What you can and can't store in self-storage.

The short version

You can store almost anything that's your own legal property, that's not perishable, not flammable or explosive, and not alive. That covers about 95% of what people want to store.

Allowed — store with confidence

• Furniture and household items — sofas, beds, dining sets, wardrobes, desks, the lot
• Whitegoods — fridges, washing machines, dryers (defrost and dry first; props the door open with a towel)
• Boxes of personal effects — clothes, books, kitchenware, paperwork
• Sports and recreation gear — bikes, surfboards, kayaks, fishing gear, ski equipment
• Tools and equipment — power tools, hand tools, contractor gear
• Business inventory — most retail / e-commerce stock
• Documents and archives — paperwork, photo albums (boxed and labelled)
• Vehicles — depends on facility; some allow cars/motorbikes/trailers, others don't. Check first.

Prohibited — never store

These are common to virtually every Australian self-storage facility:

• Flammable liquids and gases — petrol, diesel, kerosene, propane / LPG cylinders, paint thinners, methylated spirits, large quantities of alcohol
• Explosives and fireworks — obvious, but worth saying
• Ammunition and firearms — even legally licensed; storage requires specific facilities under WA Police regulations
• Perishable food — anything that rots, attracts pests, or spoils
• Live animals — pets, livestock, anything alive
• Plants and seedlings — same reason; biosecurity risk plus they'll die
• Hazardous chemicals — pesticides, asbestos, industrial chemicals, medical waste
• Stolen or illegal goods — obvious; voids your contract and triggers police involvement
• Currency, gold, jewels in significant quantities — not technically prohibited everywhere, but standard contracts cap your insurance well below the value of these items. Use a bank vault.

Grey areas — think twice

Petrol-powered equipment (mowers, chainsaws, dirt bikes)

Allowed at most facilities only if drained of fuel and oil. Drain into an approved container before bringing in. Don't cheat — spilled fuel triggers fire-safety alarms and can void everyone's insurance.

Batteries

Standard household batteries are fine in small quantities. Lithium-ion (laptop, e-bike, power tool batteries) should be removed where possible — they're a known fire risk in temperature swings.

Wine and spirits collections

Small personal quantities are usually fine. Commercial quantities or collections worth chasing — check with the operator. Standard storage isn't temperature-stable enough for serious cellaring; you'd want climate-controlled.

Collectibles, art, electronics

Allowed, but consider climate control. Standard storage in WA can hit 40+°C inside in summer. Most household items survive fine; some don't.

Paperwork from a business

Allowed but check your obligations under Australian privacy law (especially health and financial records) for security standards. Standard self-storage meets most needs.

Insurance: read the fine print

Self-storage operators almost universally do not insure your goods. The site is secure, but goods inside the unit are your responsibility. Two paths:

1. Check your home contents insurance. Many policies extend to items in storage automatically, sometimes with a sub-limit. Read the PDS.
2. Buy storage-specific cover. Most operators can refer you to an insurer; expect $5–$30/month for typical residential coverage.

How to pack so things survive

• Dry everything first. Wet or damp items grow mould fast in a closed unit.
• Cover soft furnishings. Mattress bags, sofa covers — cheap, prevent dust.
• Don't seal things airtight in plastic. Trapped moisture is worse than dust. Use breathable covers.
• Off the floor. Pallet bases or thick cardboard under everything — keeps moisture from concrete out.
• Label boxes clearly on multiple sides. You will not remember what's in box #14 in six months.
• Heavy on the bottom, fragile on top. Obvious but routinely ignored.

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