FEDESSA releases 2025 european Self-storage industry report

Posted by MSM on Oct 3, 2025 10:20:52 PM

A new report from the Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) and global real estate advisor CBRE indicates that the self storage sector across Europe continues to demonstrate resilience and strong long-term growth potential.

According to the 2025 European Self Storage Industry Report, 70% of operators anticipate improvements in both occupancy and rental rates within the next year, despite broader economic and political uncertainty. Rental rates climbed 5.4% to an average of €312.56 per square metre per annum, though this was partly offset by a slight dip in occupancy. Growth is being fuelled by evolving customer preferences and strategic investments in technology.

Innovation is reshaping operations as well. The rise of remotely managed stores—particularly in Sweden, Austria, and Germany—is being driven by advances in access control and automation, enabling greater efficiency and convenience. Meanwhile, 90% of operators are now utilising AI tools for pricing and customer analytics, underscoring the industry’s commitment to efficiency.

Consumer behavior is also shifting. Younger demographics increasingly prefer digital-first interactions, resulting in a doubling of online bookings and app usage year-on-year. Personal usage of self storage is on the rise as well, reversing a prior trend.

Looking ahead, operators remain both optimistic and pragmatic. Key challenges include rising land costs and planning constraints, but 89% of businesses still plan to invest in store or IT improvements, with AI and security upgrades topping the list. Operators are also broadening revenue streams, with 90% generating income beyond traditional storage through offerings like vehicle hire and retail.

Investment activity remains strong, with CBRE projecting up to €450 million in transactions by year-end and the potential for €1 billion+ volumes in 2026-2027—further evidence of the sector’s solid fundamentals and long-term growth outlook.