You can buy a "key safe" on Amazon for £20 that will hold a key in a plastic-and-thin-metal box, mount on the wall with two screws, and survive about 8 seconds of a screwdriver attack. That's not what your insurance company means by "key safe". The genuine police-approved key safes — the ones certified to LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 — survive 5 minutes of power-tool attack and are the only ones most home insurance policies will accept as a valid key handover method. This guide explains the standard, lists the three brands worth buying in Cornwall, and walks through proper installation.
What "police-approved" actually means
There are two relevant UK certifications for key safes:
- LPS 1175 (Loss Prevention Standard 1175) — independent attack testing by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). Rated by issue and security level. Issue 8 A5 is the current top key-safe rating: survives 5 minutes of attack with manual and battery tools.
- "Secured by Design" / Police Preferred Specification — the official UK police security initiative. A key safe with Secured by Design approval has passed LPCB attack testing.
The two go together: a Secured by Design key safe is one that has achieved LPS 1175 certification. Anything without one of these marks is — for insurance purposes — not a security product, regardless of how solid it looks.
The three police-approved key safes worth buying
Burton Keyguard XL (£140-£180)
The first key safe to achieve LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 certification. Burton is a UK safe manufacturer with 60+ years of pedigree. Steel construction, mechanical combination dial, anti-pry, anti-drill, anti-pull body. Excellent reputation.
Supra C500 (£120-£180)
Specifically designed for healthcare and care-provider use originally — popular with NHS and council carer services. Now widely used for residential and holiday-let key handover. LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 (the second-generation C500). Push-button code entry.
Defender Pro-TEC (£100-£160)
Newer entrant to the police-approved space. Same LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 certification as Burton and Supra. Slightly more compact form factor; useful for properties with limited mounting space.
The £20 Amazon trap
A typical £15-£25 Amazon key safe has:
- Thin-gauge metal body that bends or splits under a hammer attack
- Plastic or thin-metal mounting plate that pulls off the wall with a crowbar
- 4-digit combination wheel with no anti-shim protection
- No LPS 1175 certification, no Sold Secure rating, no Secured by Design
It's fine as a convenience device for letting a dog walker in. It is not a security product, and most home insurance policies will treat a break-in via an unrated key safe as your responsibility — not theirs.
Installation rules that affect certification
An LPS 1175-rated key safe is only LPS 1175-rated if installed correctly. The certification specifies:
- Mounted on solid brick or dense concrete. NOT breeze block. NOT mortar. NOT plasterboard. NOT cladding or render over insulation.
- Using the manufacturer's supplied anchors. Substituting cheaper wall plugs invalidates the certification.
- All 4 (or sometimes 6) bolt holes used. Skipping any bolt = no certification.
- Mounted flush against the wall. Gaps allow a crowbar in.
The Master Locksmiths Association reports that around 30% of key safes they inspect fail one or more of these rules — most commonly fitted to render, mortar, or with substituted fixings. The £150 safe is then effectively worthless.
Where to position a key safe
- Side or rear of the property ideally — not directly visible from the road or a public footpath.
- 1.4-1.6 m off the ground — high enough to discourage casual fiddling, low enough to use comfortably.
- Under a porch or overhang if possible — shelters from rain, hides from direct view, and (importantly for Cornwall coastal properties) protects from salt air corrosion.
- Not next to glass — a smashed window negates the whole point.
- On brick or dense concrete only. If your only option is render or breeze block, you need to find solid masonry behind it or pick a different wall.
Cornwall-specific considerations
Stone cottages and granite walls
Cornwall has a lot of stone cottages where the external wall is granite or natural stone, not brick. LPS 1175 doesn't specifically certify for stone, but granite is denser and harder than concrete — a competent locksmith fitting on granite will normally be fine. Confirm with the manufacturer if it's listed property.
Salt air and coastal properties
Sea-facing properties corrode key safe surfaces faster. After 5-7 years on an exposed wall, the combination dial may seize from salt corrosion. Annual maintenance: a puff of silicone or PTFE lubricant on the moving parts, plus a wipe-down with fresh water once a season.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
Drilling into the face of a listed building requires Listed Building Consent. Cornwall has thousands of listed properties, particularly in Truro, Penzance, and the harbour villages. Discreet placement (rear wall, painted to match the wall colour) is usually accepted; consult the council if unsure. See our thatched cottage security guide for related listed-property considerations.
Code management — the part that fails
The key safe is only secure if the code is. Common failures:
- Using "1234" or "0000" or the property number. Burglars try these first.
- Not changing the code between guests. Old guests retain access; the code circulates on review sites.
- Writing the code on the booking confirmation that's then printed and lost.
- Using the same code as your house alarm.
For holiday lets, change the code between every guest. For residential use, change every 6-12 months. Most LPS 1175 safes let you change the code in 30 seconds.
Want a police-approved key safe fitted in Cornwall? Submit your postcode for an itemised quote — Burton, Supra, or Defender LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 certified, installed to the manufacturer's specification.
Frequently asked questions
What does "police-approved key safe" actually mean?
It means the key safe is certified to LPS 1175 (Loss Prevention Standard 1175) Issue 8 A5 — survives 5 minutes of attack with manual and battery-powered tools. The certification is awarded by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) after independent attack testing. "Secured by Design" approval (the UK police security initiative) follows from LPCB certification.
Which key safes are police-approved in 2026?
Three current models with LPS 1175 Issue 8 A5 certification: Burton Keyguard XL (£140-£180), Supra C500 / P500 (£120-£180), and Defender Pro-TEC (£100-£160). All three are Secured by Design / Police Preferred. Anything cheaper than ~£100 almost certainly doesn't have the certification.
Can I fit a key safe to any wall?
No — LPS 1175 certification requires installation in solid brick or dense concrete. Breeze block, mortar, plasterboard, render over insulation, and cladding all fail certification. Cornwall stone cottages with granite walls are usually fine but should be confirmed with the manufacturer for listed properties.
How much does it cost to fit a police-approved key safe in Cornwall?
£100-£260 fitted total. The safe itself: £100-£180. Locksmith installation: £40-£80. Total: £140-£260. Discounts available if multiple safes are being fitted (e.g., portfolio of holiday lets).
Will my insurance accept a £20 supermarket key safe?
Usually no. Most home and holiday-let policies require Sold Secure or LPS 1175 certification for a key safe to be a valid key-handover method. A £20 unrated safe is fine for letting a cleaner in but won't satisfy insurance requirements — a break-in via an unrated safe is often treated as your responsibility.