The 2024 report by Fedessa, the European self-storage association, provides an overview of trends in rental storage space across Europe. The sector continues to evolve rapidly, reflecting changes in consumer habits and the needs of businesses and individuals. The use of rented storage units is establishing itself as a versatile and strategic solution to meet the growing demand for flexible space.

The self-storage landscape in Europe continues to be dominated by four main markets: the United Kingdom, which retains its leading position with 35 per cent of facilities, followed by France (16 per cent), Germany (13 per cent) and Spain (12 per cent). Together, these countries account for two-thirds of all facilities on the continent. Over the past year, the sector has recorded positive growth: transaction volumes have risen by 12 per cent, whilst average revenue per square metre has increased by 2 per cent. 72 per cent of companies expect profits to rise over the coming year. Public awareness is also improving: the proportion of people unfamiliar with self-storage has fallen from 45 per cent last year to 37 per cent.

In Italy, the development of self-storage has historically been slower than in other European countries, mainly due to the difficulty businesses face in accessing adequate funding. However, the future for Italy looks promising: looking at the evolution of similar markets, such as those in France and Spain, it is reasonable to expect similar growth in Italy too.

Italy stands out for having the highest level of commercial utilisation of space (per m²) amongst the major European markets, thanks to facilities that are, on average, larger. Furthermore, 2023 saw one of the most significant increases for the sector, whilst in 2024 growth was more modest, though accompanied by growing interest from investors and businesses.