At Your Own Risk

[Val & Frank]

Hi All, We store our van at an approved storage site every time I enter the site I see a big sign that states

" Storage Is Entirely at Owners Own Risk " anyone know if this has any legal standing ??????? seeing so they take a couple of hundred pounds a year for the fees.

Val & Frank

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Frank,

It is my opinion that if a storage facility which is designed to offer improved security for the storage of caravans and other trailers offers their services, they must be accountable if their facility fails to keep a customers property secure, that is why you pay them.

By offering a 'secure service' the site operator must take every reasonable precaution to prevent damage or loss to customer's property. If damage or loss does occur, and if in any way the site operator is shown to have failed in their duty to maintain security leading to that loss or damage, then I believe they must be liable.

Disclaimer signs have been called into question with regards to car parking, and I think such a sign in a 'secure' site would be considered even less reasonable if tested in court.

 

[rob_jax]

Security and theft is one aspect and I totally agree with John, but how about damage to your caravan caused by other users?

In that case I can see the reason behind such a sign.

Robert

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Rob,

Technically the 'other users' are there with the permission of the site owner, and thus the owner has accepted the risk of their presence, and is still responsible to ensuring the safe keeping of property in their care.

In the event of damage being caused, the site owner has failed in their duty of care to the owner of damaged property. The injured party would sue the site owner, who in turn would sue the perpetrator.

 

[rob_jax]

Thanks John,

That makes perfect sense.

Robert

 

[Val & Frank]

Thanks guys

It makes sense to me now

Thanks again

Val & Frank

 

[SteveW77]

When you can't get secure storage within a reasonable distance at any price, you have to bite your tongue and put up with it, unless you you want to be put off the storage site. This was the situation facing myself and 14 others last year when our vans were vandalised in a CaOSSA silver award storage site.

Steve W

 

[Oldfogey]

But the storage obviously wasn't secure anyway!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello All,

I must stress that what I have posted are my personal views. I am not a lawyer, and what I have posted has not

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello All,

I must stress that what I have posted are my personal views. I am not a lawyer, and what I have posted has not been tested in law.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Steve W,

I am very sorry to read of your experience.

It is exactly this sort of sharp business dealing that really annoys me. The site operator is effectively taking your money and running.

I suggest that talk to your insurance company, about how they can recover their loss from a business that has failed in their duty of care and had failed to maintain an adequately level at a secure site that the insurance company has approved through CaOSSA scheme.

It is unlikely the insurance co will wipe your liability but they might reduce it by sharing between the sites insurers and your own.

 

[SteveW77]

I am afraid that I have become to cynical now to even bother to expect decent treatment by any service provider. When the moral tone of the government is so low, why should we expect better from private industry. The government is now actively taking measures to enable local government to withdraw half its services, ( refuse collection every 2 weeks ) but no equivalent reduction in council tax. Increase in vehicle duty (