living in a "storage" space - trouble? (fees, legally, period)
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Im semi living out of a storage unit. They allow u to enter any time of the day or night. It is an indoor self storage. The facility can only be entered with a passcode. There is electricity in my unit. It is also climate controlled.
My employer and I knew someone who owned a small apartment building with storage spaces for tenants in the basement, as well as a suite of rooms (including bathroom with shower) which had once been used as an illegal apartment. My boss rented the space as a storage area.and I once lived there for four months and nobody noticed.
I live in Orange County California. As a side job, I do the "Storage Wars" thing. I have personally witnessed several people who live in their storage units. I also rent an inexpensive unit, and in my 24 hour storage complex, there are two guys who live in their units.
Personally, I don't think it is so bad. All the people I have witnessed living in their units have them fixed up so they are livable, have couches and chairs, dressers, mini fridges, and light. In some cases, their units have electricity so that makes it even easier.
I know this for sure: if they had other options for shelter, they would reach for them. One guy was homeless, and it made sense for him to be off the street at night. The other two guys got divorced, lost their jobs or businesses with the economy, and are now struggling to keep their heads above water.
If you keep a low profile, pay your rent on time, choose your unit wisely, and do not disturb anyone, it is very easy to live in a storage unit. In most, if not all, cases the management knows what the tenants are doing... they just turn a blind eye and allow it to continue. After all, the owners and managers of the storage units are having a hard time keeping units rented. This way, everyone wins.
I watched a News report that featured business men who had their offices set up in storage units. Worked their entire business out of it for a fraction of the rent it would normally cost them. Pretty interesting.
Koale
What is not considered or talked about for whatever reason is:
1. You find a 24 hour facility that you can enter at any time.....(They are everywhere)
2. Do it in Florida. It's warm all year around
3. Buy a cheap scooter. Then bring your "Vehicle" inside the faciity with you to sleep
4. Get two storage units so you can come and go every other day as to not be seen in the same place every day.
5. Get a membership at a gym so you can shower and use their facilities to wash and use the bathroom.
6. Read this over and over and you will understand this is possible. Oh and while your at it...if you go to a home depot get a fixture for the light that will be inside your storage unit. Unscrew the bulb and put the adapter that has other power sources for input. Then place your bulb back in. You now have power for anything u need inside that unit.
Good luck and be smart.
I had a storage unit a few years ago, and even though it was kind of warm out, it was 20 degrees colder inside the storage facility. i'd never ever be able to sleep in one. too cold!!! wonder if they do this on purpose to discourage people from getting too cozy.
What .............. Oh and while your at it...if you go to a home depot get a fixture for the light that will be inside your storage unit. Unscrew the bulb and put the adapter that has other power sources for input. Then place your bulb back in. You now have power for anything u need inside that unit.......
.
And that would be theft. Taking what does not belong to you, without permission, and without paying for it is stealing.
The holder of a storage unit is not paying for residential electricity. He is paying for the electricity to light up the unit just long enough to move stuff in, or to go in and do a brief a search to retrieve an item and then leave.
How do you handle bathroom needs living in a storage unit? I can see joining a gym for a shower, but I find it helpful to have a toilet close to my bedroom.
^^^ See post #20. Any more information would be TMI.
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