Legal Definitions - houseage

Houseage refers to a fee charged for the temporary storage or safekeeping of goods. This charge is typically incurred when items are held in a facility, such as a warehouse, port, or other commercial space, before they are moved to their final destination or picked up by their owner.

• Example 1: International Shipping Delays

  A company imports a large shipment of automotive parts from overseas. The container arrives at the port ahead of schedule, but due to unforeseen customs processing delays, the parts cannot be cleared and transported to the company's distribution center for several days. The port authority charges a daily fee for keeping the container on their premises until it can be released. This daily charge for holding the goods at the port is an example of houseage.

• Example 2: Retail Inventory Management

  A major electronics retailer receives a bulk order of new smartphone models from a manufacturer. The retailer's own warehouses are currently at maximum capacity, so they arrange for the shipment to be temporarily stored at a third-party logistics (3PL) provider's facility for two weeks until space becomes available. The fee the 3PL provider charges the retailer for holding these smartphones in their warehouse for that period is considered houseage.

• Example 3: Construction Project Equipment

  A specialized subcontractor delivers heavy machinery to a large construction site. However, the specific area where the machinery is to be used is not yet ready, and the general contractor designates a temporary, secure storage zone on the site for the equipment. The general contractor charges the subcontractor a weekly fee for the use of this temporary storage space until the work area is prepared. This fee for housing the equipment on site is an instance of houseage.