Key safe loopholes: New research reveals millions could be putting their home security at risk

Would you feel comfortable giving a stranger access to your front door key? More than a quarter (27%) of Brits say they would.

Key safes, also known as lockboxes, are no longer just for holiday lets and Airbnb rentals. Our research found that one in ten Brits (13%) now own one,* providing an easy way to give trusted people access to their home without handing over a spare key.

But convenience can come at a cost if key safes aren’t used securely. Sharing access codes too widely, failing to change them regularly and leaving spare keys in a lockbox unnecessarily could all increase the risk of unauthorised access.

Who are Brits trusting with their lockbox codes?

From carers to cleaners, our research revealed that more than a quarter (27%) of Brits feel comfortable with certain people outside their household knowing the code to access their homes. 

Our survey of 1,000 Brits also found that family and friends are the people Brits are most likely to trust with their key safe code. Almost half (46%) would share it with a family member and over a quarter (27%) with a friend - as well as over a third (39%) would be happy to share it with a neighbour. 

Others would grant access to those providing services around the home. Around one in ten (11%) would share their code with a cleaner or housekeeper, while 10% would give access to a dog walker or pet sitter and 8% would share it with a carer or support worker. 

However, not everyone would limit access to people they know well.

Around one in five (21%) would share their code with a tradesperson they’ve never met before, while 5% would even give access to a delivery driver or courier.

We also found that some people would share their code with someone they’d recently started dating (4%) or even an ex-partner (4%).

Less than half of key safe owners regularly change the code

But it’s not just who Brits are sharing their lockbox code with that could pose a risk - it’s how that access is managed.

Among those surveyed who currently own a lockbox, 58% keep a key to their home in their lockbox at all times, even when they’re not expecting anyone. 

While keeping a spare key in a lockbox can be convenient, leaving it there permanently means anyone who knows the code could potentially access your property at any time. 

Even more concerning, fewer than half (49%) of lockbox owners regularly change their code, meaning anyone who’s previously been given access – even for a one-off visit – could still retrieve the key to your front door long after they no longer need access.

How codes are shared can pose a security risk too, with almost a third (32%) saying they would share their key safe or lockbox code by text or WhatsApp. Just as you wouldn’t share your PIN over text, sending your lockbox code digitally could see your access details falling into the wrong hands.

What Airbnb hosts need to know about lockbox safety

Key safes aren’t just used by homeowners. They’re also a popular way for holiday let hosts to provide guests with access without having to meet them in person.

To explore how common this practice has become, we analysed 310,467 Airbnb listing pages and found that more than two-thirds (199,015) were advertised as offering self check-in.

While self check-in doesn’t necessarily mean a property uses a lockbox – hosts may also use smart locks, keypads or other remote-access systems – these figures highlight just how widespread self check-in has become across holiday accommodation.

If you own a holiday let, the same basic security principles apply: use an appropriate access system, limit who can enter the property, update codes between guests where relevant and check that your arrangements meet the requirements of your holiday let insurance.

60% of burglaries involve entry through the front of a property

To understand the wider security risks around access to the home, we analysed Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on the point of entry recorded in incidents of domestic burglary in England and Wales over the past decade.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, doors were recorded as the point of entry in 76% of domestic burglaries, while 60% involved entry through the front of the property.¹

While key safes can offer a convenient way to grant access to your home, and avoid the need to leave a spare key hidden outside, how they’re installed, who you share access with and how you use them can all play a part in keeping your property secure from opportunistic thieves. 

Using a key safe could also affect a theft claim in some circumstances, depending on the terms and conditions of your policy.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Our expert says

“If you make a claim for a break-in on your home insurance, your insurer may look at how the property was accessed and whether you met the security requirements set out in your policy. This can become complicated when key safes are involved. 

“The best way to find out if the use of a key safe is covered by yourhome insurance is to check your policy documents or contact your insurer before installing one. 

“Taking a few minutes to check can save you a lot of hassle down the line and help you understand exactly what you are and aren’t covered for if you ever need to make a claim.

“It’s also important to follow any security requirements set out in your policy, including those relating to keys and access to your home.”

Lockbox safety guide: How to keep your key safe secure

Whether people already have a lockbox or are considering installing one, Kara shares eight simple steps to help keep homes secure and avoid falling foul of any security requirements in their home insurance policy:

1. “Choose a suitable model - Check whether your home insurance policy specifies a particular model or security standard. Look for independently tested products with recognised security accreditations, such as Sold Secure or Secured by Design.

2. “Keep it discreet - Where possible, install it away from the front door and out of public view.

3. “Use a strong code - Avoid obvious combinations such as birthdays or repeating numbers that could be easier to guess.

4. “Change the code regularly - Get into the habit of changing your code regularly, so that people who previously had access but no longer need it can’t continue to use the same code.

5. “Keep your circle small - Only share your key safe code with people who genuinely need access to your home.

6. “Be mindful of how you share it - Avoid sending it in text messages or WhatsApp chats where it could be saved, screenshotted or forwarded. Where possible, share the code verbally or over the phone.

7. “Remove the key when it’s no longer needed - Don’t leave a spare key permanently in the box or overnight if you only installed it for occasional access.

8. “Give your lockbox an MOT - Regularly check your lockbox for signs of damage, wear or tampering, and make sure the locking mechanism still works properly.”

Sources

1. ONS data

Methodology

*Research conducted by Censuswide surveying 1,000 UK adults in September 2026. 

Airbnb data 

We crawled 310,467 Airbnb listing pages to identify which properties explicitly advertised self check-in. For the UK analysis, we included listings whose first location H2 contained “United Kingdom”.