Self-Storage Market Review | September 2026 | UK & Europe

September 2026

Self-Storage Market Review

UK & Europe

Executive Summary

European self-storage pricing strengthened through the first half of 2026, but the improvement was not uniform. Continental Europe outpaced the United Kingdom in 2Q, even as three of its largest markets recorded growth of less than 2%. Pricing remained above levels a year earlier in both regions through July and August.

Continental Europe

Advertised rates averaged €28.50/sqm in 2Q 2026, up 2.9% year-over-year and 0.8% from the first quarter. Twelve of the 13 markets included in the analysis recorded year-over-year gains, although France, Germany and Spain, which account for 56% of Continental European rentable space, all recorded growth of less than 2%. July-August rates were 3.2% above the same period last year.

United Kingdom

Advertised rates averaged £2.77/sf in 2Q 2026, up 1.3% year-over-year and 0.7% from the first quarter. Seven of the ten UK regions were above levels a year earlier, while July-August pricing increased 1.9%.

Across Europe

The regional averages mask distinctly different market conditions. France, Germany and Spain remained comparatively subdued in 2Q, while the Netherlands recorded much stronger growth. UK performance was similarly varied, led by North East & Yorkshire and Scotland, while Greater London was close to flat in 2Q and moved below prior-year levels in July and August.

Rate convention: Unless otherwise stated, advertised rates are monthly walk-in rates for benchmark units, shown as €/sqm in Continental Europe and £/sf in the UK. Facility and space figures reflect the locations tracked by StorTrack rather than total market inventory.

 

Europe at a Glance

2Q 2026 Market Snapshot

StorTrack’s European coverage comprises 17,467 self-storage facilities, 11,920 in Continental Europe and 5,547 in the United Kingdom.

CONTINENTAL EUROPE
€28.50/sqm
Average advertised rate, 2Q 2026
+2.9%
Year-over-year
2Q 2026 vs 2Q 2025
+0.8%
Quarter-over-quarter
2Q 2026 vs 1Q 2026
+3.2%
July-August
vs July-August 2025
11,920
Facilities in coverage
21.0M
Rentable space (sqm)
Net rentable
37 sqm
Space per 1,000 residents
UNITED KINGDOM
£2.77/sf
Average advertised rate, 2Q 2026
+1.3%
Year-over-year
2Q 2026 vs 2Q 2025
+0.7%
Quarter-over-quarter
2Q 2026 vs 1Q 2026
+1.9%
July-August
vs July-August 2025
5,547
Facilities in coverage
Four nations
122.6M
Rentable space (sf)
Net rentable
1.8 sf
Space per resident
Key Observations
1Continental European growth ran ahead of the UK

Advertised rates rose +2.9% year-over-year in Continental Europe against +1.3% in the United Kingdom, the second consecutive quarter with that gap.

2July-August extended the 2Q trends

Both regions remained above prior-year levels, at +3.2% and +1.9%, slightly above their second-quarter pace, although annual growth was lower in August than in July.

3Market structure varies as much as pricing

Market scale, facility formats and operator composition differ substantially across Europe, making country-level comparisons more informative than the regional average alone.

Rate levels are shown in each region’s own currency and area unit and are not combined; percentage changes are compared directly throughout this review. The Continental European space-per-resident figure is calculated from regional totals rather than as an average of individual market values. Source: StorTrack supply database, September 2026.

Download the full report to dig into:

Why Continental Europe outpaced the UK for a second straight quarter, and why its three largest markets didn’t drive the gain

What July and August revealed about which markets are accelerating and which are cooling

How online discounts widened across both regions, and why that changes what a rate comparison actually tells you

Where space per resident, facility formats, and operator mix diverge most across European markets

What listed operator results and 2026 transaction activity say about where capital is moving

Explore Self-Storage Market Dynamics Across the UK & Europe

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About StorTrack

StorTrack, a Green Street company, provides market intelligence for the self-storage, RV, and boat storage industries. With coverage of 80,000+ facilities across the U.S. and Canada, and additional coverage spanning the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, StorTrack gives operators, investors, brokers, lenders, and developers access to the data they need to understand market conditions, track competition, and make informed decisions. StorTrack’s platforms deliver current and historical rate data, supply and development tracking, and transaction intelligence across global markets.

The Voice Behind the Data

Christine Wachsman

Christine Wachsman
Director of Market Analytics

Christine Wachsman is the Director of Market Analytics at StorTrack, leading market intelligence across self-storage and outdoor hospitality. As a former economist and lead analyst, she collaborated with institutional and corporate clients. Today, her market insights drive investment strategy across the commercial real estate  spectrum, including multifamily, office, industrial, and data centers. She has also served as a panelist and committee member with
organizations focused on advancing real estate analytics and has contributed to industry research and publications.