According to the latest reports published by Idealista, the average cost per square meter of used housing reached 2,555 euros in October, while companies such as Tecnitasa estimate the cost of an urban storage room at less than 1,000 euros. The difference is not simple: for a saver who has 10,000 or 12,000 euros saved in the account – like someone who looks at his balance first thing on Monday while smelling the office coffee – there is no access to housing and the market is looking for alternative outlets.
This gap between prices and saving capacity explains why storage rooms have entered the portfolios of modest investors seeking diversification without taking on the risks of renting an apartment. But what’s really important – and what’s causing queues for some new promotions – is the data that experts have just confirmed.
Profitability that already exceeds housing, garages and buildings
| factor | He deserves | date | fountain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average profitability of storage rooms | 12% | 2025 | Technetaz |
The average return on storage rooms reached 12%, higher than 6.9% for residences, 11.5% for offices, 9.9% for buildings and 6.2% for garages, according to the latest data reported by Tecnitasa and idealista. This number is what gets the small investor moving: a return that doubles that of a classic residential brick and also requires much less capital to come into play.
“Right now, the perfect storm is happening: more demand, price containment, and very simple maintenance,” summarizes Fernando García Marcos, Technical Director of Grupo Tecnitasa. He realizes that management is low, delinquencies are low, and the structural cost is lower than that of buildings and offices. A typical scene confirms this: a tenant stops by once a month to drop off a bicycle or some boxes, with almost no incident.
Why they pay more: Location, security and size
- location: Madrid and Barcelona account for 50% of the national market, according to Savills. Neighborhoods with small apartments generate more demand for storage.
- Security and access: 24-hour security and access control increases the monthly rental price.
- measuring: The most popular sizes range from 3 to 6 square meters, which is sufficient for home use and has a high turnover rate.
- Simple process: Almost no maintenance, no trash fees, no IBI and no squatting risk, Gloval recalls.
Oscar de Torres Neira, Technical Director of Gloval Building Value, explains this with a practical example: “A 5 m² storage room can rent more than a 15 m² garage and requires lower costs.” He adds a fact that many investors ignore: since it is not about housing, the rotation is managed without long-term legal conflicts.
A market that exceeds one million square meters in size and still has a way to go
Spain’s warehousing sector already exceeds 1 million square meters of surface area, with growth of 10% above the European average since the pandemic, according to Savills. However, the consultancy stresses that Spain is still far behind markets such as the UK or the US, where self-storage penetration is much deeper.
In other words: there is room left. And both large corporations and small savers entering alternative real estate for the first time know this. It is enough to monitor market behavior in saturated areas: in some neighborhoods of Madrid, the occupancy rate exceeds 85%, and rents have risen between 5 and 10 euros per month since 2023, according to joint data from evaluation companies and advertising platforms.
Investment methods: purchase, flexible use and promotions
- Individual purchase to rent: The most traditional route, affordable and high turnover.
- Combined or flexible use: Fractional spaces in “expandable cabinets” type models.
- Participation in promotions: Invest directly in projects where the developer manages the entire complex.
These methods have allowed profiles that previously invested only in conservative deposits or funds to take this step. The minimum deposit – sometimes of €6,000 or €8,000 – makes a compelling argument at a time when rising interest rates have made mortgages more expensive and are putting pressure on average savings.
What an investor should review before buying
García Marcos insists on a key point: “The local market must be carefully analyzed: neighborhood density, demand, saturation and occupancy rate.” It is also advisable to check that there is correct ventilation, comfortable access and a minimum of security. Not all storage rooms, nor all areas, are rented the same way.
A common example: a storage room in a neighborhood with new homes of 60 square meters and no storage space is rented in one afternoon; It could take more weeks in a poorly communicated industrial area. The difference of ten minutes walking completely changes the annual return.
The type of user also affects. In university areas, small storage rooms are filled every year by changing the flooring; In office areas, there is increased demand for freelancers who maintain tools or inventory. Reports from the National Institute of Statistics and the Bank of Spain on mobility and economic activity by region reinforce this territorial division, the reading of which – increasingly more precise – makes a difference in real profitability.
Operational conclusion: a small asset for a big strategy
For many small savers, the decision arises from a daily scene: reviewing the account statement, seeing that the deposit is only yielding 1.5%, and checking that a house is out of reach. This gap in expectations is where storage rooms find their place.
They rent more, require less capital, are easy to manage, and have stable demand. The 12% figure not only explains this trend, but also puts this asset on the radar of those looking to start investing without taking on disproportionate risks.