Storage in Kensington by Man and a Van Kensington
At Man and a Van Kensington, we provide secure, flexible storage solutions for homes and businesses across Kensington and the surrounding areas. Whether you need a few weeks between moves or longer-term space for stock, furniture or archives, our professional, fully insured teams make the process straightforward from door to store.
Local Kensington Storage Specialists
Working in Kensington every day gives us a clear understanding of the challenges you face – from tight stairwells in mansion blocks and limited parking to managing building access and time-restricted loading bays. Our crews are used to operating around Kensington High Street, South Kensington, Earl's Court and the quieter residential streets in between.
We handle all liaison with building managers where required, organise parking where possible, and plan the move so that your items are safely packed, collected and placed into storage with minimal disruption.
Who Our Storage Service Is For
Homeowners
Ideal if you’re in a chain, renovating, or downsizing and not ready to part with certain belongings. We collect directly from your property, protect your furniture, and place everything into secure storage until your new home is ready.
Renters
If your tenancy dates don’t quite line up, or you’re travelling and want to keep belongings safe, our storage is a cost-effective, flexible option. We can store single rooms or entire flats, from beds and sofas to boxes and bikes.
Landlords
Landlords often use our service when resetting a property between tenancies. We can remove and store furniture during refurbishments, or hold items while you decide whether to re-furnish, sell or donate them.
Businesses
Local businesses in Kensington rely on us for document archives, spare furniture, seasonal stock and event equipment. Our trained teams can dismantle workstations, pack IT equipment and ensure everything is carefully labelled for easy retrieval later.
Students
Students at Imperial College and nearby universities use our storage during holidays, placements or study breaks. We offer compact, budget-friendly storage for boxes, suitcases, small furniture and equipment, with collection and redelivery options.
What We Can Store
We handle most typical household and office contents, including:
- Furniture – sofas, beds, wardrobes, tables, desks, chairs
- Appliances – washing machines, fridges (defrosted), microwaves
- Boxes of personal belongings, books and documents
- Clothing, sports equipment and bicycles
- Office furniture and filing cabinets
- IT equipment – computers, monitors, printers (properly packed)
- Artwork and mirrors (professionally wrapped)
Items We Cannot Store
For safety, legal and insurance reasons, certain items are excluded from our storage service:
- Perishable goods or food of any kind
- Flammable, explosive or hazardous materials (e.g. paint, gas bottles, solvents)
- Illegal items or substances
- Cash, jewellery or high-value collectibles best kept in a safe or bank
- Live plants or animals
- Anything that may leak, rot or attract pests
If you are unsure about a particular item, we will advise you before collection so you can plan accordingly.
How Our Storage Service Works
1. Enquiry & Quotation
Contact us by phone, email or our online form with a brief outline of what you need to store and for how long. We’ll ask some simple questions about access, volume and any fragile or valuable items. Based on this, we provide a clear, no-obligation quote covering collection, storage and return if required.
2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite
For larger homes or business moves, we recommend a short virtual or onsite survey. This allows us to assess access, parking, and the volume of goods more accurately. A proper survey means we can send the right size vehicle, enough professional movers and all necessary packing materials, avoiding surprises on the day.
3. Packing & Preparation
On the agreed date, our trained team arrives with protective materials. We can provide a full or partial packing service, or simply supply materials if you prefer to pack yourself. Furniture is wrapped in transit blankets or export wrap, mattresses are bagged, and fragile items are cushioned to minimise movement in storage. Everything is labelled so you know what’s where.
4. Loading & Transport to Storage
We load your items carefully, making best use of vehicle space and ensuring heavier items are properly balanced. Once loaded, we transport everything directly to our partner storage facility. Your goods are unloaded into secure units or containers, arranged to keep fragile or temperature-sensitive items as safe as practicable.
5. Unloading & Placement (At Return)
When you’re ready, we schedule a return delivery. We bring your belongings back, unload and place items into the rooms you specify. Where we have dismantled furniture for storage, we can reassemble it, leaving you with a functional home or office as quickly as possible.
Transparent, Fair Pricing
We believe in clear, straightforward pricing. Your quote typically includes:
- Collection from your Kensington address
- Labour from our professional moving team
- Transit to our storage partner facility
- Weekly or monthly storage charges, depending on your needs
- Optional packing services and materials
- Optional redelivery and unloading back to your new address
Costs depend on the volume of items, access conditions, distance to storage, and length of time required. We always provide a written breakdown so you understand what you’re paying for, with no hidden extras.
Why Use Professional Storage Instead of DIY?
Hiring a casual man-with-a-van or attempting to move everything yourself often seems cheaper, but it can be a false economy. Without the right equipment, protective materials and experience, the risk of damage increases significantly. You may also end up paying for more storage space than you actually need due to poor packing and stacking.
Our trained teams know how to dismantle, wrap and load efficiently, keep fragile items safe and maximise storage use. We’re fully insured, accountable and used to handling everything from single-room student moves to full office clearances.
Insurance and Professional Standards
Your belongings are important, and we treat them that way. Man and a Van Kensington operates with:
- Goods in transit insurance while your items are being moved
- Public liability cover for work in and around your property
- Trained moving teams experienced in packing, lifting and handling
We follow sensible handling procedures, use appropriate lifting techniques and always plan access routes to minimise the chance of damage to your property and belongings. While no service can remove every risk, our standards keep those risks as low as possible.
Care, Protection and Sustainability
We focus on protecting both your belongings and the environment. Our teams use reusable padded blankets, durable plastic crates where appropriate, and recyclable cardboard boxes and paper. We avoid unnecessary plastic and encourage re-use of materials where practical.
Furniture is wrapped to reduce scuffs, and we avoid stacking in ways that place undue pressure on fragile items. Where we remove packaging on return, we can take it away for recycling, helping you keep clutter to a minimum.
Real-World Storage Use Cases in Kensington
Moving House with a Gap in the Chain
Many clients find themselves with a completion date before their new property is ready. We collect everything on moving day, place it into secure storage, and then deliver once you receive your new keys, helping you bridge that gap without stress.
Office Refurbishment or Relocation
Businesses refurbishing offices in Kensington often need temporary storage for desks, chairs, files and equipment. We can empty your premises at the start of works and then return everything, reassembling furniture to get your staff back in quickly.
Urgent or Short-Notice Storage
Life does not always give much warning. Whether it’s a landlord requiring quick vacant possession, a sudden relocation, or emergency works at your property, we regularly arrange short-notice storage. Where our schedule allows, we can often provide same-day or next-day collections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does storage with collection cost?
Costs depend on three main factors: how much you have, how easy access is, and how long you need storage. We charge for the collection day (vehicle and labour) plus a weekly or monthly storage fee based on the volume of your goods. Optional services such as packing, dismantling and redelivery are itemised separately. Once we’ve discussed your requirements or carried out a quick survey, we’ll provide a clear written quote so you can see exactly what’s included.
Can you offer same-day or urgent storage in Kensington?
Where our schedule and storage capacity allow, we can often arrange same-day or next-day collections for urgent situations. This is common when a move falls through at the last minute, a tenancy ends unexpectedly, or urgent building works are required. The more information you can provide when you call, the easier it is for us to allocate the right vehicle and crew. We’ll always be honest about availability and do our best to find a practical solution.
Are my belongings insured while in storage and in transit?
Your goods are covered by our goods in transit insurance while being moved between your address and the storage facility. We also carry public liability cover for the work we carry out at your property. Storage facilities have their own security and protection measures, and some offer additional cover options. We’ll explain what is included as standard and, if needed, suggest where you may wish to arrange top-up cover through your own insurer for particularly high-value or specialist items.
What’s included in your storage service?
Our standard service includes collection from your property, loading by our professional moving team, transport to the storage facility and unloading into secure storage. We provide basic protective materials such as blankets and ties as part of this. Optional extras include full or partial packing, supply of boxes and materials, dismantling and reassembly of furniture, and eventual redelivery to your new address. We’ll tailor the service to your situation so you only pay for what you actually need.
How is this different from a basic man-and-van service?
A casual man-and-van will usually move items from A to B but may not offer proper packing, insurance or structured storage options. Our service is run by trained movers who handle planning, protection, and careful loading for longer-term storage. We operate with goods in transit insurance, public liability cover and clear procedures, giving you recourse and peace of mind if something goes wrong. In short, we’re set up for full moves and storage, not just quick one-off runs.
How far in advance should I book storage?
For planned moves, we recommend booking as soon as you know your likely dates, particularly during busy periods such as late spring and summer. This gives us time to carry out a survey if needed and reserve the right vehicle and team. That said, we understand that dates can change, especially with property chains, and we try to be as flexible as possible. Even at short notice, it is always worth calling – we will advise honestly on what we can do.
