AAA Storage, which operates 14 self-storage facilities in Florida and Texas, has launched a pandemic-relief program for tenants who are delinquent on their rent. Qualifying customers are invited to reclaim the entire contents of their storage unit without having to pay the outstanding balance or go through the lien process, according to a press release. Those who take advantage of the offer are asked to leave the space empty and “broom clean.” In exchange, they’ll be given a receipt showing a zero balance.
“While the states in which we operate provide laws allowing storage facilities the right to place storage liens on seriously delinquent tenant units—where unit contents may be sold at public auction—at AAA Storage, we really hate selling our tenants’ stuff,” said Dal Anderson, a company spokesperson. “We want to give our tenants the opportunity to reclaim their belongings, without fees, penalties or the hassles of the delinquency process. So, we’ve decided to let these tenants have all their stuff back. They’ve suffered so much already. This is the right thing to do.”
The “AAA Storage Summer 2021 Pandemic Relief Program” is an extension of the company’s moratorium on auctions and rate increases that were enacted last spring. “When this thing hit hard in April 2020, we ceased all auctions and rate increases,” Anderson said. “And while we have since lifted that moratorium, the idea of selling off units at auction just didn’t feel right.”
If a tenant is unable or uninterested in claiming their belongings, they’re invited to provide written permission for AAA Storage to donate usable items to a local charity.
“At AAA Storage, we understand that the past year and a half has been extremely difficult on many of our tenants,” Anderson said. “We hope this relief program offers a small respite in all the stresses they continue to face. Now more than ever, we are reminded of the importance of serving our wonderful tenants.”
AAA Storage operates three facilities in Florida and 11 in Texas. The sites offer climate-controlled, drive-up and vehicle storage.
