[jamiesroom]

Hi there,
Just want some advice about how other members and companies cope with the issue of having to carry keys around for properties and communal areas and the potential of losing these keys? Do most members/companies have a key holders insurance or something similar? Or is there a specialist key cutting retail outlet you can go to get security keys cut if you are a cleaning business??

Many thanks.

[shelton]

Hi,

I don't know how anyone else tackles it, but I have a safe where all keys are held, along with a clause in the initial agreement that in the event of key loss, the client retains responsiblity for the security of their building.

This shifts the onus of responsibility onto the client if they want to get the locks changed.

As to whether additional insurance is required . . . not sure on that one.

[Fox]

When you fill out your insurance forms there are extra items for key loss and things.  I am insured for £25,000 for key loss with £100 excess and it didn't add much to the policy.  I suggest if you have keyholders you get insured, even with a clause not many commercial clients would take responsibility for cleaners losing keys.

Make sure you keep keys in a key safe when in the office and that they tagged appropriately, without any client details on.

Fox

[CMS]

I'm not sure whether or not we should be advertising on here but I've found this company that will allow you to design your policy, get a quote and order it - all online.

I have to say here and now that I have no interest in this company nor do I get any kind of commission. I just feel that it's a bloody good service so wish to pass the details on.

Click on the link below.

http://www.insuredrisks.co.uk/index.do

[jamiesroom]

Thanks everyone who was kind enough to reply.

We have just got a public liability insurance and then found out that most companies do not offer a separate key holders insurance but if anyone does know of a company who offers a separate key holders insurance then I would be most grateful.

Most of the companies who we work for will not want to be liable should some keys be lost and if we lost some keys it would be embarassing to approach the company in question to inform them of this.

Does anyone know of any shops or locksmiths (in london) who offer a service to cut security main entrance front door keys to cleaning companies like ourselves ?? As a lot of the keys we have are front door keys as we have contracts to clean the communal areas of some properties.

Thanks again.

[domestic bliss]

I am having the same problem getting key holder insurance.
I have found 1 company that quoted me £300 more than i presently pay a year just so i could have key holders insurance and that i could not get it seperately. 
However i went to see an insurance broker who although unable to help me personally they have given me a number of a company that does it seperately.
I will get back to you with details if i have any luck.
The broker did say that Houses and companys should have cover on their insurance for loss of keys.  My clients would not be happy about this though so i need to get something sorted and quick.

[jamiesroom]

Thanks Domestic Bliss!!

U are a life saver!!

Please can you print the details of the telephone number of the insurance company who are willing to do key holders insurance separately.

I know that the companies we are working for will not be happy if we lost the keys either and so just having the key holders insurance will give me peace of mind.

Many thanks

[domestic bliss]

Sorry jamiesroom.  I have tried the company that i was given the number for.  They only insure credit cards and your own house keys not anyone elses.  i am going to the insurance broker and telling him he's a dozy twit and to do his research.
Like you i cannot get insurance for my clients keys and i have 9 sets. It's a bit of a worry and as i am only a one person company £400 quoted from Darwinandclayton who were the only people i could find that did keyholders insurance is a big chunk of money for me to pay out. Don't know what the solution is....

[Fox]

Try UK Special Risks Ltd

01634 727766

I have P&EL plus key holders ins and a few other specialised things covered through them, not sure if they do separate key policy without the main ins but its worth a try.

Fox

[Paul Kettless]

Hi,

just to add some debate to this post, have you actually thought if it is worth having insurance to cover costs of lost keys.

Our company holds key for over 50 premises, (touched wood before I typed)  and have never lost a customers key yet in the 15 months we have been trading.  Our customers keys are kept in a commercial lockable keybox, and was not cheap, but IMO a well worth purchase.

We insist with our customers that we only have one key to only one door.  Therefore, should a key go missing, the customer would have a key to open the door.  This means that you would only have to pay a locksmith to change a barrell.  On checking with a local locksmith, I was informed that it would cost me approx £60 - £100 for a complete lock change.

On this basis, my company would have to lose 3-4 sets of key a year just to break even with a £400 a year insurance policy.  Furthermore, when I ran this scenario by my accountant he is confident that the expense could be lost as a legitimate business expense with the tax man...

Hope this helps
Paul

Edit: typos

[BSF]

Hi Paul,

Of course the customer would have a key to his premises entrance door, or he couldnt get in himself!

Most large companys have high security keys/electronic fobs, they cannot be cut/replaced by your local locksmith, ive never researched it but I feel the cost would be alot more than you have stated, also if you lost this key/fob, the customer would want the lock/fob/code changed and the alarm code, then all keyholders would require a new key/fob (or re-programmed fob), if they are of the type I have mentioned the potential cost could be very high, In my opinion all companys that are keyholders should be fully insured.

Regards

Paul

[Fox]

I agree with pfwest, you should be insured.  Although I have a key safe it rarely holds the keys - why?  I have cleaners working at 5am in the morning and other cleaners working until 8pm I would not expect them to pick up the keys from the office each day so in effect the cleaners are the key holders - people can make mistakes and lose keys.

About half the sites we hold keys for now have the new fobs that pfwest has talked about and obviously the keys held are to the high security front doors so I would think changing the locks and resetting the system would cost a fair bit.  My keyholders insurance didn't add that much to my policy, certainly less than £400 for £25,000 cover.

Maybe you are talking about domestic properties, in that case I would still recommend insurance but also suggest that another key is cut for the property and kept in the office incase of loss (you obviously can't do this with security keys).  Most of all ensure no keys are marked and all cleaners who hold them have references.

Fox