membership criteria

To qualify for Full Operator Membership of the SSA (UK) the following minimum standards are required:

Buildings/Complexes

A self storage facility MUST:

• have a secure defined perimeter, which could be the building itself and/or a perimeter fence.
• be substantial where a location offers mixed types of business or storage. It must be accessed and controlled separately from any other business/storage.
• have Customer Only access control to the self storage area.
• be clean, dry and watertight.
• have CCTV systems monitoring critical access and exit points with recording for at least 14 days.
• comply with all Fire and Health & Safety Regulations.
• have fire and security alarms which are monitored.
• comply with Asbestos Regulations.
• have a customer reception area.
• have customer and staff amenities.
• include internal signage specifically notifying customers of Health & Safety, no-smoking and Fire Regulation requirements.

Overall Security

The operators of a self storage facility MUST:

• adopt the principles recommended in the Police Advice Notice.
• emphasise all aspects of security to customers.
• make it absolutely clear what Goods are Totally Prohibited for storage, using posters and on initial meeting with customers.
• before any contract is signed:
  • request two forms of identification (copies to be taken and filed).
  • insist on all, at least, initial payments being made by credit card or cheque. Cash should not normally be accepted.

Room/Space Security

Each separately occupied space MUST HAVE:

• a separate lockable access.
• a secure perimeter.
• security from access through adjacent rooms/spaces including from above.

Customer Access

A self storage facility MUST:

• have direct access for customers to their allocated room/space.
• provide suitable mechanical assistance for access, or provide suitable permanent stairs to upper floors and double-stacked containers, which must meet all known H&SE regulations.

Form of Contract

The operators MUST also offer a contract substantially based on the SSA (UK) standard terms and conditions (UK members only). Specifically the contract must:

• be printed in easily legible size format and copies made freely available to customers and prospective customers.
• include the customer’s warranty of "True Total Value" of the Goods.
• be separately initialled by the customer to confirm their understanding of each of the following:
  • the customer’s obligation to secure the unit.
  • the customer’s ownership of the goods and authority to store them.
  • Prohibited Goods.
  • non-exclusive possession of the unit and the Alternative unit.
  • additional charges payable.
  • the operator’s lien over the goods.
  • the customer’s obligation to check suitability of the unit for the goods.
  • that the operator does not insure the goods under the contract and the customer’s obligation to insure.
  • termination of the agreement.
  • use of Data.
• define the room(s)/space(s) to be occupied.
• define the charge period.
• define the price and method of payment.
• inform the customer of prohibited goods as set out in the SSA (UK) recommended Licence to Store Good’s agreement (amended as appropriate by the operator’s own insurer’s requirements).
• make clear the position on Insurance of the goods which are being stored.
• define the right to occupy as a Licence and not a tenancy.

Insurance

A self storage company (and its facilities) MUST:

• carry insurance against the property for the main perils of fire, flood, storm etc (this will normally be a Landlord’s responsibility)
• carry warehousekeeper liability insurance for goods which are stored – to cover for example negligence on behalf of the operator.
• carry Public Liability Insurance to a minimum value of £2 million.
• carry any insurances required by legislation (e.g. Employers Liability) where applicable.
• insist that its customers insure their goods. [Customer Goods Insurance, if sold (only for those companies who are authorized by the FSA), should be under separate contract. If sold or arranged through another option the customer must be given very clear and proper insurance paperwork with some form of explanatory notes and details of the cover and exclusions.]

Use of SSA logo

The SSA UK logo is awarded to all Full Operator and Associate Supplier members once their membership has been agreed by the Board and all dues paid. It must not be used by any other associate member or by non-members. If, for whatever reason, a Company leaves the Association the SSA logo should be removed from all its material within 3 months of leaving the Association and from Yellow Pages on renewal.

Reporting and Annual Subscriptions

Each year members are required to certify compliance with these Conditions and Membership Criteria by completing the relevant annual Certification when renewing their subscription. Companies with more than one site will cover all the sites with one central certification, commenting where necessary on any site which does not meet the criteria.

Full Operator members are required to report any new acquisition (company or property) to the Association once the legal transfer to the Company has been completed. Full operator members are required to pay the annual fee for each of their centres.

Full operator members are also required to complete a simple annual statistical return for each site.