HOUSTON – A Houston woman is looking for answers after she says nearly all her items were stolen from a U-Haul storage facility rental unit in West Oaks.
Veronica Zemlicka began renting a unit from this facility in September 2024 and said she’s checked on it monthly.
Two weeks ago, she noticed something was off.
“There was a different lock on my storage, not the lock I originally purchased from U-Haul” said Zemlicka.
Zemlicka said an employee had to cut off the lock to open the unit.
“The minute I open the storage up, I see everything is gone," said Zemlicka. “My life was in that storage, everything.”
More than $30,000 worth of items were stolen, according to Zemlicka. She created an itemized list when she filed a report to Houston Police Department.
Items included furniture, TVs, birth certificates, wedding albums, clothing and her children’s mementos.
Zemlicka questions how someone could have broken into her unit given that the facility is secure and you must have a key card to access it.
“I even have a hard time getting in and I’m renting from them,” said Zemlicka.
KPRC 2 reached out to U-Haul to ask how a theft could have happened. We are waiting to hear back.
Protections for storage unit renters
As a storage unit renter, you are entitled to the following rights:
- Right to access: During the facilities operating hours, a renter has the right to access their storage unit.
- Right to privacy: Facility owners cannot access your storage unit without permission except in emergency situations or if they have given you proper notice.
- Right to notice: A storage facility must notify renters in advance if there are changes to rental terms, rent increase, or new rules. They also must notify you in advance in writing before selling any of your items due to falling behind on payments.
- Right to safety: A storage facility must maintain a safe and secure environment. A safe environment includes proper lighting, working locks, and regular maintenance.
Likewise, a landlord also has obligations and duties.
- Facility maintenance: The property must be kept in good condition. The landlord must repair any damages, keep the facility clean, and provide adequate security.
- Providing notices: A landlord must provide advanced notice to renters before raising rent, changing the terms of rent, or making new rules. They must also give you advanced notice before accessing your storage unit outside of an emergency situation.
- Tenant defaults: If a renter fails to pay rent, a landlord can take steps to recover the funds, including auctioning off stored items. Before they can do that though, they must provide advanced written notice and give renters a chance to pay. If the property sold generates more money than what a renter owes, the landlord must notify a renter about the excess proceeds, which a renter can claim within two years.
Zemlicka filed a claim with U-Haul, but was denied because she did not purchase insurance for her storage unit.
She also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
“How dare you take something that is not yours? It’s a complete violation of my privacy, complete violation,” said Zemlicka.
