Student guide · Movesmith
Student storage in London: a guide for the summer and between tenancies
When one tenancy ends before the next begins, your things need somewhere to go. This guide covers choosing a self-storage unit, packing for it, and getting everything there and back without a scramble at the end of term.
Last reviewed October 2026 · 9 min read
Movesmith doesn't provide storage
Movesmith provides the removal to or from a storage facility that you arrange and pay for. We do not supply, manage or guarantee the storage unit. You book the unit with a storage company; we move your things to it and back.
The short version
- Book the storage unit first, then book the move to it.
- Check the facility's access hours, loading area and lift, not just the price.
- Ask the storage company what cover your things need while they're stored.
- Pack in sturdy boxes of one or two sizes, labelled on the side, with a list of what's where.
- Movesmith moves your things to the unit you book, and back out again. We don't provide storage.
Do you need storage this summer?
Halls contracts and house-share tenancies rarely line up. One ends in June, the next starts in July, August or September, and everything you own has to be somewhere in between. Storage is one of three ways to bridge the gap.
Take it home
If home is a drive away and there's room, taking everything back may be simplest. A long drive home is a move of its own, priced on the route.
Move straight in
If your next tenancy starts soon after the last one ends, ask the landlord or agent whether you can move in a little earlier, or move on the day one ends and the next begins.
Store what's left
If there's a gap of weeks or months, a storage unit holds your things between addresses. You book the unit; we move your things in at the end of term and out again when you need them.
Choosing a self-storage unit: what to check
The monthly price is only part of it. A unit that's hard to reach, or only open when you can't get there, can cost you time and effort on both moving days. Ask each storage company about these before you book.
Where it is
Close to your halls or house share keeps the first move short. Close to next year's address keeps the second one short. Somewhere between the two is often the best compromise.
Access hours
Gate hours and reception hours aren't always the same. Ask when you can get in, when the loading area and lifts are open, and whether moving in needs a booked slot.
Loading and lifts
A ground-floor unit or a goods lift near the loading bay makes the move quicker. Ask how far the unit is from where a van can stop, and whether trolleys are available.
Room for a van
Check that a van can reach the loading area and park while it's unloaded, and whether there's a height barrier on the way in.
The contract
Look at the shortest period you can rent for, how much notice you must give to leave, any deposit, and what happens if you need the unit for longer than planned.
What you can't store
Storage companies list the things you can't keep in a unit, often including food and anything flammable. Read the list before you pack.
Security
Ask who can get into the building, how units are locked and whether you need your own padlock. Keep any access card or code to yourself and never put it in a booking.
Insurance through the storage company
Ask whether the facility requires your belongings to be covered while they're stored, whether it offers that cover, and whether a policy you already have would do instead.
What size unit do you need?
Units are usually described by their floor area, and most storage companies have a size guide. Guessing from the size of your room tends to go wrong, so work from a list instead: count your boxes, note the furniture, and measure the biggest pieces.
Height matters as much as floor space. Boxes of the same size stack squarely, so a small unit with a high ceiling can hold more than you'd think. Leave a narrow path so you can reach the box you need without unpacking the rest, and put what you'll want first nearest the door.
Sharing a unit with housemates
Sharing one unit can make sense if you're all moving into the same house next year. Agree whose name is on the contract and who has access, how the cost is split, and when everything comes out. Label every box with its owner as well as its contents, and keep a shared list so nobody leaves with someone else's things.
When you book the move, each of you can book your own items, or one of you can book for the group. Every move is priced on the items listed, so list everything that's going.
Packing for storage
Things in storage sit still for weeks or months, often under other boxes. Pack for that, not just for the journey.
- Use sturdy boxes in one or two sizes so they stack squarely. Supermarket boxes vary in size and strength and can collapse under weight.
- Put heavy things such as books in small boxes, and light things such as bedding and clothes in large ones.
- Fill every box to the top so the one above doesn't crush it, and tape the bottom as well as the lid.
- Write what's inside and which room it's for on the side of each box, not just the top, so you can read it in a stack.
- Keep a numbered list of boxes and take photos of anything valuable before it's packed.
- Make sure everything is clean and completely dry. Damp clothes, towels or a wet kettle can lead to mould over a summer.
- Take apart a desk or a bed frame if you can, keep the screws in a labelled bag taped to the frame, and wrap legs and corners.
- Keep your passport, laptop, chargers, medicines and anything you'll need over the summer with you, not in the unit.
Need boxes? Our moving boxes and packing kits bundle boxes, tape and wrapping in one order. Our moving to and from self-storage checklist goes through the facility checks step by step.
How Movesmith moves your things there and back
You arrange the storage. We do the part that needs a van and someone to lift: collecting from your halls or house share and taking everything to the unit at the end of term, then bringing it from the unit to your new address. Each move is its own fixed-price job, so you know both costs before you commit. Your price depends on your items, access and date.
- 1
Book your unit
Choose the storage company and the unit, and confirm its access hours or book a moving-in slot for your date.
- 2
Get your fixed price
Add your halls or house share as one address and choose Storage unit for the other. List what's going and give the floor, lift and parking at each end.
- 3
We move it in
A verified moving operator collects from your room and delivers to the unit you booked, carried to its door through the access you told us about.
- 4
We move it out again
When your next tenancy starts, book the second move from the unit to your new address. It's priced on its own, so you know both costs.
The standard fixed-price journey supports one home-to-storage or storage-to-home leg with confirmed facility hours or a matching booked slot, suitable loading access for a 3.5-tonne vehicle, less than 50 metres carry, and ground-floor access or a usable goods lift.
Get a fixed price for your move. We check for a suitable moving team before you book. If one isn’t available, you can ask us to check your options.
Prices, halls move-outs and the student year are on our student removals in London page. Only a few things to move? See man and van in London.
When to book
Book the unit first, then the move: the date and time you can get into the facility decide when the move can happen. June, and late August to late September, are the busiest times for student moves in London, so book both as soon as you know your dates. Your move price is fixed when you book.
Leaving halls? Halls often set move-out windows and loading rules. Give us the window when you book so the move is planned around it.
On the day: a quick checklist
- Your unit's number, the facility's opening hours and your slot, if you booked one.
- Your access card, key or padlock key with you, and your code kept out of the booking.
- Everything packed, taped and labelled the night before, with a path clear to the door.
- The desk or bed frame taken apart, its screws bagged and taped to it.
- A bag of everything you need over the summer, kept out of the boxes.
- Time after the move to clean your room and hand back keys, if you're leaving halls or a house share for good.
Student storage questions
What we do and don't do, prices, access and who looks after your things.
Does Movesmith provide student storage in London?
No. Movesmith provides the removal to or from a storage facility that you arrange and pay for. We do not supply, manage or guarantee the storage unit. You choose and book the unit with a storage company, and we move your things to it at the end of term and back out when your next tenancy starts.
How much does it cost to move my things into storage?
Each move is priced on its own, on the items you list, the floors and access at both ends, the route and the date. A single item starts from £110 with a team of two, fixed and including VAT, and a room's worth is priced on what's in it. You see the fixed price before you book. The storage unit itself is paid to the storage company.
Can you move my things from halls to a storage unit?
Yes. Choose your halls or house share as the collection address and Storage unit as the delivery, and tell us about the halls' move-out window, the unit's floor and lift, and parking at both ends.
Leaving halls? Read our guide to moving out of halls in London.
What do you need to know about the storage facility?
The standard fixed-price journey supports one home-to-storage or storage-to-home leg with confirmed facility hours or a matching booked slot, suitable loading access for a 3.5-tonne vehicle, less than 50 metres carry, and ground-floor access or a usable goods lift.
What happens if we can't get into the facility on the day?
Movesmith provides the removal to or from a storage facility that you arrange and pay for; we do not provide the storage. Confirm the unit, slot, loading, vehicle, lift and access details when booking. If facility access fails, the operator pauses and submits evidence. Any configured waiting, failed-access or supported redelivery proposal needs your approval; changed or uncertain redelivery needs a fresh quote, and rejection goes to Movesmith Ops for the safe next step or rebooking.
Who looks after my things while they're in storage?
The storage company, under its own terms. Movesmith accepts liability for your belongings while we move them, under the terms shown before you book. Once they're in the unit, ask the storage company what cover your belongings need, and whether it offers it.
Can my parents book and pay for the move?
Yes. Anyone can book on your behalf. Put your own phone number in the booking contact details so the moving operator can reach whoever is there on the day.
My storage unit isn't in London. Can you still move my things?
Yes. Movesmith is UK-wide, strongest in London. Enter both postcodes and the quote shows the fixed price for the route before you book, whether the unit is round the corner or near home.
Unit booked?
List what's going into storage and see your fixed price before you book.
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