Renting a lockup, garage or workshop

Since I live in a tiny little flat I often find the need for a bit of cat swinging space to work on and store my and my girlfriend's bikes.

I was looking into lockups but they seem few and far between and kind of expensive. Has anyone had any success at securing one of these (especially in SW London)? There appears to be long waiting lists on the most convenient ones for me and those are bloody expensive.

There's a few big brand storage companies who offer it (I found these) plus the regular gumtree ads for bog standard garages (like this).

My second question is would anyone in SW London potentially be interesting in splitting the cost of one of these?

Little bump - anyone tried getting on the waiting list for council garages?

Wait- council garages?

What is this?

I rent a garage in SE London, I think it's around £15 a week for quite a big space.

I'm tempted to get another one to put all my tools in and use as a workshop.

If you are OK veturing a little East Southwark has a few http://www.southwark.gov.uk/garages

Yeah council garages, Wandsworth has some too but there's a waiting list and priority is given to council residents. I might make serious enquiries if someone was willing to split the cost.

My intention would be storage and workshop. Storage for maybe 2 or 3 bikes, parts and tools. I am worried about security though and insuring a bike if it was kept in one would be a bit of a pain.

@Dammit: how did you go about getting your space? Private ads?

@Zebra: thanks for the link. I did check them out but they're out in Rotherhithe and that's a bit too far. I can imagine me leaving a spanner there or something and then needing it at home and having to cycle all the way out etc. etc! Additionally I'm not sure if you can get one if you're not a resident.

Lambeth do it as well but they require it to be for vehicle parking. You have to actually show a registration document!

http://www.lockupgarages.co.uk/

£78/month, so ~£18.50/week.

Ah they have lots near me but there's also a waiting list. Nearest is about 2 and a half miles at £14p/w.

Ace.

Club together and get a railway arch.

^ good idea.
I need storage space too. Just lost the part use of an arch in Bermondsey.

Railway arches seem expensive and require a fair bit of commitment, involving a fixed term tenancy and credit checks and what have you. Seems a lot to commit to if you're clubbing in with relative strangers.

Having said that if anyone knows differently first hand I'd be happy to hear it.

How much are they? There are some in Catford which are (relatively) local to me.

Might be some in Forest Hill, thinking about it.

PHIL!

Well the ones I briefly looked at were something like £12 per sq. foot per annum at something like 300 sq. ft, plus "services charge" of £2.50 psf and then business rates on top of that but I'm assuming you wouldn't pay them if you were just using it as a personal workshop.