We locked ourselves out of the house - thinking of getting a key safe

HurdyGurdy

I am used to getting calls at work from my sons when they lock themselves out, asking me if they can borrow my key to get back in the house again.

But today, my husband and I managed to do it. Luckily, one of our adjoining neighbours was at home and my husband could get over their fence into our garden, and also luckily (but accidentally) we hadn't locked the back door, so were able to get into the house again.

I am wondering about getting a combination key safe mounted at the front of our house to keep a spare key in, so that we can't get locked out again.

Most of our neighbours are out during the day, and the one person who is at home, is the one person in the street that has "issues" with us (we've never worked out why) so there is no one around who would be at home to hold a key for us - plus I don't like the idea of someone outside of family (and we've none of those close by - the nearest family member is about 80 miles away), having access to the house, so a key safe would *seem* to be a good idea.

We have no access from the front of the house to the back, other than going over the garage roof, and there is no way I'd ever attempt that. We also don't have a hidey hole area of wall on the house so any key safe would have to be mounted at the front of the house.

We live in a Close, so no through traffic, and it is a low crime area.

I was wondering if a key safe would affect our house insurance should we ever be burgled. Not necessarily because anyone has gained access to the house by using a key kept in one, but just in general.

And finally - does anyone have any recommendations for which key safe to choose. They seem to vary enormously in price, and I assume like most things, you get what you pay for.


ETA - I'm thinking of something like this
http://www.screwfix.com/p/master-lock-reinforced-combination-key-safe/58460#

adelight

This might seem like overkill but I would be tempted to put a key safe in your garage containing the house keys then have a garage key in a key safe outside the house somewhere or left at work if you have somewhere secure to put it. At least if worse comes to worst and you have to break into your garage it's not as big a deal as breaking into your house (imo anyway). And if someone knows what it is and manages to get the key, they can only get into your garage and presumably you'd have the key safe in there well hidden.

HurdyGurdy

Thanks for the suggestion adelight, but our garage is now our oldest son's bedroom lol. We had it converted a few years ago.

LEJC

We had a SUPRA keysafe fitted to the front of my mothers house as she was elderly and it was used by the visiting care agency when they needed to get in when she was unable to get to the door.

I checked with the home insurance and they were ok about it as long as the combination of numbers were not given to anyone other than registered people.

We had the safe fitted via an approved fitter so as to further validate the fact that it hadn't been fitted incorrectly and it worked fine for the situation.

I believe that the cost was around £50 all told including fitting. you can buy cheaper versions but we opted for the "approved" options that would not have an effect on any insurance premiums.,but you would need to check with your insurance company.

We used something very similar to this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Supra-S5-Keysafe-with-Bolts-Neoprene-Cover-/200822410260?pt=UK_HaG_Lock_Safes_GL&hash=item2ec1f2cc14

This is exactly the type of thing that was recommended to us and approved for use with the elderly so I have no reason to believe that it wont be of use to you.....it was one of the best £50 we spent whilst my mother lived in the house!

EpsomOldie

I'd say definitely go for it. I got one (slightly cheaper than the one you mention - link below) ages ago, and it's saved my bacon four or five times. That awful sinking feeling when you realise you've locked yourself out...and then YAY! the spare key's in the little safe.

I can't think of any reason whatever that house insurance might be compromised - presumably you'd choose a combination that's meaningful to you but unguessable to others. It's well nigh impossible to break into - a really little toughy.

Mine is in the porch and I positioned it so that it's not in the direct line of sight of a person of average height - that's just me being weird though. Get one - you won't regret it and it'll pay for itself the very first time you lock yourself out.

This is the one I got: http://www.screwfix.com/p/master-lock-5-key-combination-key-safe/77908;jsessionid=3GQ9Qd8GP5HHNhY1KSXDq6Tzn1s1jgWGjgnr4ty28ryYCJhTmV13!2015774077

Wilma33

If you, your husband and your sons all have door keys then surely it is quite difficult for you to all get locked out at the same time??

LEJC

Wilma33 wrote: »

If you, your husband and your sons all have door keys then surely it is quite difficult for you to all get locked out at the same time??

Theres 3 of us in our house....husband works 20 miles from home,not always contactable during the day,son is at school so probably best not to disturb him....if for example I was to get locked out its not a huge thing but I may be waiting until the end of the day for another keyholder to return...its just less hassle if you have access to a spare key rather than having to wait.

Fire_Fox

You will need to ask your insurer what the effect might be. Also worth checking with the police what they recommend. It's not that much effort to drive or get a taxi to meet your child, husband, a friend or to your workplace for the rare occasions you do lock yourself out.

Incidentally I am terrible for putting things down and losing them and have locked myself out a few times in the past. I now have a system that my house key is with my purse at all times - it comes out of my bag into the lock and back into the bag before I have even got into the flat. I haven't locked myself out in over six years. You don't have to keep a whole bunch of keys on the same ring and you can even attach your keys to your handbag or purse with a 'bungee'.

Cat501

My gran has one of those ones where you turn the numbers to get the combination and then re-scramble. I find it a pain in the butt to be honest, sometimes it just won't play ball and is very hard to move for some reason.

I'd be inclined to get a push-button one

ariba10

Glass jar with screw top lid.

Put it in a shallow hole in near by bit of garden,

Job done.

HurdyGurdy

Wilma33 wrote: »

If you, your husband and your sons all have door keys then surely it is quite difficult for you to all get locked out at the same time??

Similar here to LEJC

My husband's base is 8 miles away, but is all over the place during the day and not always available to come home to let someone in.

Son #1 works in a shop in the next town - can't ask him to tell work he's just popping out for a two hour round trip (buses are rubbish) to let someone in.

Son #2 finishes work at 3am. If he forgets his key, no one else is best pleased to be woken up at that time to let him in.

Key safe seems easier. I've been to Screwfix and got one - thanks for the recommendations, and my husband will be fixing it tomorrow.