What is a personal belongings storage agreement?
Moving abroad, between homes or in with a partner, people often leave boxes and furniture with family or friends. It's a favour that can go wrong: a damp garage ruins a sofa, the stay stretches from months to years, the storer needs the space back, or nobody remembers exactly what was left. A short storage agreement avoids that by writing down the basics while everyone is still on good terms.
This template lists the items stored and their condition, with an optional total value, and says where they are kept. It confirms the owner has the right to store them and excludes dangerous, illegal, perishable or living things, and valuables unless agreed. Storage runs to a fixed end date or open-ended with notice, and is free or for a monthly fee. It covers how far ahead the owner arranges visits, an optional person authorised to collect, the storer's standard of care (the same as for their own things), who carries the risk of damp, pests, theft or fire, insurance, and what happens to items not collected — a written final date, then only what local law allows. It states that no tenancy is created and names the governing law. Both sign and initial each page.
- Best for
- Boxes and furniture stored with family or friends while moving or travelling
- Signed by
- The owner of the items and the person storing them
- Cost
- Free as a favour, or a monthly fee
- Length
- 2 pages, initialled on every page
When to Use a personal belongings storage agreement
- Leaving furniture and boxes with parents while working abroad
- Using a friend's garage between selling one home and buying the next
- A student storing belongings over the summer with a relative
- Keeping a separated partner's belongings until they have a new place
- Paying a neighbour a small monthly fee for space in their basement
What You Fill In
19 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: owner of items, storer.
1 The owner
- Owner's full name*
- Owner's phone, email and forwarding address*
- Someone the owner authorises to collect the items
2 The storer
- Storer's full name*
- Where the items are kept*
3 The items
- Items stored*
- Currency*
- Approximate total value
4 How long
- Storage starts*
- Storage lasts* Until a fixed end date · Open-ended, until either person gives notice
- End date (fixed period)
- Notice to end early or to collect (days)*
5 Cost
- Cost of storage* Free of charge · A monthly fee
- Monthly fee
- Fee paid on day of month
6 Access
- How far ahead the owner arranges visits*
7 Care and risk
- Insurance* The owner arranges any insurance · The items are not insured
- Days after the end before items count as left behind*
- Governing law*
8 Who signs
- Owner of items signature and date, initials on every page · The person whose belongings are being stored.
- Storer signature and date, initials on every page · The friend or relative keeping the belongings at their home.
What the personal belongings storage agreement Covers
- The items and where they are kept
- How long
- Cost
- Access
- Care of the items
- Items left behind
- General
Using the personal belongings storage agreement, step by step
1 List the items
Put each item or group of boxes on its own line with any existing damage, and number your boxes. Take dated photos when you drop things off — the agreement makes them part of the record.
2 Set the period and cost
Choose a fixed end date or open-ended storage, and the notice either of you gives to end it. Choose free of charge or a monthly fee and the day it's paid.
3 Agree access, insurance and left-behind items
Say how far ahead visits are arranged, add someone who can collect for you if you'll be away, choose how insurance works, and set how many days after the end before items count as left behind.
4 Sign
Add the storer as a signer. You both sign and initial each page, and each gets the signed PDF.
Tips Before You Send It
- Check your own home contents insurance — some policies cover belongings stored away from home, and the storer's policy often won't.
- Raise items off concrete floors and use sealed plastic boxes in garages and basements.
- Keep your contact details up to date, especially if you move abroad. The storer will write to them before doing anything with items left behind.
- Don't store cash, jewellery or important documents with anyone unless you've both agreed — keep scans of documents in VergeHR Files.
Sign It Online In Minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Personal belongings storage agreement: frequently asked questions
Is the person storing my things responsible if they get damaged?
Only if the damage was caused by their own negligence or deliberate act. The storer takes the same care as with their own things, but isn't responsible for damp, pests, wear, theft, fire or flood outside their control — a home isn't a storage facility.
What happens if I don't collect my things?
After the number of days you set, the storer writes to you with a final date. After that they may deal with the items only as the law where they are kept allows, following any required notice or waiting period — which may include selling, donating or disposing of them.
Is this a rental agreement?
No. It doesn't create a tenancy or give the owner any right to occupy the home. If you're renting a storage unit or space from a business, use a storage space rental agreement instead.
Can we sign it electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid for ordinary agreements like this in the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, and VergeHR keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF.
Is this template free?
Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in VergeHR, and the storer doesn't need a VergeHR login to sign.