Sourcing storage
Happiness is your own garage – and those who have one don’t know how lucky they are! One answer is to rent a lock-up but there’s more to it than simply finding one says Alan Anderson.
It’s estimated that 75% of households don’t use their garage for what it was intended for. Drive down most streets and you’ll see cars parked on the driveway when they should be tucked away of out harm’s way. Laziness plays a key factor but just as likely it’s already crammed with domestic detritus – sorry essential household spillovers which can include the offspring, leading many to realise that the space designed for a mere car can be turned into an extra room instead.
WHERE TO FIND A LOCK-UP
In the old days, the easiest way to obtain lock-up heaven was via the local council and many still have them on their books but the market is also full of private landlords and businesses. Lock-ups have always been in strong demand so don’t be surprised if you have to be placed on a waiting list. According to London’s Islington council, anyone can apply for a lock-up but says priority is always given to those living on a local estate or are Blue Badge holders. Apart from scouring the Internet for garage locations and prospective landlords, it’s still best to talk to your local council first.
STILL SINGLE… SIZE MATTERS!
A standard garage size has been set at 16ft x 8ft 6ins for decades whereas typical car sizes have grown out of all proportion. This means that where a Ford Cortina was once accommodated quite comfortably, a new MINI won’t be due to its sheer width, even with the door mirrors retracted. So, unless you intend to egress from a sunroof (if fitted) the only other course of action is resort to manual labour and push it in. Find out what your vehicle’s width is first; typically, with some exceptions, vehicles made after 2000 are unlikely to be driven in and out easily. The obvious solution is to opt for a double garage, but these are extremely rare to find, and the costs are likely to be prohibitive.
THE COST OF A COVER?
Which leads us on the most important subject – costs. My first (council) lock-up in the East End of London way back in 1978 cost me the princely sum of £1 a week (just under a fiver in today’s money). They are a tidy bit pricier now… For example, Islington (arguably one of the most expensive areas in the UK) charges not simply for the garage, but also bases the levy on the vehicle’s emission ratings – even though the engine will be switched off! Weekly charges range from £10.65 to £22.43 for bona fide residents but span from £23.94 to £52.46 to what the council labels “everyone else”. Interestingly, if a garage is not used for vehicle storage it can ratchet up to £48.74! So, my current princely £9 weekly rental from a private Essex-based landlord is very good value, don’t you thin
