The population's needs are growing, and the supply of all types of spaces is insufficient. Homes, garages, and now, storage units. In Gipuzkoa, the demand for storage units is booming, especially for keeping belongings that do not fit into increasingly smaller apartments or shared homes.
The scarcity of supply for a growing need has led to an increase in prices. In Donostia, a quick look at a leading real estate website shows that storage unit prices are already on par with apartments. A clear example is a 10-square-meter storage unit on Sancho el Sabio avenue in the Amara neighborhood, for which 60,000 euros are being asked, equivalent to 6,000 euros per square meter. For comparison, the average price of home sales executed last year in San Sebastián was 6,107 euros/m2.
These prices decrease with distance from the capital of Gipuzkoa. In Irun, a 36-square-meter storage unit can be found for 35,000 euros, or in Ordizia, a 26-square-meter one for 20,500 euros, for example. In both cases, less than 1,000 euros/m2. Even so, for less than these amounts, it is possible to acquire an apartment of up to 72 square meters in Falces (Navarra) for 33,000 euros, or a 57-square-meter one in Haro (La Rioja) for 18,000 euros.
“"There is demand, and like everything else, the key to selling quickly and undertaking new projects is to offer a quality product at a fair price."
A storage unit developer has completed two projects in Errenteria and another in Zaragoza, converting disused basements into storage facilities. One project is fully sold out, and from the second, which began sales in January, only two units remain available. This developer emphasizes that their storage units in Errenteria feature video surveillance, tiled floors, and an elevator, along with safety systems. Buyers are primarily families with children needing space for bicycles and strollers, and self-employed individuals using them for material storage.
The need for storage space is mobilizing both private and public initiatives. A clear example is the Azpeitia City Council, which has promoted 42 municipal storage units in three premises in its Old Town. The dual objective is to offer a service to residents and to rehabilitate disused spaces. These storage units have already been allocated by lottery and are priced at 25 euros per month, with a minimum rental period of one year.
