This week, the 2025 European Self Storage Industry Report, produced by FEDESSA in collaboration with CBRE, was officially released. During the FEDESSA Conference & Trade Show in Dublin, Rennie Schafer from FEDESSA and industry expert Oliver Close from CBRE took the stage to present the highlights.
The report offers an in-depth analysis of the current state of the self storage market across Europe, highlighting the latest trends in the industry. It also provides valuable insights into public perceptions of self storage, making it an essential resource for investors and operators navigating this rapidly evolving sector.
Based on insights from over 5,000 survey participants, this edition offers insights into the sector’s growth and outlook.
2025 Key Findings:
The European self storage sector continues to develop, demonstrating adaptability amid economic and political challenges.
- Rental rates per square metre grew by 5.4% across Europe, reaching €312.56, outpacing the slight drop in average occupancy.
- Investment volumes normalised after a record-breaking 2024, with €260m transacted year-to-date and a further €200m in the pipeline.
- Private equity now accounts for 59% of transactions, reflecting a shift in investor landscape.
- Operators remain optimistic, with 70% expecting rates and occupancy to improve over the next 12 months, despite concerns over rising land costs and planning difficulties.
- 90% of self storage businesses are actively using AI, not just for content creation but increasingly for pricing models, site selection, and analytics.
- Growth in remotely managed stores continues, enabled by advances in access control and remote management systems. Sweden leads with full remote management, while Austria and Germany see high adoption among micro stores.
- Online services expand: Nearly half of operators now offer complete online booking and payment, with app usage more than doubling since last year.
Source: FEDESSA / CBRE
