When The Storage Unit Is Sold
Lien Law § 182 — thirty days to pay after the notice, and ten days to dispute the lien
In New York, the owner of a self-storage facility has a lien on everything stored there for occupancy fees and charges, and may enforce it by a commercially reasonable public or private sale after notice.
The notice. The notice itemizes the amount due, describes the goods and the proposed sale, and demands payment within a specified time not less than thirty days from mailing, warning that unpaid goods will be advertised and sold. It is personally delivered, sent by registered or certified mail, or by verified mail and email where the occupant agreed to email notice.
Ten days to dispute. The notice states that anyone claiming an interest in the goods may bring a proceeding within ten days of service if they dispute the validity of the lien or the amount claimed.
- A written, dated and signed occupancy agreement comes first, stating the actual monthly charge and all other charges in dollars.
- Refusing to surrender the goods once the permitted fees are paid is an unlawful detention.
- An occupant harmed by an unlawful detention or other violation may recover up to three times actual damages, plus reasonable attorneys fees.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionThe facility can sell the contents as soon as rent is late | What the law actually doesOnly after a notice demanding payment within not less than thirty days of mailing |
| The assumptionOnce the facility claims a lien, it cannot be challenged | What the law actually doesA claimant may bring a proceeding within ten days of service to dispute the lien or the amount |
Vehicles in storage, warehouse receipts and what happens to the sale proceeds are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed New York attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Lien Law § 182 — Self-storage facilities; lien
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.