Recently when renting a storage locker at Public Storage at Van Ness & Mission, the person behind the counter told us we had to pay an extra $8 per month for insurance. They claimed it is a city regulation. Can that be true? We’re not required to get renters insurance on our apartments (although it’s a good idea and we do have it). Why should I insure the junk I have stashed away in a storage locker?
When I first called the Mission Public Storage office, the employee I spoke with would only tell me that their insurance policy was indeed an “ordinance.” “Is it a city ordinance, though?” I asked. Lots of mumbling ensued. I couldn’t tell whether he didn’t want to answer the question or just didn’t know, but since he was apparently incapable of giving me a straight yes or no answer – as was Public Storage headquarters – I contacted some other storage facilities in SF to find out what their insurance policies were.
Most of the places I called also required insurance, but they all told me that was their policy, not the city’s. Some companies, like Extra Space Storage in SOMA, don’t make you take out insurance at all (however, one Yelper claims their employees broke into his storage unit, so do with that what you will).
After I spoke with other companies, I called the Mission Public Storage guy back. “I told you it wasn’t a city ordinance,” he said. Right.
Bottom line: not a city ordinance, but a good idea anyway!
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