Yes. Our terms let either side end the agreement, so we can end yours by giving you written notice of at least the number of days shown on the front page of your agreement (the Cover Sheet), which is normally 14 days. We don't have to give a reason, just as you don't. We can end it without that notice in three cases: illegal or environmentally harmful activity, a breach of the agreement that you haven't put right within 14 days of our asking you to, or finding your unit empty when we enter it. Short of ending it, the terms also let us move you to another unit that's no smaller, refuse goods we think are a safety risk, and, if payments go unpaid, stop access and eventually sell what's inside. Each has its own rules, and each leaves you something you can do.
At a glance
| What happens | Notice you get | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| We end the agreement on notice (clause 41) | At least the days on your Cover Sheet, normally 14 | Clear the unit by close of business on the end date; call us if the date is a problem |
| We end it immediately (clause 41) | None beyond the notice itself | For a breach that can be put right, fix it within 14 days of our request |
| We move you to another unit (clause 25) | 14 days, or less after an incident | Move, or choose to end the agreement; get removal costs approved in writing first |
| We refuse or ask you to remove goods (clause 27) | Not set | Ask which item and why, then take it out |
| Payments go unpaid (clause 6) | Access can stop without further notice; written notice comes before any sale | Pay or call us as early as you can |
Ending on notice
Clause 41 reads: "Unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties, either We or You may end this Agreement at any time by giving the other party written notice in accordance with Clause 39. The date on which the Agreement will end (the Termination Date) must be at least the number of days indicated on the Cover Sheet."
So the rule is the same for both of us. Your Cover Sheet sets the number of days, and our move-out guide says that's normally 14. If you and we have agreed something different in writing, that agreement applies instead.
Our notice reaches you in writing, by hand, post or email, to the address on your Cover Sheet or the latest address in England or email address you've given us (clause 39). If we can't reach you there, notice served on the extra contact named on your Cover Sheet counts as given to you. That's why clause 28 asks you to tell us about changed contact details within 48 hours. If you're between homes, give us an email address you check, not an address you're about to leave. If you're the extra contact on a relative's agreement, notices can come to you when we can't reach your relative, so call us if one arrives.
What you can do: by close of business on the Termination Date, clause 41 asks you to remove everything and leave the unit "in a clean condition and in a good state of repair". You pay fees up to that date, and our move-out guide says we then refund "any unused days on your contract after the notice period". Your deposit comes back within 21 days, less deductions (clause 4). If you're storing everything you own and 14 days won't find you somewhere to put it, or you're a business with stock to move, call us as soon as the notice arrives. The notice date is what the terms guarantee; anything more is a conversation.
If goods are still in the unit after the Termination Date, clause 41 says: "In the event that Goods and/or rubbish are left in the Unit after the Termination Date, Clauses 7 and 23 will apply." Clause 7 lets us treat the goods as abandoned and sell or dispose of them, after first writing to you to collect them (clause 8). You'd pay storage fees from then until the sale or disposal, plus the disposal costs. Clause 23 lets us keep your deposit, charge a cleaning fee or recover reasonable costs of repairs and clearing rubbish. What happens to anything left in a storage unit sets out the steps, and if you need more time, read can I keep my storage unit longer than planned? and call us before the date.
If you'll be away for a long time
If you're working abroad or travelling with everything in the unit, a notice from us still runs from the day it's treated as received, whether or not you read it. Three things keep you in control:
- keep your email address and postal address up to date with us, and tell us within 48 hours of any change (clause 28), because that's where notices go (clause 39);
- name a second contact on your Cover Sheet who lives in the UK and could clear the unit for you. If we can't reach you, a notice served on them counts as served on you (clause 39), and clause 28 lets us discuss any unpaid fees with them, so pick someone you trust and tell them what to do;
- clause 41 applies "Unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties", so before you go you can ask us whether a longer notice period can be agreed in writing for your agreement. We can't promise the answer will be yes, and only something in writing changes the terms.
Ending straight away
Clause 41 continues: "In the event of illegal or environmentally harmful activities on Your part or a breach of this Agreement (which, if it can be put right, You have failed to put right within 14 days of a request from Us to do so), We may terminate the Agreement immediately by notice."
For a breach that can be fixed, such as storing something on our prohibited goods list, you'll get a request first and 14 days to put it right. Act on it within those 14 days and tell us in writing that you have. Illegal or environmentally harmful activity carries no such window, and clause 34 also lets us contact the authorities and remove or dispose of goods "at Your expense".
One more case: if we enter a unit and find it empty, clause 41 lets us end the agreement without advance notice, sending you notice within 7 days.
Moving you to another unit
Clause 25 says the agreement doesn't give you "exclusive possession of the Unit", and we can move you "to another Unit not smaller than the current Unit: (a) by giving 14 days' notice during which You can elect to terminate this Agreement … or (b) on shorter notice if an incident occurs that requires the Unit or section where it is located to be closed or sealed off." The terms set no minimum notice for a move under (b).
Clause 25 says "another Unit" and doesn't say whether it will be at the same site, so if that matters to you, ask us whether the new unit is at the same site before you agree dates.
What you can do: accept the move, or choose to end the agreement during those 14 days, and confirm the end date with us in writing. If you move, "We will pay Your reasonable costs of removal if approved in writing by Us before removal", so get the approval before you book a van. If you don't move your things by the date in our notice, we can move them for you, at your risk, "except for damage caused wilfully or negligently which is subject to the limitations in Clause 30". Clause 30 limits what we pay for loss of or damage to goods caused by our negligence or breach of contract: "Our liability will be limited to the sum of £100 in total". It also excludes loss to your business, such as lost profits or business interruption. So if a move would put valuable goods or stock at risk, check your insurance covers it and consider moving them yourself with approved costs.
On price, clause 25 says that after the move the agreement "continues on the same terms at the Storage Fees in force for the original Unit at the time of the removal", so you keep paying your original unit's fee, even if the new one is bigger.
Refusing goods
Clause 27: "We may refuse storage of any Goods or require You to remove Goods if in Our opinion storage of such Goods creates a risk to the safety of any person or property."
This doesn't end the agreement by itself. If we ask you to remove something, ask us which item and why, then take it out. Leaving it there after we've asked could count as a breach, which brings the 14-day rule above into play.
If payments are missed
Clause 6 gives us "a general and particular right of lien, which is a right to seize and sell or otherwise dispose of some or all of the Goods as security for Your obligation to make payments". If a payment isn't made when due, we can, without further notice, refuse access, fit our own lock to the unit (an overlock), move the goods and use your deposit against the debt. Fees keep running. Before anything is sold, clause 8 says we'll write to you by registered or recorded delivery, and by email or social media message, telling you to pay.
What you can do: pay, or call us before the due date if you can't. Our guide to missing a storage payment covers every step.
If you think we've got it wrong
Call us first on 0800 2545585, or write to info@wigwamstorage.co.uk, the address our terms give for notices. If you're storing as a private individual and believe a term has been used unfairly against you, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says "An unfair term of a consumer contract is not binding on the consumer" (section 62). The Citizens Advice consumer helpline gives free, independent advice on 0808 223 1133, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Those Consumer Rights Act protections apply to consumers; if you store as a business, take your own advice.
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