Human remains were in storage unit sold at auction. How could it happen?
“It sounds like, in this instance, the original storer either abandoned [the unit] or had fallen into arrears and it meant the facility took steps to clear the unit.”
Putting a storage unit’s contents up for auction is a lengthy process, according to Grant – it often involves lawyers and making a reasonable effort to resolve the issue with the former owner.
If there are problems contacting the unit’s owner, the process could take up to six months.
Once it’s decided a unit’s contents will be disposed of, the storage unit company would usually determine their value, Grant said.
“Most of the time it’s junk and we pay for someone to take it away.”
If a unit is thought to contain items of significant value, a storage company might hire an independent assessor to determine the worth.
When a unit’s contents are auctioned, buyers aren’t given much to go on. Grant said her company will only take photos of the unit and put them onto online sites like Trade Me.
Some auctions are held in person, but prospective buyers are only allowed to peer into the space, not rummage through the items.
“We’re not looking to make a profit off people’s stuff. We want the items gone, so we have more space to rent out,” she said.
Grant pointed out when a unit is sold for auction, the first portion of money allocated will be used to pay off any outstanding debt on the unit.
Any profit from the auction has to be returned to the initial client.
When asked if the person renting the unit where human remains were stored could have made money from the auction, Grant said: “It’s an unusual circumstance and any police investigation would halt that process.”