Does anyone use an outdoor key safe?

Dollyadams

I live alone, have just moved into rented accommodation, and have a front door that if you go out of it and the door closes behind you it locks and you need your key to get back in.

So far I have not forgotten to take the key out with me when I nip out for a few minutes to the bin or car etc, but I am worried about one day forgetting and the door closing behind me (especially when I may be inappropriately dresssed )

I have no-one nearby with whom to leave a spare key and was considering buying one of those key safes you affix to the wall that has a combination lock on in which to store a spare key. Does anyone use one and have any comments about the pros and cons?

27col

My elderly sister has had one on the side of her house for years, as she is a little prone to falling over. I have only tried to use it once and I had a bit of trouble with the pin number. But it was probably just me fumbling the keys.

Moomum

We have one, it's a lifesaver as am forever forgetting keys.

chrisw

Here's something I posted previously but still doing its job:-

My teenage daughter was forever losing or forgetting her key so I got one of these:-

http://www.keysafe.co.uk/permanent_g..._001409eu_8262

It was actually fitted to my father-in-law's house for medical emergencies and I acquired it when he passed away. It has a black rubber cover so it doesn't stand out and I've got it located it between a drain pipe and meter cupboard so it would be virtually impossible to swing at to knock it off. It's also fitted with some pretty hefty bolts so would be difficult to knock off anyway.

The advertising blurb says:-

An opportunist thief is much more likely to shoulder a door or break a window, accessing and leaving the property in a fraction of the time it would take to overcome a KeySafeTM. Please note that we have never been made aware of a property being broken into as a direct result of having a GE KeySafeTM fitted - why bother trying to overcome a GE KeySafeTM when there are clearly much quicker an easier ways of breaking and entering?

It has proved very useful over the years.


It was on a bit of an old thread regarding key safes, etc:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2604141

mazza111

We have one for my disabled mother's place, easy to fit and can be put somewhere inconspicuous too. It's been a lifesaver for her.

fwor

If your house insurance has rules about the type of lock that controls access to your property (almost all do):

Either check with them that a specific device is acceptable to them or

Never, ever admit that you have or had one in the event of a burglary - they are likely to use it as an excuse to void your claim.

mancitychick

My Nana has one by her front door for the carers to let themselves in with.

This is the one she has;

http://www.thesafeshop.co.uk/products/mini-key-safe.html

I personally would be wary about having one, as I don't know how secure they would bat when up against someone determind to get into it.

sheilavw

My Mum has alzheimers and has one. It is fastened to her doorstep, its a five digit pin number, the carers use it to get in and out

Mojisola

I looked into this a few months' ago for my parents. Dad was worried about the security so I went for this one - C500 GE Supra KeySafe. He liked the fact that it was "police approved".

It's more expensive than others on the market but is does feel very solid and the carers haven't had any problems using it.

elsien

I have one because I was forever locking myself out and it's safer than leaving a key under a stone, which is what I was doing.
Downsides - some of them are a bit small, so if you have 2 keys to squeeze in it can be a bit of a faff getting it to close. Also, with mine, the mechanism to set the code is on the back, so once you set the code you'd have to unscrew it from the wall to change the number.
Wouldn't be without it though. I've got it on the wall in the porch quite low down with something decorative standing in front of it, so it's not obvious to the casual observer, just to be on the safe side. Although I think the idea is that even if someone did manage to knock it off the wall, they'd have such a job getting it open, they'd have moved on to next door long before.
MIne looks very similar to the one in chrisw post, and came recommended by age concern.

HelenDaveKids

We have one, was there when we bought house (previous owners now deceased). We moved it somewhere less conspicious and the kids use it if I've a few minutes late getting home from work. Its been brilliant.