This is the 15th annual survey conducted by the Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) in association with CBRE for a fifth year.
The report analyses demand and supply trends, as well as operational performance across Europe’s self storage market. The findings are informed by the results from the industry survey of FEDESSA members, and a public survey, which provides insight into the public perception of self storage. It also calls on data from the SSA UK annual industry report and other industry sources as referenced.
The operator survey summarises the key results from surveying self storage operators across continental Europe. The findings provide insight into current market conditions, including rental rates, profitability, technology adoption and the continued growth of remotely managed stores. A particular focus this year is the increasing use of artificial intelligence within the self storage industry, with 84% of self storage businesses actively using AI. In addition, 74% of operators expect profits to increase over the next twelve months.
Average rental rates per sq m fell by 0.8%, excluding the UK, reflecting changes in market conditions across European self storage markets. The survey also highlights continued growth in remotely managed stores, as operators increasingly adopt technology to improve efficiency and support their operations.
The public survey provides insight into consumer awareness and understanding of self storage across European markets. Awareness levels and understanding of self storage remain low across most markets, highlighting continued opportunities for the industry to improve awareness and communicate the benefits and uses of self storage to potential customers.
FEDESSA_Annual_Industry_Report_2026_web.pdf