Key safe boxes: are they really safe?
Find out if key safes are really safe for your holiday rental
November 2024
More and more holiday rental landlords are looking for automated check-in solutions that will allow guests to enter the property whenever they like. Key safes are a popular choice, but just how safe are they? Are you putting your rental at risk by installing one? What alternatives are available? We answer all these questions as we explore the safety of key safe boxes.
Why install a key safe in your holiday rental?
Effortless check-in is an increasingly popular feature that people want when they rent a holiday flat. As a landlord, you may not be available to greet guests face-to-face, so you might need some way of allowing them to access your property by themselves.
Traditional methods include giving keys to a cleaner, maintenance worker or helpful friend, but that can be logistically difficult, especially if guests are arriving late at night. Some landlords might choose to hide keys under a doormat or a flowerpot. However, that can be risky, inconvenient for guests, and may give a very bad first impression. A security box for keys is a much more elegant solution.
How does a wall-mounted key box work?
A safe for keys usually has a very simple design. It’s a small wall-mounted key box with a number pad. You choose the code, which you send to your incoming guests. When they arrive, they type it in, which allows them to open the box. Inside, assuming you’ve remembered it, is the key to your property.
How safe is a key box with a code for outdoor use?
Key safe manufacturers say that their product is as safe as your front door, but is it really?
The truth is that key safes themselves are indeed very secure as long as you buy a trusted brand. They are subject to rigorous safety checks, and they are extremely difficult to break into. Check reviews online and look for independent verification. Don’t go for the cheapest model in an effort to save money —this is one area where you really get what you pay for.
How to use your key safe properly
The safety of key safes depends on the way that you use them. The main reason for weakness is simple human error. If you follow best practice guidelines for your wall-mounted key storage, it will work. If you don’t, then you leave your property vulnerable to criminals.
Here are some essential guidelines to follow when you use a key box for your holiday home:
- Put your outdoor key box in a discreet place. You may need some trial and error to find the sweet spot — not too obvious (not right next to the front door), as a criminal might find it, but not too difficult for your guests to spot either.
- Don’t include any photos of your key box on your holiday rental website. You can tell guests that you have one, but don’t put photos of it up online.
- Make sure you’ve got a secure key box by installing it carefully on a heavy, solid surface. A fence post is unsuitable, as a bold criminal might be able to break it off.
- Install a CCTV camera to cover the secure key box. Motion-activated lights are another good idea, not just for safety, but also for guests’ comfort while they’re checking in.
- A key box with a code is only as secure as its code. Change the code after each set of guests. A good rule of thumb is to change it to your guest’s year of birth or the last four digits of their phone number so that they can remember it easily.
- Don’t leave the key sitting in the safe for too long. Check with your insurance provider. Many of them will not cover theft if your key was placed inside the safe for 24 hours or more.
Troubleshooting your key safe
A key safe can seem like a miracle. Someone rents your house for holidays, and you don’t need to take time out of your busy day to let them in. However, remember that things can still go wrong. Make sure you have a backup plan in case of some kind of mistake.
These tips will keep things running smoothly:
- Set the code correctly. It’s no good telling a guest that the code is set to their year of birth if you get it wrong.
- Double-check that you put the key in the safe. This is a surprisingly easy mistake to make.
- Email the guest with the code a day in advance and ask them to confirm receipt. Otherwise, guests may arrive and find themselves with no internet coverage, which means they can’t check their email and, therefore, can’t check in either.
- Make it clear in your email where the safe is located. Use simple, plain language: non-native English speakers may struggle with instructions like “just behind the rhododendron shrub”.
- Don’t turn your phone off. Even if you’re not physically on-site, guests should still be able to contact you.
- Have a representative with a spare key close enough to the site to assist in case of emergency.
Alternatives to key safes: smart locks
A key safe can be a great investment, but you may prefer another option. Smart locks are technological solutions that also rely on access codes. However, they don’t come with a physical key. Instead, guests will just type a code onto the keypad and be granted access to the property.
Have a look at listings on any big holiday rental portal, and you’ll see that smart locks are rapidly growing in popularity. Like a key safe, they can be very secure if used correctly — and if you remember to change the code between guests. They have the major advantage of having no physical parts that could go missing, and you can also set a separate code for your cleaner or maintenance staff. However, there are a few things to consider before installing one:
- Smart locks run on batteries. You’ll need to check regularly to make sure that yours still has power.
- Depending on the model, they either use your property’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If the internet connection at your property is spotty, a smart lock is not a good choice.
- Guests will also need to have internet coverage to receive the code. You might want to solve this by providing open-access Wi-Fi, as guests travelling from abroad may not have data on their phones.
- Smart locks must be compliant with local fire regulations, ensuring they can be easily opened from the inside.
- Not all guests are comfortable with technology and may find a smart lock hard to operate.
If you’re going to use a smart lock, always have a Plan B in the form of a real key, as you never know when you may need it.