What is a key safe? overview and common uses

Although there are different locking mechanisms and different ways to access a property, many people still use a traditional key. There are many benefits to using a key; it is simple, reliable and effective, and there is no external power source required to operate it. So a key system is failsafe, except that keys can be lost or stolen, and a person needs to physically have a key on them in order to operate the lock. In a busy household, a business with several employees or in a rented holiday home, this is not always a simple thing to manage. So the key safe is a straightforward and reliable solution to that.

What is a key safe?

A key safe is a small, enclosed, lockable cabinet which can store a spare key for a property, and which can only be accessed by people with knowledge of a four-digit code. So the user can manage who has access to the key and hence the property. A key safe is usually wall-mounted and can be located in a discreet position, not visible to passers-by or a potential burglar, for example.

What is a key safe useful for?

It is a relatively straightforward task to distribute keys to those who need them in a home or a business, except that keys can get lost or forgotten and circumstances change, so that people who don’t usually have a key might need one. So a key safe is a valuable tool for a home or a business as a means of managing key distribution, simplifying key distribution and ensuring optimum levels of security at all times.

Specifically, a key safe is useful in the following situations:

• Someone keeps losing their key, so it is kept safe and secure in the key safe
• People keep forgetting their key so there is always one available in a secure place for when they return
• If nobody is in, there is a key available if someone needs access
• If grown-up children are out late, parents don’t need to wait up or worry about them having/losing a key
• There is no need to have multiple keys in circulation, which can raise a security risk
• You can authorise contractors to access the key safe while you are at work if work needs to be done on the home
• A business can authorise people to access the building out of hours, such as overnight or at weekends
• If you are on holiday, a friend or neighbour can use the key safe to access the home for feeding pets, watering plants or generally looking after the house
• Many holiday let businesses, such as Airbnbs, use a key safe so there doesn’t need to be a physical interaction and access can be maintained remotely. The code for the key safe is distributed on the day of arrival, and can be changed afterwards if necessary to avoid a security risk
• If you have friends or family visiting and they arrive early or late, while you are out, they can still access the home
• A person with limited mobility or any kind of accessibility issue, doesn’t have to get up and answer the door if people are visiting, such as friends or family or a healthcare professional.

Considerations when installing a key safe

Key safes are strong, robust and tamper-proof, which is essential when they are located externally to the home. For this reason they are also weather-proof and will maintain their integrity for many years. The locking mechanism to access the key safe is usually a combination dial or an electronic keypad, hence there may be some maintenance required in ensuring the key safe is always operational, in terms of its power source.

So a key safe is an ideal way to control and manage access to a home or business, by ensuring there is always a key available. This helps to address everyday security and also is a failsafe option for when circumstances change or when there are unplanned occurrences. Ultimately, it helps to avoid someone having to hide a key in a predictable spot close to the door. However secure we think this is, it is usually easy to identify where this ‘hiding place’ is located, so a key safe avoids that potential security weak spot.

At MB Direct we have a large range of key safes, which are operated via a digital or manual keypad, or with a combination dial. In all cases these key safes are strong and robust, but small and discreet, and can be the ideal security solution for spare keys and for managing access at all times. So check out our range of key safes and order online today.