What is a key safe?
A key safe is a small box, secured to the outside of your property, in which you store your keys behind a PIN. By giving that PIN to people you choose, you allow trusted family members and carers to let themselves in without you having to come to the door.
Why use one?
- You may simply not want to carry house keys around with you
- If keys are always returned to the safe, they are far less likely to be lost
- For people who struggle with mobility, it removes the need to get up and walk to the door every time someone visits
- In an emergency, it lets the emergency services in without forcing the door — which would otherwise leave the home unsecured and be expensive to repair
Who benefits most?
Key safes are used by all sorts of people — including several of the office team here at Gardiner's. They are especially helpful for people living alone, those who are elderly, anyone with poor mobility or at risk of falling, and those who are hard of hearing.
How to get one
A locally trusted option is the Forestcare service, set up by Bracknell Forest Council but also serving Reading and South Oxfordshire. We receive no incentive for recommending them — we do so because a key safe can be supplied and installed for a modest cost, the models they use are approved by the police and the insurance industry, and they operate a call centre, so a PIN can be given to emergency services if needed.
Do remember to let your home insurance provider know once a key safe has been installed.
