If you have not recently read your rental contract for your unit at a self-storage facility, you might be surprised when your unit is "locked over." This a new development in the storage facility policies, one which many proprietors are hoping will prevent late payments and abandoned units. It serves a number of purposes for both the proprietor and for you. Here is what "locked over" means, and what it means for everyone involved.

"Locked Over" Defined

The phrase, "locked over" means that the storage unit doors have a secondary lock position on them and that this lock position is now double-locked by the proprietor. While you could certainly stick a second lock on your unit door in this position yourself, the purpose or intent of the proprietor is not to create added security. It is to enforce the rules set forth in the contract you signed with the proprietor. The mere fact that it delivers an extra layer of security to your stuff is just the silver lining in this cloud.

What It Means for the Proprietor

Most proprietors will not "lock over" a storage unit unless they have given renters ample warnings and ample time to pay the rent. The intent of this action is to show you that they mean business and will do what is necessary to extract payment. If you avoid payment, the extra lock remains and the next action is eviction. In this chain of events, the proof supplied to a court to get a legal eviction includes the step taken for lock-over, showing the judge that, even with losing accessibility to your possessions, you did not rectify the situation.

What It Means for You, the Renter

Having your storage unit locked-over is a two-edged sword. On the one side, you know nobody will be able to break into your unit, even if they have a copy of the key to the lock you personally used. The lock that the proprietor placed over and through the second locking location cannot be undone by any key you own—only by the keys that the owner has.

On the flip side, you cannot get anything you want or need out of your unit because you simply cannot gain access. It also means that you need to hurry up and pay your landlord/lady for the storage unit, or you could lose the space or revoke your rights to everything you have stored there. If you are having financial troubles, talk to the owner to see if there is not something you can work out.

Learn more about your legal options by contacting companies like All American Mini Storage.