Spare key.

Yes Ive seen fake rocks in which you can hide a key - suitably wrapped in polythene. If you have a garden with lots of rocks then its is unlikely to be found in a pile with others or garden debris. Or hiding the key in a recepticle of some kind taped to bushes or shrubs. You would need to know where to look.

I had a break in some years ago when I lived on a rough council estate. I was going in holiday and had cash notes hidden in the leaves of one book and my credit cards in the other. However I had several shelves full of books so they were hidden in plain sight. The thieves took a ghetto blaster type radio and a couple of pounds I had in a purse. That was all they got.

Criminals are usually in a hurry and not renowned for their intelligence.

a key safe is the way to go. It has a combination lock system.. you choose 4 digits and roll them into position a bit like a fruit machine! give the number to nhs/ health workers to keep on file should they need to get in. of course it's very useful for yourself if you go out without a key.

I have had a key safe for my front doors for many years. My house in East London, had this fitted into the porch. Absolute blessing and used (by me) on so many occasions.
One winter night, I took out the rubbish to bin. Meant to leave the front door ajar and close the porch door to keep in the heating, but did it the other way round! There was me, in nightie and dressing gown standing in front of house unable to get back in. Moments of sheer panic!!!! Could not even remember the phone no of the daughter who lived about a mile away, so no point of going to a neighbour.
Then I remembered the key safe, and in a couple of moments was safely back in the warmth.

ANother time was back in 2012 during the para olympics, I was many miles away visiting an AC, My Adult twins had tickets but then found out that th e friend they had intended to stay with was ill. A quick phone call to me, and given the number of the key safe, meant they were able to use my house.

In the flats where I now live, I still have one by my front door. Do sometimes, go out forgetting keys, no other way into flat. It has been used on several occasions/

My mother had a key safe which the carers used, although she usually got up and unlocked the house in the mornings. What we were worried about though, was if she left the key in the lock on the inside, so we hid the inside front door key so that the front door could always be opened from the outside with the key from the key safe.

I have taken my own key off the bunch and now keep it in my purse. It nestles amongst the coins and I regularly check it's there. If I go out without my purse, I just slip the key in my pocket. Never ever shut the door without checking I have my key in my hand, pocket or purse.

The problem with a key safe is that your front door is only as robust as a key safe. Extra locks and bolts on your doors are rendered useless if you have a key !
Key safes are very popular with holiday lets etc as there are no ‘valuables’ kept on the premises .

We have a key safe which is not visible from the road . We also have a spare key with our neighbour and we have hers . My house keys are on a key ring with my car keys , so I rarely lock myself out .

I have a key safe , but I have been warned against them .
My neighbour has my key and I have her key .
I wear my door keys on a lanyard .
But I came unstuck the other day - I forgot to put my lanyard on and my neighbour was out !
So now I have some keys hidden in plastic wrap in the garden .
It's in an old flowerpot hidden behind some thick shrubs .

When my dad was getting absent minded we had a key safe fitted,just so carers could access the house. But he fiddled with it and first he reset the code and then took the key out .( because he needed the key)

Amandajs66

I have been looking at key safes but apparently they can be prised off the wall, taken away and then they came back with the key at a later date.
I guess, because I’m on my own I’m slightly worried about things that didn’t bother me before. x

Get one that is "police approved". Mine is one of these. It was more expensive but is safer. Then have it put somewhere discreet.

You can have an outdoor key safe. I had one at last house. Placed it on wall low down behind an evergreen shrub.

Key safe

Both my AC have key safes - they are neither old nor vulnerable but they do have school age children who sometimes need to let themselves in. Its better than children taking keys to school. Lots of their friends do the ame.

We have one too. It was here when we moved in. My OH changed the code on our moving day. When he remembers what he changed it to we will use it ... but two years on and the lightbulb moment still hasn't arrived!

As suggested by others, a key box. I never take a key with me but do make sure you leave at least 2 keys as it is inevitable someone forgets to replace a key.

Chestnut

JollyJilly I used to leave a spare front door key with my next door neighbour but found she kept it in a bowl in the hallway with my name and address on it. So if anyone broke into her house they could also break into mine.

Or lordy, some people have no common sense whatsoever, which is why I won't leave my precious house key with a neighbour. 🤦‍♀️

Talking of leaving keys on the hall table/ drawer, I used to do that, until my neighbor was robbed of their BMW! Thieves burnt the the plastic trim/ draught preventer on the letter box & then hooked the keys off the table- insurance refused to pay out!

I live on my own and have a Key Safe fixed to the side wall of the house. You choose a 4 digit code and set it according to the instructions , and anyone can access the numbered buttons as long as they know the code, which then allows the safe to opened and key retrieved. I got mine from Argos.

My family know the code, and my next door neighbour who I've known for 30 years and trust totally

I was taken into hospital last November, having been sent there direct from my appointment with my GP, and was there for 3 weeks. The Keysafe was really useful as my daughter and family came down from Cheshire at weekends and used the key to get in the house and stay there for the weekend.

So far, I haven't locked myself out, but have done so in the past, so its reassuring to know that if I do it again I can retrieve the key¬

I've had a key safe for 12 years. Works for me!

Before I had a message I used to keep a spare key in my greenhouse down the garden, under one of the slats on the staging

My crusade is tucked away not next to the front door. I have a ring doorbell and yes they could.prize that off but hopefully it would have recorded the burglar cing down the drive by that time.
What you have to remember with a key safe that you have to set a combination for us to move the dials round when you put the spare key back. I'd you leave it at the cbi stiin say 1066, not ever one I'd use, and when you put the key back, you leave it at that it's not.locked. you also need to change it to something that couldn't be worked out but just fiddling with the dials moving them a few places
My mum's safe was different and I'd actually like one like that, but what I have works. She didn't have it by the door either

Kim19

Keys in my hand is my practice as I go out of the front door.

Me too - after locking myself out more than once.

Our front door requires the key to lock it, so impossible to leave without the key.

Our back door has a spare hidden on the back of a post under the steps. Our family knows where it is. It does require some awkward reaching and you need to know exactly where it is or you wouldn't find it.

Yep keysafe on the wall next to door

Yes ….a key box with a combination , that’s screwed to the wall.

Both back and front door can only be locked with the key so you don't ever go out without a key. That's how mine works . Never been locked out.

Mojack26

Get a key safe

But hide it out of sight. As already said, shouts older person.

The only person I know with a keysafe is neither old not vulnerable. You'd have to be pretty determined to get them off the wall, most thieves are opportunist. But a nice neighbour would be the best bet, and it's a good excuse to get to know people!