Giving Your Cleaner a Key: Home Security Tips
How to give a cleaner access to your home sensibly: key safes, spare keys, alarms, valuables and what to agree before the first unattended visit.
At some point, most people with a regular cleaner stop being at home for visits. That means deciding how the cleaner gets in. Done thoughtfully, giving access is a small, manageable risk. This guide covers practical options and the habits that keep things secure and comfortable.
Before you hand over access
Do not rush it. A sensible sequence is:
- Be at home for the first one or two cleans.
- Check the quality of work and how the cleaner handles your home.
- Agree how access will work and put it in writing, in messages if you use a platform.
- Only then move to unattended visits.
Trust is easier to extend than to take back.
Access options
Let them in and out each time
The simplest and most controlled option, but it requires you to be there at the start and finish, or at least at one end.
Key safe
A key safe is a small lockbox, fixed to an outside wall, holding a spare key. You give the cleaner a code. Pros: no need to copy keys, and you can change the code at any time. Cons: choose a good-quality, securely fitted one, and keep the code private. Do not place it in an obvious location, and change the code if you feel it may have been seen.
Spare key
A copy given to the cleaner is common for long-term arrangements. Label it with nothing identifying your address, and agree where it is kept. Ask them not to copy it, and to tell you at once if it is lost. If a key is lost, consider changing the lock barrel.
Smart locks and temporary codes
If you already have a smart lock, you can set a code for the cleaner and change or remove it any time. This avoids physical key issues entirely.
Leaving a door unlocked
This is not recommended. It can invalidate home insurance cover in some circumstances, so check your policy.
Alarms and routines
If you have an alarm, agree a procedure: who sets and unsets it, what the code is, and what happens if it triggers. Give the cleaner a unique code if your system allows it, so you can see when it was used. Ask them to message when they arrive and leave, which helps you keep track.
Valuables and privacy
- Put away cash, jewellery, passports, financial papers and anything irreplaceable. This is not an accusation; it is what you would do for any guest.
- Lock away or close off rooms you want left alone, and tell the cleaner which they are.
- Consider that cameras in your home may raise privacy issues for cleaners. If you use any, tell them clearly where they are and whether they record. Check ICO guidance on domestic CCTV if you are unsure.
- Keep medication and sensitive items out of sight, particularly if children live in the home.
Insurance and liability
Check your home contents insurance for any requirements about key holders or unattended access. If you are unsure what your cleaner has in place, ask directly rather than assume. See what to do if a cleaner breaks something for how to handle damage.
Building trust over time
Good cleaners want to be trusted and understand why you might be careful. A short message at the end of each visit saying it is done and the property is locked builds confidence for both sides. Through Compito, you can message providers in the booking, which keeps arrangements and confirmations in one place. Our safety page and trust page explain what verification covers.
When things feel wrong
If something goes missing or you feel uncomfortable, stay calm. Check the obvious places, then raise it politely with the cleaner and, if unresolved, contact support. For serious concerns such as theft, you may need to report to the police. Keep records of dates, messages and what happened.
A short written access agreement
You do not need a formal contract, but a few lines saved in your messages help. Cover the following:
- Who holds keys or codes, and how many copies exist.
- Where a key is kept between visits and who may enter the property.
- How the cleaner confirms arrival and departure.
- What to do if the alarm triggers or a lock is stiff.
- What happens if keys or codes are lost, including who covers the lock change.
- Whether anyone else may enter, such as a partner, friend or a substitute cleaner.
Substitutes and teams
If a cleaner works for a company or sends a colleague when they are ill, you are letting a different person into your home. Ask in advance who may attend, and ask to be told the name of any substitute. Do not share codes with anyone you have not agreed to. A good cleaner will understand this.
Flats, shared entrances and rentals
In a block with a shared door, the cleaner may need a fob, buzzer code or concierge arrangement as well as your own key. Check with the managing agent first. If you rent, read your tenancy agreement: some landlords restrict giving keys to third parties or ask to be told.
Practical habits
- Change key safe codes after any change of cleaner, and every few months anyway.
- Do not store the key safe code in a message thread that others can read.
- Keep a spare out of sight of the street, in a place that is not obvious.
- Keep a note of who has what, so a missing key can be traced quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to give a cleaner a key?
Yes, very common for regular cleaning, particularly when both adults work. Many cleaners have keys to several homes.
What if the cleaner loses the key?
Ask them to tell you immediately. Depending on the situation, you may want to change the lock barrel. Agree upfront who bears the cost of replacement.
Should I tell my insurer?
Check your policy wording or ask your insurer. Some policies have requirements around key holders and unattended access.
Can a cleaner let themselves in without me knowing?
Only if you have agreed it. Ask them to message when they arrive and when they leave so you always know who is in your home and for how long.