If you need to give someone access to your home or business without handing out multiple sets of keys, a key safe can be a simple and convenient solution. They’re commonly used by homeowners, rental properties, community facilities and businesses where authorised people need occasional access.
But keeping the key to your property outside naturally raises an important question: are key safes actually secure?
The answer largely depends on the quality of the key safe, where and how it is installed, and how carefully you manage its access code.
Here’s what you need to know before installing one.
What Is a Key Safe?
A key safe—sometimes called a key lock box—is a secure container designed specifically for storing keys or access cards.
Rather than giving every authorised person their own physical key, the key is placed inside the safe. Anyone who needs access is provided with the combination or code required to open it.
Amalgamated Locksmiths supplies a range of purpose-designed key safes for homes, businesses and community applications, including compact models for a couple of keys and larger units capable of storing multiple keys or access cards.
This can make key safes useful for:
- Family members and carers
- Tradespeople and maintenance staff
- Rental and managed properties
- Community facilities
- Offices and commercial premises
- Properties with several authorised users
They can also be a much better option than simply hiding a spare key somewhere around the property.
How Does a Key Safe Work?
Most key safes are permanently mounted to a suitable wall or other solid surface. The key is placed inside, and the compartment is protected by a mechanical or electronic locking mechanism.
Depending on the model, access may be controlled using a push-button combination, PIN or another type of coded locking mechanism.
For example, some of the models available through Amalgamated Locksmiths use programmable combinations, allowing the code to be changed when required.
That means you can provide temporary access without cutting another physical key.
Once that person no longer requires access, changing the combination can prevent them from reopening the key safe.
Are Key Safes Actually Secure?
A good-quality key safe that is correctly installed and responsibly managed can provide a practical way to control access to a property. However, not every key safe offers the same level of security.
A very cheap lock box shouldn’t automatically be considered equivalent to a purpose-designed security product.
Construction quality matters. Look at the strength of the enclosure, resistance to tampering, locking mechanism and how securely the unit can be mounted.
Some higher-security key safes also carry independent security certifications. For example, Amalgamated Locksmiths’ current range includes a Wolflok Pro model with LPS 1175 security ratings, while other models incorporate features such as reinforced bodies, anti-saw protection and interlocking faceplates.
The broader principle applies to other safes as well: the lock is only one part of the overall security of a safe. Australian consumer organisation CHOICE similarly advises consumers to consider construction, locking components and how securely a safe can be installed—not simply the type of lock on the front.
Read CHOICE’s guide to selecting a safe
What Makes a Key Safe More Secure?
There are several things that can make a significant difference.
- Choose a Quality Key Safe
Avoid choosing a product based on price alone.
A quality key safe should be constructed to resist physical attack and tampering. If the key inside provides access to your entire property, the security of the box protecting it deserves careful consideration.
You can explore Amalgamated Locksmiths’ broader range of safe products or speak with a locksmith about the level of protection appropriate for your situation.
- Have It Properly Installed
Even a strong key safe can be compromised if it isn’t securely mounted.
Installation should take into account the construction of the wall or mounting surface, appropriate fixings and the manufacturer’s specifications.
This same principle applies to full-size safes. Police security guidance recommends securely anchoring safes to help prevent their removal.
For larger valuables, documents or cash, a professionally selected and installed home or commercial safe is more appropriate than a key safe.
- Use a Strong Code
Avoid combinations that somebody could easily guess, such as 1234, repeated digits, birthdays or other obvious number sequences.
If the safe comes with a default combination, change it.
Amalgamated Locksmiths’ guide to creating safer PINs and combinations also recommends avoiding predictable combinations and changing default codes.
- Change the Code When Necessary
If you’ve provided the combination to a tradesperson, contractor, former employee or anyone who no longer requires access, change it.
For a business or shared property, it’s also worth periodically reviewing who actually knows the code.
A key safe is only as effective as the way access to it is managed.
Is a Key Safe Better Than Hiding a Spare Key?
In security terms, hiding a spare key under a pot plant, doormat or somewhere else around your property isn’t a good alternative.
NSW Police crime-prevention guidance specifically recommends that spare keys not be hidden outside the home, instead suggesting they be left with trusted friends or neighbours.
A properly selected key safe provides a controlled barrier between an unauthorised person and the key.
It can therefore be a useful solution when you genuinely need to keep a key at the property for authorised users.
When Might a Digital Lock Be a Better Choice?
A key safe isn’t necessarily the right solution for every property.
If multiple people regularly need access, you may want to remove the need for a physical spare key altogether.
Modern digital locks and keyless entry systems can provide access through PINs and other keyless methods. Some systems make it easier to manage different users without leaving a physical key outside.
You can also read our guide, Can a Smart Lock Be Installed on an Existing Door?, if you’re considering moving from traditional keys to keyless entry.
Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Home Security
A key safe shouldn’t be viewed in isolation.
There’s little benefit in carefully protecting your spare key if another part of the property provides an easier way inside.
Doors should have appropriate locks, while accessible windows should also be secured. Police home-security guidance recommends quality locks on perimeter doors and key-operated locks on perimeter windows.
If your windows haven’t been reviewed recently, Amalgamated Locksmiths supplies and installs window locks for Melbourne homes, including options for sliding, sash and aluminium windows.
Related Reading
If you’re reviewing the security of your home or business, you may also find these Amalgamated Locksmiths guides useful:
- Home Safe vs Fireproof Safe: Which One Should You Buy? – useful if you need to protect valuables and documents rather than keys.
- The Ultimate Guide to Digital Door Locks for Australian Homes – explains how digital and smart locks work and their benefits.
- Amalgamated Locksmith’s Six Home Security Must-Haves – covers locks and other fundamentals of securing a home.
Need a Secure Key Safe for Your Melbourne Property?
So, are key safes secure? A well-made key safe can be a useful and secure way to manage spare keys when the product is appropriate for the application, properly installed and protected with a carefully managed code.
The important thing is not to treat every key safe as equal.
At Amalgamated Locksmiths, we can help you choose a key safe suited to your home, rental property, business or shared facility. We can also advise whether a key safe, digital lock or another security solution would be more appropriate for the way you need to manage access.
Our team can assist with key safe sales and installation, along with a wide range of safes and locksmith security solutions throughout Melbourne.
Call Amalgamated Locksmiths on (03) 9419 6922 to discuss your requirements, or visit our Collingwood store to explore the available range. Protecting a spare key might seem like a small part of property security, but when that key opens your front door or business, choosing the right solution matters.