European Self Storage Services

RMV provides exactly that, a secure, insured storage facility in London where your belongings stay in sealed containers for as long as your European move requires, whether that is six weeks or several years.

We are AIM accredited and have run removals and storage across London, London included, for more than fifteen years.

RMV handles both sides of the job. Our crew collects from your London address, separates what is shipping from what is staying, loads storage containers on site, and hands the export consignment to our European removals team for road freight to the destination.

One company, one insurance policy, one point of contact, rather than coordinating a removal firm, a separate storage provider, and a customs agent independently. The full background on how the company operates and the standards it works to is on our About Us page.

Why European Movers Need UK Storage

Few European relocations happen in a single clean step. Accommodation abroad may not be confirmed until weeks after you vacate your UK property.

Rental leases in cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona often require local viewing before contracts are signed, leaving a timing gap where your furniture has nowhere to go.

Corporate transferees on fixed departure dates frequently need storage during a house move because the employer’s relocation schedule does not align with the property market at the destination.

Families moving to France, Spain, or Germany often ship a partial load first and store the remainder until the new home is furnished and they know exactly what will fit.

Post-Brexit customs rules have made this hybrid approach even more common. Since the UK left the EU, household goods shipped to Europe require customs declarations, a detailed inventory listing every item with its estimated value, and in most cases proof of Transfer of Residence to qualify for duty relief.

Processing times vary by country and time of year, and delays are common if paperwork is incomplete. Keeping a portion of your belongings in long term storage in London while you resolve documentation and settle into your new home reduces the volume of goods that need to clear customs in one shipment, lowering both cost and risk.

How the Storage Service Works for European Moves

Inside, a container is 245 cm tall, 215 cm deep and 155 cm wide, which works out at 280 cubic feet.

Self-storage prices start at £19.99 per week per unit and scale linearly up to six containers at £119.94 per week.

Everything from collection at your address to delivery back is included. No introductory rate that resets, no per-visit fee and no weekend surcharge.

On moving day, the crew arrives with everything needed to load both the storage containers and the export consignment. Items designated for storage are wrapped, loaded, and sealed. Items travelling to Europe are export-wrapped and loaded onto the road freight vehicle.

RMV team manages the customs documentation required for the cross-border shipment, including inventory preparation and liaison with destination-country clearance agents.

Customers relocating to Switzerland, Italy, or other non-EU destinations benefit from our experience navigating the additional import requirements those countries impose beyond standard EU procedures.

Storage unit rental is month to month, with no contract to sign. Rental rolls monthly, contract-free, and stops five working days after you cancel.

That flexibility is critical for European relocations where timelines shift, a contract that was supposed to last three months may extend to twelve if the overseas property purchase takes longer than expected, or it may end after six weeks if everything falls into place quickly.

There are no penalties either way, making this a genuinely flexible short term storage rental or long-term storage rental depending on how your move unfolds.

What Can You Store During a European Relocation?

Furniture storage is the most common requirement, sofas, beds, dining sets, and wardrobes that are too bulky or too costly to ship by road when the destination home is a temporary rental or an unfurnished apartment you have not yet measured.

Document storage and archive storage suit professionals and business owners who must retain UK tax records, client files, or company accounts while operating abroad.

Vehicle storage serves anyone whose car is UK-registered and impractical to re-register at the destination, voltage differences, emissions standards, and right-hand-drive restrictions in some European countries make it simpler to store the vehicle and buy locally.

Seasonal storage covers items like winter sports equipment, garden furniture, and children’s belongings that cycle between your UK and European addresses depending on the time of year.

Business storage units handle a different set of requirements. Companies relocating staff to Europe often need to hold office equipment, sample stock, or marketing materials in the UK while the overseas office is set up.

Student storage London applies to the growing number of students on Erasmus or exchange programmes who leave belongings in London for a semester or academic year rather than shipping them to a temporary European address.

Every container is ventilated, clean and dry, and comes with £2,000 of insurance; higher cover can be added.

Packing for Long Term Storage Before a European Move

Belongings that may sit in storage for months or years need proper preparation. Mattresses should be sealed in protective covers to prevent moisture absorption.

Glass and ceramics require individual wrapping. Wooden furniture benefits from a light polish before storage to protect the finish. Upholstered pieces need dust sheets to prevent fabric deterioration.

Our crew packs as it loads, but before a move abroad you can also book the European packing service, or order cartons, bubble wrap, mattress bags and tape from the Packing Shop for your London address.

Our blog explains how to pack a storage unit well and which items our insurance terms allow.

Knowing how much does self-storage cost is important but knowing how to protect what goes inside is what keeps your belongings in the same condition when they come out, whether that is three months or three years later.

How Much Does Storage Cost for a European Relocation?

The self-storage cost is identical to our domestic rate: £19.99 per week per container, with no surcharge for European-linked bookings. A typical two-bedroom property stores comfortably in three containers at £59.97 per week.

A larger four-bedroom home uses five or six containers at £99.95 to £119.94 per week. Customers searching for cheap self-storage or affordable self-storage while relocating abroad will find that RMV’s all-inclusive rate undercuts most walk-in depots once the van hire, fuel, and physical effort those facilities require are factored in.

How much room do you need? The online storage calculator maps a room count and furniture list to a container quantity or call 0208 0900 232 for a personal estimate.

Returning Your Belongings, To London or Anywhere in Europe

When your European move is settled and you are ready to retrieve your stored belongings, RMV offers two options.

We can deliver the containers back to any London address, useful if you are returning to the UK or moving items to a family member’s home. Alternatively, we can ship the stored containers directly to your European address through our international removals service, handling customs documentation and road freight logistics from our facility to your door abroad.

That second option suits customers who stored belongings as a temporary measure and now want everything forwarded to the permanent European address.

The same moving and storage services that loaded your home in London complete the job at the other end, whether the destination is Lisbon, Prague, Stockholm, or anywhere between.

Whether you need a small storage unit for personal documents and keepsakes, a room size storage unit for a bedroom clearance, or large storage units covering an entire household, storage for European relocations through RMV gives you insured, crew-loaded, contract-free space at a fixed weekly rate, with the option to ship everything onward to your destination when the time is right. A container for your London home is one call away: 0208 0900 232, or book online. Ready to rent a storage unit that works around your international move? Start today.