When a renter defaults on a self-storage unit, a notice is sent out to them with a statement of a claim of the amount owed to the storage company, including a brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien.
The wording in most liens laws as follows:
Such description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify such property; except that any container including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents.
If the lessee does not make payment in the allotted time after notice given; then the storage operator may proceed with the sale of the contents of the defaulted locker. Several states also
"require" a brief description of the items in a storage unit to be listed in the advertisement of the sale.
This is why you
may see general descriptions of contents in an online storage auction unit listing.
We have listed all the states to show you which states are
"specifically required" to advertise a general description of the goods in a storage auction unit; those states left empty are not required to by law.
General Description Of Personal Property
Alabama: The advertisement shall include: a. A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided in paragraph (5)b. - A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. Such description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify such property; except that any container including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;
Alaska:
Arizona:
Arkansas:
California: The advertisement shall include a
general description of the goods...
Colorado:
Connecticut: The advertisement shall include: (1) A
description of the personal property subject to the lien according to the requirements of section 42-162; - (2) a description of the personal property subject to the lien sufficient to permit its identification, except that any container including but not limited to a trunk, valise or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which hinders immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;
Delaware. The advertisement shall include: (1) A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided for in paragraph (a)(3)b.- A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify it, except that any container including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise or box that is locked, fastened, sealed or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;
Florida: The advertisement shall include: 1. A
brief and general description of what is believed to constitute the personal property contained in the storage unit, as provided in paragraph (2)(b). - The same description, or a reasonably similar description, of the personal property as provided in the rental agreement.
Georgia: The advertisement shall include: a
brief and general description of the personal property, reasonably adequate to permit its identification;
Hawaii: The advertisement shall include a
general description of the goods,
Idaho: The advertisement shall include: (b) A
brief and general description of the personal property;
Illinois:
Indiana:
Iowa: The advertisement shall include: a. A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided for in subsection 1, paragraph “b”. - A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify it, except that any container including a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents shall be described as such without describing its contents.
Kansas:
Kentucky:
Louisiana: The advertisement shall include: (i) A
brief and general description of the movable property reasonably adequate to permit its identification by the lessee, except that any container, including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents.
Maine:
Maryland:
Massachusetts: The advertisement must include a
description of the property,
Michigan: The
inventory required under subsection (5) shall reasonably identify the property. A container, including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner that deters immediate access to its contents may be described as being in that condition
Minnesota: The advertisement must include a
description of the goods,
Mississippi:
Missouri:
Montana: Prior to an auction provided for in subsection (1), notice of the date, time, place, terms, and
description of the property must be published...
Nebraska: The advertisement shall include a
description of the goods,
Nevada: A
general description of the personal property to be sold;
New Hampshire:
New Jersey: The advertisement shall include: (1)A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided for in subsection c. - The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify it, except that any container including, but not limited to a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described without listing its contents;
New Mexico: The advertisement shall include: (1) a
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided in Paragraph (2) of Subsection B of this section, - (2) a brief and general statement of the personal property subject to the lien. That description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify the property, except that any container including a trunk, valise or box that is locked, fastened, sealed or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be so described without describing its contents;
New York:
North Carolina:
North Dakota:
Ohio: The advertisement shall include all of the following: (1) A
brief and general description of the personal property as required by division (C)(3) of this section, except that the description shall describe the contents of any trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner that deters immediate access to its contents, if the trunk, valise, or box is opened by the owner prior to the date on which the advertisement of sale is published;
Oklahoma:
Oregon:
Pennsylvania:
Rhode Island:
South Carolina: The advertisement shall include: (1) a
brief and general description of what is believed to constitute the personal property, contained in the storage unit;
South Dakota: The advertisement shall include: A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided for in subdivision (3) of this section; - If known to the owner, a brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify it, except that any container including a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;
Tennessee:
Texas: The notice advertising the sale must contain: (1) a
general description of the property;
Utah:
Vermont: The advertisement shall contain the following: (A) A
brief and general description of the personal property...
Virginia:
Washington:
West Virginia:
Wisconsin: The advertisement under subd. 4. contains all of the following: a. A
brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification, as provided in the notices under sub. (5) (b). - A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien that is reasonably adequate to permit the lessee to identify it, except that any container including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise or box that is locked, fastened, sealed or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents.
Wyoming:
Washington D.C.:
The following information above retrieved straight from the official code, statute, or lien law of each state.
US SELF STORAGE LIEN LAWS
