Storage Chinatown Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Storage Chinatown provides storage, removals and associated services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking, using our website, or using any of our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, you must not use our services.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings set out below:

Customer means the individual or business entering into an agreement with Storage Chinatown for storage, removals or associated services.

Services means storage services, removal and transport services, packing or loading services, and any other related services provided by Storage Chinatown.

Agreement means the contract between Storage Chinatown and the Customer incorporating these Terms and Conditions, any booking confirmation and any written variations agreed in writing.

Storage Unit or Storage Space means any space allocated to the Customer for the purpose of storing goods.

Goods means the items and property that the Customer asks us to store, move, handle or otherwise deal with.

2. Scope of Services

Storage Chinatown provides storage services and removal services, together with optional packing, loading, unloading and related services. The exact scope of services will be as described in your booking confirmation or service quotation.

We reserve the right to refuse to provide services if we reasonably believe that the Goods are unsafe, prohibited, illegal, or may cause damage to persons, property or the environment.

3. Booking Process

3.1 Bookings can be requested online or in person by providing us with accurate information regarding the type and quantity of Goods, the collection and delivery addresses, access details, and any relevant timings or special requirements.

3.2 All bookings remain subject to availability and our written or electronic confirmation. A booking is not considered accepted until we issue a booking confirmation or accept a deposit or other payment against the relevant service.

3.3 The Customer is responsible for ensuring that all information supplied when making a booking is complete and accurate. We are entitled to rely on the information supplied and may adjust our charges if the information is incorrect or incomplete.

3.4 Any changes to the booking, including changes to dates, addresses, volume of Goods or required services, must be requested as early as possible. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate changes, but cannot guarantee availability. Changes may result in revised charges and may be treated as a new booking in some cases.

4. Payments and Charges

4.1 All prices are quoted in pounds sterling and are exclusive of any applicable taxes unless explicitly stated otherwise.

4.2 For removals and transport services, we may require a deposit at the time of booking, with the balance payable prior to or on the date of service, as specified in the booking confirmation.

4.3 For storage services, charges are usually payable in advance on a weekly or monthly basis, as notified to you. Storage access may be suspended if payments are not made when due.

4.4 We reserve the right to review and vary our charges periodically. Changes to ongoing storage charges will be communicated in advance. Continued use of storage after notification of a change in price constitutes acceptance of the revised charges.

4.5 Payment methods and payment deadlines will be set out in your booking confirmation or invoice. Time for payment is of the essence. If payment is not received when due, we may refuse or suspend services, restrict access to storage, and charge interest on overdue sums at the statutory rate, as well as reasonable costs incurred in recovering outstanding amounts.

4.6 If access delays, waiting time, restricted access, stair-only access, or other unforeseen difficulties occur on the day of service and were not disclosed to us at the time of booking, we may apply reasonable additional charges to cover the extra time, labour and resources required.

5. Cancellations and Amendments

5.1 The Customer may cancel or amend a booking by providing us with notice in accordance with this section. The minimum notice period required in order to avoid cancellation charges will be set out in your booking confirmation or accompanying documents.

5.2 If you cancel a removals or transport booking with insufficient notice, we may charge a cancellation fee. The amount of any such fee will depend on when you notify us of the cancellation and the nature of the services booked. As a general guide, cancellations close to the service date may incur up to 100 percent of the quoted charges.

5.3 Where storage services are provided on an ongoing basis, you may end the storage agreement by giving written notice in line with the notice period specified at the start of the agreement or on the renewal notice. You will remain responsible for all storage charges up to the end of the notice period.

5.4 We may cancel or suspend a booking or ongoing service if:

a. you fail to pay any sums due on time;

b. you breach these Terms and Conditions and do not correct the breach within a reasonable time after we ask you to do so;

c. we reasonably suspect that your use of the services is illegal or poses a risk to people, property or the environment; or

d. we are prevented from providing the services due to events beyond our reasonable control.

5.5 If we cancel a booking other than for reasons related to your breach or default, we will refund any amounts paid in advance for services not provided. We will not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses caused by such cancellation.

6. Customer Responsibilities

6.1 The Customer is responsible for:

a. ensuring that all Goods are properly packed, secured and labelled unless packing services have been expressly included in the booking;

b. ensuring that Goods are suitable for storage or transport and are not prohibited, dangerous or illegal;

c. arranging suitable insurance for Goods where required, as our liability is limited as set out in these Terms and Conditions;

d. providing safe and reasonable access to the premises at both collection and delivery locations;

e. obtaining any necessary permissions, permits or authorisations required for parking, access or use of lifts and communal areas; and

f. notifying us of any special requirements, fragile items or items of high value before the service starts.

6.2 The Customer must not store or ask us to move any items that are prohibited by law or that are inherently dangerous, flammable, explosive, toxic, perishable, or otherwise unsuitable for storage or transport with other Goods.

7. Waste and Environmental Regulations

7.1 Storage Chinatown is not a waste disposal provider, and our services do not include the removal or disposal of waste, rubbish or hazardous materials unless this has been explicitly agreed in advance and confirmed in writing.

7.2 The Customer must not place waste, rubbish or unwanted items in any storage units, communal areas, vehicles or other facilities used by us, except where we have expressly agreed to collect and dispose of such items as a separate service.

7.3 Where we agree to remove unwanted items, these must be clearly identified and separated from Goods that are to be stored or moved. We may refuse to handle items that we reasonably believe to be hazardous, prohibited, contaminated or otherwise unsuitable for removal.

7.4 The Customer remains responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable waste and environmental regulations in relation to the Goods. Any costs, fines or liabilities that we incur as a result of the Customer's failure to comply with such regulations may be charged back to the Customer.

8. Access to Storage

8.1 Access arrangements for storage services, including opening hours and security procedures, will be notified to the Customer at the time of booking or commencement of storage.

8.2 We may require proof of identity and authority from any person seeking access to a storage unit. We are entitled to refuse access to anyone who cannot provide satisfactory evidence of their right to access the Goods.

8.3 We may occasionally need to restrict or suspend access to storage facilities for maintenance, security or other operational reasons. We will, where practicable, provide advance notice of any planned restrictions.

9. Our Liability

9.1 We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the services. However, our liability will be limited as set out in this section.

9.2 We will not be liable for loss or damage to Goods unless caused by our negligence or breach of contract. We are not responsible for normal wear and tear, minor scratches or dents, deterioration arising from the nature of the Goods, or damage that results from inadequate packing by the Customer.

9.3 We will not be liable for loss or damage to any Goods that are unsuitable for transport or storage, including but not limited to fragile items not packed appropriately, items of exceptional value, prohibited items, or goods packed in unstable or unsuitable containers.

9.4 Our total liability for loss of or damage to Goods, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be limited to a reasonable amount per claim or per consignment, subject to any specific limits notified to you at the time of booking or set out in your storage agreement. You are strongly advised to arrange your own insurance cover for the full replacement value of the Goods.

9.5 We will not be liable for any indirect, special or consequential loss, including loss of profit, loss of business, or loss of opportunity, even if such loss was reasonably foreseeable.

9.6 We are not responsible for delays or failure to perform services where this is due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, traffic disruption, accidents, strikes, public emergencies or restrictions imposed by authorities.

10. Indemnity

The Customer agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified Storage Chinatown against all losses, claims, damages, costs and expenses arising from:

a. the Customer's breach of these Terms and Conditions;

b. the Customer's failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations;

c. any claim by a third party relating to the Goods where such claim is not due to our negligence or breach; or

d. the presence of prohibited, dangerous or illegal items among the Goods.

11. Complaints and Claims

11.1 If you believe that loss or damage has occurred to your Goods while in our care, you must notify us as soon as possible. For removals and transport, visible damage should be noted at the time of delivery wherever possible. For storage, you should notify us promptly upon discovering any issue.

11.2 Any formal claim must be made in writing within a reasonable period, providing full details of the Goods affected, the nature of the damage or loss, and supporting evidence where available.

11.3 We will investigate all properly made claims and respond within a reasonable time. Our liability, if any, will be assessed in accordance with the limitations set out in these Terms and Conditions.

12. Data Protection

12.1 We will collect and process personal data about the Customer in order to provide the services, manage bookings, process payments, and comply with legal obligations.

12.2 We will handle personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws in the United Kingdom and in line with our privacy practices. By using our services, you consent to such processing of your personal data.

13. Termination

13.1 Either party may terminate an ongoing storage arrangement by giving the notice period stated in the storage agreement. On termination, all sums due must be paid in full and the Customer must remove all Goods from storage.

13.2 If the Customer fails to remove Goods after the end of the agreed term, we may treat the Goods as abandoned. In such cases we may, after giving reasonable notice where practicable, sell or dispose of the Goods and use the proceeds to offset any outstanding charges. Any surplus may be held for the Customer, subject to applicable law.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

14.1 These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the services, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

14.2 The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or the services, including any non-contractual disputes or claims.

15. General Provisions

15.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court or other competent authority, that provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15.2 No waiver by us of any breach of these Terms and Conditions shall be considered a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.

15.3 The Agreement is between Storage Chinatown and the Customer. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.

15.4 We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking, or the most recent version notified to you for ongoing storage services, will apply. Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

15.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude or limit any rights that you may have as a consumer under applicable consumer protection laws.