Key Safes: Police-Preferred Standards, Fitting and Safe Use
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A key safe is a small, strong, lockable box fixed to an outside wall that holds a spare door key behind a code, so carers, family or the emergency services can get in when you cannot come to the door. Choose one that has been independently attack-tested, fit it properly into solid brick, and share the code with as few people as possible.
Who needs one
- People who have visiting carers, district nurses or a cleaner.
- Anyone with a personal alarm, so that responders can get in without breaking the door. Many alarm services ask for one.
- People who are slow to reach the door, or at risk of falls.
- Families who want a safer alternative to a key under the mat, under a flowerpot or on a string through the letterbox, all of which burglars know about.
Main types
- Mechanical push-button key safes — you press a set of numbered buttons, in any order, then open a latch. No batteries. The commonest type for homes.
- Dial or wheel combination safes — rotating number wheels. Cheap, but small wheels can be fiddly and many budget ones are not security tested.
- Electronic or smart key safes — a keypad or phone app, sometimes with one-off codes and a record of who opened it. Need batteries.
- Portable (shackle) key safes — hang on a door handle or railing like a padlock. Meant for temporary use; easier to remove and attack than a wall-fixed safe.
What does "police approved" mean?
You will see "police approved" on many listings. The phrase to look for is Secured by Design, the official UK police security initiative. Products that meet its requirements can carry the "Police Preferred Specification" mark. To qualify, a key safe has to be independently tested and certified to a recognised security standard, not just tested by its maker.
The standard most often quoted for key safes is LPS 1175, set by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), in which testers attack the product with defined sets of tools for a set time. Some key safes are certified by Sold Secure, another recognised test house. Ratings and their names have changed between issues of the standard, so the detail on packaging can be confusing.
What to look for
- Independent certification as above, checked on the scheme's own website.
- Solid metal body with a recessed door and concealed hinges.
- Enough code combinations. More buttons generally means more possible codes.
- Buttons or keypad you can use with stiff fingers or poor sight, and that carers can use in the dark.
- Internal size — will it take your key, including a thick modern key or a fob? Check the stated capacity.
- A weather cover to keep out rain and frost and make it less noticeable.
- Proper fixings supplied for brick or concrete.
Rough price guide
| Type | Typical price (rough guide) |
|---|---|
| Basic untested combination key box | around £10 to £25 |
| Independently certified, police-preferred mechanical key safe | around £50 to £120 |
| Electronic or smart key safe | around £80 to £200 |
| Professional fitting | around £30 to £80, where not included |
A certified safe costs more, but it is protecting your front door key. The cheapest boxes can be forced quickly.
Fitting it properly
- A key safe is only as strong as its fixing. Certified models are normally tested fixed into sound brick or concrete with the maker's fixings; follow the instructions exactly or the certification may not apply.
- Do not fix into mortar joints, soft or crumbling brick, lightweight blocks, wood or uPVC. A few models are certified for rendered walls; check before buying if your wall is rendered.
- Choose a spot out of direct view from the street but not so hidden that someone could work on it unseen. Good lighting helps.
- Fit it at a height that people can reach and see without stooping.
- If drilling into brick is not something you do, use a handyperson. Many councils, home improvement agencies and local Age UK branches run low-cost handyperson services.
Using it safely
- Do not use an obvious code such as your house number, year of birth or 1234.
- Give the code only to people who need it, and keep a note of who has it.
- Change the code when a carer or agency stops visiting, or if you think it has been shared too widely.
- Keep only the door key inside: no address tag, no car keys, no alarm codes.
- Tell your home insurer you have fitted one and ask whether they have any requirements. Policies differ, and some want a particular standard.
Getting one free or fitted for you
If you receive care at home or have a council telecare alarm, a key safe may be supplied and fitted as part of that service, sometimes free and sometimes for a one-off charge; it varies between councils. Ask during your needs assessment or when the alarm is set up. In England, equipment you are assessed as needing that costs less than £1,000 is provided free. Start with GOV.UK: apply for a needs assessment. Some fire and rescue services and local police crime prevention teams also give advice on home security for older residents.
Related guides
A key safe usually goes hand in hand with a personal alarm. For seeing who is at the door without opening it, see video doorbells, and for cold callers, doorstep selling rights. Your energy and water suppliers' Priority Services Register can set up a password scheme for genuine callers.
Common questions
Are key safes safe?
A certified key safe, correctly fitted into solid brick and used with a sensible code, is considered far safer than hiding a key. An untested box, or a good one badly fitted, is much less secure.
Will a key safe affect my home insurance?
It can. Insurers take different views, so tell yours and ask. A model with police-preferred accreditation, fitted as the maker instructs, is the most likely to be accepted.
Can the ambulance service use my key safe?
Yes, if they know the code. If you have a monitored alarm, the monitoring centre holds the code and passes it on. Otherwise make sure a neighbour or relative who would be called has it.