SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interests are the portion of equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent. The ownership interests in the subsidiary that are held by owners other than the parent are noncontrolling interests. Such noncontrolling interests are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets within equity, separately from the Company’s equity. Within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, revenues, expenses and net income or loss from controlled or consolidated entities that are less than wholly owned are reported at the consolidated amounts, including both the amounts attributable to the Company and

noncontrolling interests. Presentation of consolidated equity activity is included for both quarterly and annual financial statements, including beginning balances, activity for the period and ending balances for shareholders’ equity, noncontrolling interests and total equity.

However, per the FASB-issued authoritative guidance on the classification and measurement of redeemable securities, securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets at the option of the holder, not solely within the control of the issuer, must be classified outside of permanent equity. This would result in certain outside ownership interests being included as redeemable noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company makes this determination based on terms in applicable agreements, specifically in relation to redemption provisions. Additionally, with respect to noncontrolling interests for which the Company has a choice to settle the contract by delivery of its own shares, the Company considered the FASB-issued guidance on accounting for derivative financial instruments indexed to, and potentially settled in, a company’s own stock to evaluate whether the Company controls the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under share settlement of the contract. The guidance also requires that noncontrolling interests are adjusted each period so that the carrying value equals the greater of its carrying value based on the accumulation of historical cost or its redemption fair value.

The consolidated results of the Company include results attributable to units of the Operating Partnership that are not owned by the Company. These interests were issued in the form of OP Units and were a component of the consideration the Company paid to acquire certain self-storage properties. Limited partners who acquired OP Units have the right to require the Operating Partnership to redeem part or all of their OP Units for, at the Company’s option, an equivalent number of common shares of the Company or cash based upon the fair value of an equivalent number of common shares of the Company. However, the operating agreement contains certain circumstances that could result in a net cash settlement outside the control of the Company, as the Company does not have the ability to settle in unregistered shares. Accordingly, consistent with the guidance discussed above, the Company will continue to record these noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Net income or loss related to these noncontrolling interests is excluded from net income or loss within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company has adjusted the carrying value of its noncontrolling interests subject to redemption value to the extent applicable. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the redemption value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests, the Operating Partnership reflected these interests at their redemption value as of December 31, 2023, as the estimated redemption value exceeded their carrying value.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts on the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets have been reclassified in prior years to conform to the current year presentation. Additionally, the Operating Partnership’s consolidated statements of operations have been updated to conform to the current year presentation.

Purchase Price Allocation

When stores are acquired in an asset acquisition, the purchase price and acquisition-related costs are allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated relative fair values. Allocations to land, building and improvements and equipment are recorded based upon their respective relative fair values as estimated by management. If appropriate, the Company allocates a portion of the purchase price to an intangible asset attributed to the value of in-place leases. This intangible is generally amortized to expense over the expected remaining term of the respective leases. Substantially all of the storage leases in place at acquired stores are at market rates, as the majority of the leases are month-to-month contracts. Accordingly, to date, no portion of the purchase price has been allocated to above- or below-market lease intangibles associated with storage leases assumed at acquisition. Above- or below- market lease intangibles associated with assumed leases in which the Company serves as lessee are recorded as an adjustment to the right-of-use asset and reflect the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and management’s estimate of fair market lease rates. These amounts are amortized over the term of the lease. To date, no intangible asset has been recorded for the value of customer relationships, because the Company does not have any concentrations of significant customers and the average customer turnover is fairly frequent.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances such as declines in occupancy and operating results indicate that there may be an impairment. The carrying value of these long-lived assets is compared to the undiscounted future net operating cash flows, plus a terminal value, attributable to the assets to determine if the asset’s basis is recoverable. If a store’s basis is not considered recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value. The impairment loss recognized equals the excess of net carrying value over the related fair value of the asset. There were no impairment losses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company may maintain cash equivalents in financial institutions in excess of insured limits, but believes this risk is mitigated by only investing in or through major financial institutions.

Loan Procurement Costs

Loan procurement costs related to borrowings were $53.7 million and $53.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are reported net of accumulated amortization of $25.3 million and $19.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In accordance with ASU No. 2015-03, Loan procurement costs, net are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. If there is not an associated debt liability recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, the costs are recorded as an asset net of accumulated amortization. Loan procurement costs associated with the Company’s revolving credit facility remain in Loan procurement costs, net of amortization on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The costs are amortized over the estimated life of the related debt using the effective interest method and are reported as Loan procurement amortization expense within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition

Management has determined that substantially all of the Company’s leases are operating leases. Rental income is recognized in accordance with the terms of the leases, which generally are month-to-month.

The Company recognizes gains from sales of real estate in accordance with the guidance on transfer of nonfinancial assets. Payments received from purchasers prior to closing are recorded as deposits. Gains on real estate sold are recognized when a valid contract exists, the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured and the control of the property has transferred.

Equity Offering Costs

Underwriting discounts and commissions, financial advisory fees and other offering costs are reflected as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $28.3 million, respectively, of equity offering costs related to the issuance of common shares.

Capitalized Interest

The Company capitalizes interest incurred that is directly associated with construction activities until the asset is placed into service. Interest is capitalized to the related asset(s) using the weighted average rate of the Company’s outstanding debt. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company capitalized $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of interest incurred that is directly associated with construction activities.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code since the Company’s commencement of operations in 2004. Management believes that the requirements to maintain these elections are being met. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been reflected in the consolidated financial statements other than for operations conducted through our taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Earnings and profits, which determine the taxability of distributions to shareholders, differ from net income reported for financial reporting purposes due to differences in cost basis, the estimated useful lives used to compute depreciation, and the allocation of net income and loss for financial versus tax reporting purposes. The net tax basis in the Company’s assets was approximately $6,022.1 million and $6,145.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Since the Company’s initial quarter as a publicly-traded REIT, it has made regular quarterly distributions to its shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are usually taxable as ordinary income, although a portion of the distribution may be designated as capital gain or may constitute a tax-free return of capital. Annually, the Company provides each of its shareholders a statement detailing the tax

characterization of dividends paid during the preceding year as ordinary income, capital gain or return of capital. The Company’s dividends for 2023 consisted entirely of ordinary income distributions.

The Company is subject to a 4% federal excise tax if sufficient taxable income is not distributed within prescribed time limits. The excise tax equals 4% of the annual amount, if any, by which the sum of (a) 85% of the Company’s ordinary income, (b) 95% of the Company’s net capital gains and (c) 100% of prior year undistributed taxable income exceeds cash distributions and certain taxes paid by the Company. No excise tax was incurred in 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal and state income taxes. Our taxable REIT subsidiaries had a net deferred tax liability of $1.1 million and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Share-Based Payments

We apply the fair value method of accounting for contingently issued shares and share options issued under our incentive award plan. Accordingly, share compensation expense is recorded ratably over the vesting period relating to such contingently issued shares and options. The Company has recognized compensation expense on a straight-line method over the requisite service period, which is included in general and administrative expense within the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company recognizes forfeitures on share-based payments as they occur.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07 – Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amended guidance requires the disclosure of incremental segment information, including significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and a reconciliation of segment profit or loss to net income. The title and position of the CODM must also be disclosed, along with how the CODM uses the reported measures to assess segment performance and to allocate resources. Entities with a single reportable segment (such as the Company) will be required to provide the disclosures required by Topic 280, as amended. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.