People who live in smaller houses are choosing to keep their belongings in self-storage pods rather than sell them.
According to the UK House Price Index, the average house price in Cherwell has increased by 56 percent over the last ten years, from £212,101 to £377,847.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that from January to September 2021, the average house in England and Wales cost around 8.9 times the average income – up from 5.1 times in the year to September 2002.
In Cherwell, within the same time frame, house prices went from 5.8 times the average income to 9.6 times.
The increase in house prices has led many people to purchase smaller houses, and with insufficient storage space, they opt to keep their belongings in self-storage pods.
Owner of EasyStorage for Banbury and surrounding areas Paul Dixon said: “Homes have become smaller, giving people a chance to get on the housing ladder, but adequate storage is an issue.
“Storage solutions are a great way for people to store belongings they care about or may need again in the future when they don’t have the space at home.”
Mr. Dixon, a new easyStorage franchise owner, said he is already seeing a trend towards ‘lifestyle storers’ – people using storage facilities as an essential commodity.
Several of his first jobs across North Oxfordshire involved helping people to downsize, and or declutter.
easyStorage, part of the easy family, known for brands like easyJet and easyHotel, provides a ‘collect, store and return’ service. Unlike traditional storage facilities, the company provides easyPods, which are brought directly to customers for items to be loaded.
Mr. Dixon added: “I love the eastStorage concept and I can see how beneficial it would be to so many people in varying situations. “With easyStorage there is no need to hire and load vans, manoeuvre heavy boxes or furniture through tricky buildings, or work out how to physically fit two bedrooms into a 100 square foot box.”
Paul left his thriving logistics business in South Africa to embark on a new logistics business here in the UK.
This time, with his easyStorage franchise, he will be helping the areas of Banbury, Bicester, Leamington Spa, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Kettering, and more. The pods range in size from 35 square feet to 201 square feet, with the latter comfortably holding the furniture and garden equipment of a five-bed house.
All pod plans include a free van for collections and return, secure storage in sealed easyPods, loading services and access to items on request.
