Bike Storage for Rental Property

The car parking question is very often asked by potential tenants: where is it, how much does it cost and so on, but what is becoming ever more common is for tenants to ask about the possibility of bike storage. For many landlords this is even more of a challenge than car parking facilities and is the cause of quite some problems for tenants. What should you be doing in terms of bike storage for your tenants?

Storage in Sheds

The best solution for most rental properties is to make a little space in a locked garage or shed for your tenants to store their bikes. As long as they’re kept dry and warm there should be no problems with deterioration and most tenants will have no problem keeping their pride and joy outside. This keeps mud and dirt out of the property, protects your carpets and actually makes life a lot easier for your tenants.

External Storage

Some properties in the UK now have large external bike storage facilities, this tends to be found most in communal flats or student property. These are great for cyclists but are quite prone to thefts. You need to ensure that your tenants know external bike storage is not your responsibility and bikes are left at their own risk.

In-Property Storage

If you’re unable to provide adequate bike storage, most tenants will store their bikes in your property. In principle this is fine, providing you don’t end up with snagged carpets or tyre tracks on the floors. There is one danger, however: race bikes are one of the top targets for thieves and you could end up attracting a break in. Make sure your tenants are not leaving bikes in view of the street and ensure that your landlord insurance and your contents cover are adequate for a £1000+ bike.

Bike storage is only going to become a more common requirement for properties in the UK and it really will be an attractive feature for new tenants. Make sure you think about it now and when the demand comes in the future you’ll be ready.