New research has revealed that an incredible 82% of Britons now live in urban areas.

While it may not come as a surprise to learn that most of us want to live close to where jobs and all the amenities are, the growing demand for houses in cities means that people are being forced to live in smaller houses, but More expensive. homes.

Although the number of people per household has also grown, the average size of a one-bedroom apartment is now only 47 square meters (505.9 square feet).

As living spaces get smaller and property prices rise, it’s forcing more of us to rent accommodation and first-time buyers are getting older. In 2001, 17% of the UK population rented, while today in 2015, this figure has risen to 25%.

In addition to people struggling to pay for a decent-sized home, even many of those who once lived in a reasonably-sized home or apartment are forced to downsize.

This certainly doesn’t sound like a good deal to any of us, but one industry that is reaping the benefits of this is personal storage. In fact, an annual report by FEDESSA has revealed that across Europe, the industry is showing strong signs of growth, more units are being built, existing units are expanding, and new businesses are becoming commonplace.

However, what is the link between the housing crisis and storage? As many of us are forced to stay in smaller accommodations, it is very difficult to store all of our belongings. The fact that a large proportion of the population can only afford a flat rather than a house also means that they are wasting valuable storage space because they will not have a loft, garage or garden.

If people really don’t want to downsize or just can’t because of their growing family, they are choosing to convert different rooms in the house into bedrooms. Studios, for example, are fast becoming a thing of the past as many people are forced to convert this extra room into more suitable living arrangements.

Sometimes we can simply be forced to throw away the things we don’t really need, but other times, there are essential or sentimental items that we want to keep. Since space is limited in the home, people are choosing to store their belongings in self storage. Fast, convenient, and incredibly safe, it’s not hard to see why this has become such a tempting option.