day – giving our customers total peace of mind.

We would like to reassure our customers that fires in self storage are very rare and there are a number of precautions we take to prevent such an incident at a self storage centre.

We continue to work closely with the Fire Authorities to minimise fire risk when designing and building our self storage buildings. We implement rigorous fire prevention procedures in our stores - both by investing in active systems to monitor everyday events - and also by assessing what customers are storing and how they are using the self storage. All our storage facilities are fitted with intruder, fire and smoke detectors, which alert the in-store team or the 24 hour monitoring centre when the stores are closed. In the event of any alert, the appropriate emergency services are immediately notified and dispatched to the scene.

We strictly prohibit the storing of any combustible, flammable or explosive items such as paint, oil, cleaning solvents, gas cylinders, fireworks and tyres. Our store teams are on site seven days a week during our trading hours and conduct daily walk rounds across all floors to ensure no activity is taking place or equipment is being used which could potentially result in a fire.

We also insist that all our customers are insured, should any unexpected and unfortunate emergencies take place.

Each of our stores has secure perimeter fencing and access gates that can only be controlled by customer and staff PIN codes. Customers will need to pass through more than one gate to gain access to the inside of any of our stores during extended access hours (after store trading hours). CCTV cameras monitor all access points and emergency exits 24 hours a day, and monitor all the areas around the outside of all of our stores.

Access to the storage units can only be granted to each customer by them using their own private PIN code on the gates and every storage room is individually alarmed. This means, if someone gains access to a storage unit without entering their authorised PIN code, the audible alarm will be instantly activated and a signal sent to our reception and to our 24 hour monitoring station.

Our staff are on site seven days a week during our trading hours and are trained to monitor and react to any irregular or suspicious activity in or around the store. Out of hours, every storage building is closely monitored through CCTV by our external 24 hour monitoring station. They in turn have access to our mobile security company and to our staff to react to any alarm activations. Ultimately, they can call the Police or Fire Brigade as well.

All new customers must complete an ID verification check through Yoti and their image and photo of their ID is stored with us before they can start storing with us. No cash payment is accepted at the point of move in, to provide a traceable source of payment for new customers.

Every private storage room has its own lock and we do not allow customers to provide their own locks which are not up to the robust security standards required by Big Yellow.

Big Yellow does not offer unrestricted 24 hour access to its stores. Access is limited to our reception trading hours 7 days a week for the majority of our customers. For a limited number of customers, extended opening hours (usually from 5am until 11pm) is permitted at our self storage buildings. These customers are schooled in our security systems and have easy access to our monitoring centre whenever they are in their store - and the monitoring centre can communicate with any customers (or intruders) inside or outside the store via a loudspeaker system.

Outside of these times, all Big Yellow stores cannot be accessed by anyone.

Security by Big Yellow Design

• Purpose built storage building to maximise customer service and security
• Perimeter fencing
• 3 gates to access store
• PIN controlled entry system on each gate
• CCTV monitored in store and by external security company
• Every storage unit individually alarmed for entry / exit
• Monitoring of storage room access timing and history via control system
• No gap above walls on all floors – mesh to provide security on upper floors
• Customer lock on every occupied storage unit
• Big Yellow lock on every vacant storage unit

Security by Big Yellow Service

• Staff on site 7 days a week during trading hours
• Staff trained to maintain and monitor all security services
• Intruder alarm system on all doors & reception area
• Fire and smoke alarm system throughout store
• All stores monitored by Security Centre after trading hours
• Mobile Security is on call by Security Centre
• Random sniffer dog patrols at our stores
• Routine fire inspection by the fire brigade

Security by Big Yellow Standard

• Staff walk-around before reception opens
• Daily store patrols by staff
• Staff walk-around before reception closes
• Licence terms & conditions
• Yoti Customer ID check
• Customer photograph
• No cash taken at move in
• Posters and store point of sale messages prioritising security
• Additional training for customers who use Extended Access
• Guide to Self Storage

If you have any concerns or further questions over security, please contact us your nearest Big Yellow store directly.