Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted in accordance with such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements have been included.
Principles of Consolidation
The Company's financial statements include the accounts of our operating partnership and its controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation of entities.
When the Company obtains an economic interest in an entity, the Company evaluates the entity to determine if the entity is deemed a variable interest entity ("VIE"), and if the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, in accordance with authoritative guidance issued on the consolidation of VIEs. When an entity is not deemed to be a VIE, the Company considers the provisions of additional guidance to determine whether the general partner controls a limited partnership or similar entity when the limited partners have certain rights. The Company consolidates (i) entities that are VIEs and of which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, and (ii) entities that are non-VIEs which the Company controls and which limited partners lack both substantive participating rights and the ability to dissolve or remove the Company without cause.
Noncontrolling Interests
All of the limited partner equity interests in our operating partnership not held by the Company are reflected as noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests also include ownership interests in DownREIT partnerships held by entities other than our operating partnership. In the consolidated statements of operations, we allocate net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests to arrive at net income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust.
For transactions that result in changes to the Company's ownership interest in our operating partnership, the carrying amount of noncontrolling interests is adjusted to reflect such changes. The difference between the fair value of the consideration received or paid and the amount by which the noncontrolling interest is adjusted is reflected as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets.
Reclassifications     
Certain amounts in the financial statements and related notes have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications do not impact our previously reported financial position or net income (loss).
Allocation of Net Income (Loss)
The distribution rights and priorities set forth in our operating partnership's LP Agreement differ from what is reflected by the underlying percentage ownership interests of the unitholders. Accordingly, we allocate GAAP income (loss) utilizing the hypothetical liquidation at book value ("HLBV") method, in which we allocate income or loss based on the change in each unitholders’ claim on the net assets of our operating partnership at period end after adjusting for any distributions or contributions made during such period. The HLBV method is commonly applied to equity investments where cash distribution percentages vary at different points in time and are not directly linked to an equity holder’s ownership percentage.
The HLBV method is a balance sheet-focused approach. A calculation is prepared at each balance sheet date to determine the amount that unitholders would receive if our operating partnership were to liquidate all of its assets (at GAAP net book value) and distribute the resulting proceeds to its creditors and unitholders based on the contractually defined liquidation priorities. The difference between the calculated liquidation distribution amounts at the beginning and the end of the reporting period, after adjusting for capital contributions and distributions, is used to derive each unitholder's share of the income (loss) for the period. Due to the stated liquidation priorities and because the HLBV method incorporates non-cash items such as depreciation expense, in any given period, income or loss may be allocated disproportionately to unitholders as compared to their respective ownership percentage in our operating partnership, and net income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust could be more or less net income than actual cash distributions received and more or less income or loss than what may be received in the event of an actual liquidation. Additionally, the HLBV method could result in net income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust during a period when the Company reports a consolidated net loss, or net income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust in excess of the Company's consolidated net income.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
We have cash flow hedge derivative instruments that are measured at fair value with unrealized gains or losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive loss within equity, as discussed further in Note 11. Under the HLBV method of allocating income (loss) discussed above, a calculation is prepared at each balance sheet date by applying the HLBV method including, and excluding, the assets and liabilities resulting from our cash flow hedge derivative instruments to determine comprehensive income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust. As a result of the distribution rights and priorities set forth in our operating partnership's LP Agreement, all amounts of consolidated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were allocated to noncontrolling interests, as presented within the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income or loss.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early application permitted for the Company on January 1, 2017. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which modifies the current consolidation guidance. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2015-02 for annual and interim financial statements issued for the year ending December 31, 2016. Upon adoption by the Company, ASU 2015-02 permits the use of either the modified retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidation policies as well as the transition method to be used to implement ASU 2015-02.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest, which requires the presentation of debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liabilities. The Company does not expect ASU 2015-03 to have a material impact on the Company's results from operations, however, adoption will result in the elimination of debt issuance costs as an asset and a corresponding reduction in the carrying amount of the Company's debt financings applied retrospectively to all periods. The Company is required to adopt this ASU for annual and interim financial statements issued for the year ending December 31, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations—Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which requires an acquirer of a business to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the business combination's measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined rather than retrospectively. ASU 2015-16 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2016, with early application permitted. The Company elected to adopt ASU 2015-16 during the three months ended September 30, 2015.