100 million spare sets of keys go missing

Monday, 4 August 2008 10:01 AM

New research has revealed a worrying security flaw in British property, with findings suggesting there could be over 100 million spare sets of keys lost in the UK.

Research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance finds over a million British householders admit to having forgotten to retrieve spare sets of keys from a loved one or tradesmen, leaving them exposed to risk.

Despite the fact for most people homes, along with their contents, are our biggest financial assets, spare sets of keys could still be residing with ex-partners, cleaners, builders or even previous tenants, argues the insurer.

Indeed, there are some half a million or more people that admit to not even knowing the precise number of spare sets of keys that exist for their property.

Overall, the research estimates that there could be over 100 million sets of spare keys for British homes in circulation - a figure all the more surprising given there are roughly 27 million residential properties in the UK.

The findings indicate the average British household has four spare sets of keys.

The main holders of these spare sets of keys are children including those that have flown the nest (27 per cent), followed by another non-resident family member such as parent (25 per cent) and also neighbours (11 per cent).

Yet, while an elderly parent is unlikely to prove much of a security risk, there are other, potentially more dangerous, groups of key holders out there.

For example, 1.42 million keys are thought to reside with window cleaners, while builders have 1.62 million.

However, the potentially most threatening group, ex-spouses and partners hold as many as 10.45 million keys - creating a time bomb of aggrieved lovers waiting for revenge.

"Almost 700,000 homeowners admit that they have not collected spare sets of keys from ex-neighbours or tradesmen or others," said Neil Laird, Sainsbury's Home Insurance manager.

"Although it's sensible and often necessary to leave a spare set of keys with a trusted person to gain access to your property, it's concerning to see just how many homeowners have completely lost track of who could have access to their home."

Chris O'Toole

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