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Opening Key safe boxes, installing key safe boxes, what are key safes and are they any good?

January 26, 2021

Opening, installing and information about key safe boxes

First we will start with what is a Key safe.

A Key Safe box – Keysafe - is a strong metal box in which you can securely store the key or keys to your property. It is installed into brick or concrete on the outside of your property and can be accessed using a combination code. It is a mechanical digital lock – meaning it does not require electricity or batteries as it is not electronic. This saves you from having to make sure the batteries are topped up and any failures that can result from dead batteries.

Why would I need a key safe?

There are a few reasons you would want a lockbox installed outside your property.

• Allowing guests to enter your property when renting as a holiday flat in websites like Airbnb.
• Gain access to medical staff when there is an elderly or disabled person at home.
• Access to cleaners, babysitters or other temporary staff.
• Keeping a spare key for yourself if you tend to forget or lose your keys.
• Allowing access to couriers and delivery man while away from home. Usually when customers have porches or front entrance extensions.

A key safe can be a real time and money saver allowing temporary access to your home, flat or property. Perhaps you have an elderly person at home and are expecting NHS staff or health care professional for daily sessions. You could also be expecting deliveries to a safe location or cleaners to come to your house during work hours or while running errands. Key safe boxes will also give you and your guest flexibility when checking in or out of short term rented holiday properties.

In these times this can be especially relevant if you have someone needing to obtain keys that must quarantine. Simply place the keys and they can access without human contact, perfect solution for passing along keys during Covid19 Lockdowns.

Priorities when installing a key safe box.

When choosing to install a key safe box make sure you follow some safety procedures

1. Make sure the Key safe is essential. We advise only using them in situations where there is no other option whilst also following these guidelines.

2. Keep the key safe box off site – or out of eyesight. If there is a ledge near the house behind a wall underneath a shrub, that would be the best place for it. Even better if you can’t tell which property it belongs to.

3. Securing it in a solid concrete or brick wall. This will minimise damage or burglary attempts and ensures the best job is done to secure it in place.

4. Choosing a combination of more than 5 digits. Don’t make it easy like 12345 either…

5. Change the code regularly.

6. Last but not least, if you decide to buy it yourself – do not buy the cheapest one on the market - these can be easily opened with as little as a red bull can.

Key safe box not opening? Are the buttons or dials not working on the key safe box?

First things first here’s some advice on avoiding it jamming.

Always place the keys exactly where marked on the inside of the key safe box, make sure they don't jiggle around too much as they can get caught in the mechanism of the lock. Do not attach chains and many rings to the keys being placed inside the key safe box.

If you have found that you key safe box is not opening, you’ve tried spraying it with WD-40 and maybe even some grease and it still won’t open here is some advice from one of the leading manufacturers “Supra”.

“Grasp the keybox with one hand, then reach under the keybox and try to wiggle the key container to loosen them, then try to obtain the key/s again. If it appears that a house key is jammed between the keybox and the key container, try sliding a thin strong object such as a metal fingernail file up between the inside of the keybox and the key container, to dislodge it.”

In the case of a seriously jammed Key safe box, most bypass methods won't work either. This is because if the mechanism isn't working or very seriously jammed - even for the correct code - it won't be possible to open it via bypass. In situations like this the best option is to call a locksmith who will be able to open the jammed key safe box without causing damage to the contents or property and then replace it.

Choosing a Key safe box

There are varying degrees of security to key safes, especially the outdoor variety. Three and four wheel combination style key safes are the most common but also the easiest to break into. Push button key safes are a better option as they don’t have a simple bypass method and also allow you to choose a code from thousands of numerical options. Most outdoor Key safe boxes will be weatherproof – barring the cheapest models on the market of course.

It is vitally important that you purchase an outdoor key safe that can hold thousands of possible combinations. The more push buttons a key safe has the harder it will be for someone to guess the code.

Finally, always choose security items, which is especially important that they have a police approved Secured By Design logo on them.

Will installing a key safe box invalidate my home insurance?

A Key Safe box is a safe and secure method of leaving keys outside a property, for a wide range of reasons. Whether your Key box is for emergency purposes, to help a forgetful member of the family or to ensure the safety of an elderly
or vulnerable relative, secure key storage is the only safe alternative to leaving a key under a doormat, gnome or plant pot.

If a burglar was to gain access via a key under the doormat or under the pot an insurance company would be reluctant to help. But “what if I use a key safe box” we hear you ask. Well, that would depend on the type of key safe box you choose to install. If you go with the lower end lock safe boxes, in fact almost all the key safe boxes on the market, will most likely get you in trouble if the insurance companies find out.

There are a few products on the market that will keep you safe, your keys safe and your insurance company happy –

1. The Supra C500

2. Supra P500

3. Burton Keyguard Digital XL

They are weather resistant key safes - all perfect for use on the exterior of your property. They are certified and, as police approved key safes, offer the ultimate security for your external key storage. It’s perfect for homes where access is needed by family, carers and nurses or for a property where lots of people are often in and out at separate times.

The below statement is recognised by many leading underwriters of UK insurance -

“No claim for theft from a client’s home would be compromised or prejudiced”.

including;

Direct Line

Green Flag

Churchill

AIG

Groupama Insurances

AVIVA and FORTIS in partnership with AGE UK.

If you are looking for a reliable Locksmith service to install the Key safe box correctly and safely, we are only a phone call away. We can usually have a Key safe box locksmith on site within 45 minutes to install a key safe box. This means no waiting and an immediate solution. We provide a one year warranty on all of our work and on all the products we supply, we also always advise installing police approved Key safes above all others.

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