Warehouse Liens

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Alison Ward in August 2018.

A warehouser is a person engaged in the business of storing property. A warehouser has rights under the law over the property deposited with them until the storage bill is paid.

Client problems

• Client has put goods in storage with a storage company and now cannot pay the bill.

• Client has received notice from a storage company that their goods in storage are going to be sold to pay the storage bill.


 

Summary of the law

The Warehouse Lien Act gives a statutory lien over property, including a consumer’s goods, when that property is deposited by the owner (or the owner’s agent) with a warehouser. A warehouser is defined as a person engaged in the business of storing goods.

The effect of the lien right is that the warehouser can keep the goods until the bill for all expenses related to the storage is paid. The Warehouse Lien Act also gives the warehouser a statutory right to eventually sell the goods if the bill is not paid. Section 4 of the Act sets out the procedure that the warehouser must follow:

1. Provide written notice: The warehouser must give written notice to the owner that they intend to sell the stored goods. The notice must contain a summary of the charges owing. The notice must warn the consumer that they have 21 days to pay the bill.

2. Advertise that the goods will be sold: If the bill remains unpaid after the 21 days, the warehouser must then publish a newspaper advertisement at least once a week for two consecutive weeks announcing that the goods are to be sold. The sale date must be at least 14 days from the date of the first publication of the advertisement.


The scope of the Warehouse Lien Act appears to cover moving companies as well. If there is no agreement that the consumer can pay the bill later, a mover is entitled to full payment before the consumer gets the goods.

Related topics and materials

See the other sections on buying services:

• Travel Services 

• Repairers’ Liens

• Lawyers’ Fees


See also the page “Warehouse Liens” from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch.

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