Millions of UK homeowners have no idea how many keys to their home exist – and a significant number have never changed their front door lock to address it.
That is the headline finding from new research commissioned by home security specialist Ultion as part of its Britain’s Most Breakable Homes campaign.
A recent nationwide OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults, found that 41% of Brits cannot account for exactly how many copies of their house keys are currently in circulation.
For the fenestration and door sector, the detail behind the headline will be familiar. More than one in ten respondents (13%) admit they have given someone a key to their current home that was never returned, while one in five (20%) have never changed their front door lock despite not knowing who else may still have a key.
The research also found that one in 20 say a previous owner could still have a key to their property, and one in 30 say an ex-partner could.
To expose the risk, Ultion has partnered with former Scotland Yard undercover detective and crime commentator Peter Bleksley. As part of the campaign, Bleksley put a series of typical UK homes to the test, demonstrating how outdated locks, uncontrolled keys and everyday habits can make a property an easy target.
And homeowners appear to be underestimating the threat. Almost half (44%) believe their home would be difficult for an experienced burglar to break into. More than two in five (42%) have no idea how long it might take an experienced burglar to gain access, while just 12% believe it could happen in under 30 seconds.
The everyday security habits uncovered by the study will resonate with installers and fabricators who see them on the doorstep.
Fifteen per cent of homeowners admit they still hide a spare key outside their property – under plant pots or doormats – while 21% leave keys in the lock on the inside of the door. More than one in three (35%) have simply kept the lock that came fitted with their front door, and four in five (79%) do not know what security standard their front door lock meets. When moving home, Brits ranked getting their Wi-Fi set up above replacing their front door locks.
Peter Bleksley commented: “Most people think of burglary as somebody smashing a window or kicking down a door. In reality, experienced criminals are looking for the easiest, quietest and quickest way into a property. If you have moved into a property and never changed the locks, handed keys out over the years that haven’t all come back, or have copies floating around that you cannot account for, you simply don’t have complete control over who could potentially access your home.”
Ryan Christian, Head of Sales at Ultion, added: “We protect our bank accounts with passwords, our phones with facial recognition and our emails with two-factor authentication, yet millions of us cannot say with certainty who has a physical key to our front door. Moving house, losing a key, giving one to a tradesperson or having an old housemate move out are all moments when control over who can access your property can gradually disappear.”
As part of Britain’s Most Breakable Homes, Ultion and Bleksley have produced a free Guide to Improving Home Security to help homeowners identify outdated locks, understand common burglary techniques and take practical steps to make their homes harder to break into.
The guide is available at: https://www.ultion-lock.co.uk/blog/ultions-guide-to-improving-home-security/
Why This Matters: The findings expose a massive education gap that installers and fabricators can own. Most homeowners have no idea what lock is on their door or who holds a key, yet they assume they are secure. That complacency is dangerous and a commercial opportunity. By leading with key control, lock standards and upgrade advice at point of sale, the trade moves from selling a door to selling peace of mind and retained value.
