Does Use Of A Keysafe Invalidate Home Insurance?

[venator]

The title says it all ...

Googling produces no firm answer.

All I can think of is writing to my insurance company to ask for approval, without much hope.

Any answers, anyone?

[woofgang]

Its a few years ago now when i was involved with this question. I was part of the team that was helping to set up care for housebound older and disabled people who couldn't let a carer in. The answer that we discovered is that it depends on the insurer.
this one
https://keysafe.co.uk/#
looks much more robust than the ones that were in use when i knew them

[Buenchico]

From KeySafe's own information sheet (published on the Lincolnshire County Council website):

"Q) Will KeySafe ™ affect my contents insurance?

A) When we first introduced KeySafe ™ into the UK, we approached Lloyd's of
London, who underwrite a large proportion of insurance business in the UK, to see what their position was regarding a device such as KeySafe ™ . They said, quite simply, that to make a claim on a contents insurance policy, there must be evidence of forced entry. As a case had never occurred of access being gained unlawfully via a KeySafe ™ , Lloyd's could not answer whether or not breaking into the KeySafe ™ would constitute forced entry and until such an event occurred and a precedent was set, there was no definitive answer. It was made very clear that leaving keys under mats, on string through letter boxes or issuing lots of keys to different people would definitely void a contents insurance policy and any subsequent claim. KeySafe ™ is a
much safer way of allowing multiple persons access into your property when
compared to the traditional methods. If you are in any doubt, contact you own
insurance provider to see if they have issues with KeySafe ™ . Alternatively, Age Concern offer an insurance policy that will accept the use of KeySafe ™ "

So, if Lloyd's don't know the answer, it's doubtful that anyone else will!

[New Judge]

No it certainly won't. Until you make a claim, that is:

[cupotee2]

We have a key safe....never thought about it being an insurance issue before.

To my knowledge its not a question on an application form either?

[woofgang]

Often in the small print in policies there is something about only paying out on house theft if entry has been forced or obtained by deception. Some insurance companies will therefore decline to pay out if a Keysafe is used. They will say that a key has been left where it can be obtained by a burglar. You really need to ask them.

[Old_Geezer]

Surely the answer is to install it inside the house then there is no problem ?

I think this question boils down to, if there is a loophole that allows an insurance company to refuse to pay out, will they use it ? Heck, sure they will, even if tenuous and clearly pushing their luck.

[New Judge]

Policy wording from my household contents policy (under exceptions)

"[No cover for losses] by theft unless it involves forcible and violent entry to or exit from a building;"

The insurers would no doubt argue that gaining access to the Keysafe (by whatever method, even if it involved prising it out of the wall and sawing it open) did not constitute a "forcible and violent entry " to "a building". They would say that a key was effectively left outside the property (not exactly under the flower pot, but similar in principle).

I believe that their argument would be questionable because although force and/or violence would not have been used to enter the building it would have been used to access the Keysafe (which would, arguably, form part of the building). However, personally I would not give them the opportunity to put forward this argument and would not use a Keysafe.

[237SJ]

I very much doubt that having a Keysafe would invalidate insurance because if it did, you would certainly be asked if you have one when obtaining a quote.

[Bazile]

//Surely the answer is to install it inside the house then there is no problem ? //

lol - Old_Geezer - what's the point of installing it inside the house ?
That defeats the whole purpose/ reason of the device

[woofgang]

They don't have to ask, like they don't have to ask if you keep a key under a flowerpot. The onus is on the customer to comply with the conditions of the policy. Venator, I repeat, the only way to know is to ask the insurer.

[rbourne90]

t looks like KeySafe have updated their information about key safes and insurance. https://keysafe.co.uk/faqs It's really difficult to find on this page unless you get their via Google or do a keyword search on the page. So I've copied it below:

"Each home insurance provider will have their own policy regarding the use of key safes. We recommend that users consult their insurance provider if they are concerned and switch if they believe they are being unreasonable.

Not all key safes are the same. We have found that with a C500 KeySafe installed, insurance companies are less likely to make amendments to home contents insurance.

If you have a C500 KeySafe installed, and if you choose to inform your home insurance provider, it is important that you make them aware that this is the particular key safe you are using. The C500 KeySafe has achieved Police approval through Secured by Design as a product that can help to reduce crime. It has been tested by an independent third party to a standard that the Police and the insurance industry recognise, LPS 1175 Level 1.

Advice from insurance companies includes this from the Managing Director of LV Home Insurance, Selwyn Fernandes: "If you must leave a key outside, use a police approved key safe and only give the code to people you trust"."