Does my neighbour ever see my lockbox code?

No. Your code is never typed into the app, never stored by us, and never shown to your key partner. You set it on the lockbox itself when you fit it, and it stays in your head. The app only records that a lockbox is installed — never how to open it.

What happens when I'm locked out?

You message your key partner through the app, walk over, and they bring you your key from their lockbox — or tell you where on their property the box is fitted, if you've agreed that in advance. You open your own lockbox with your own code, take your key, and let yourself in.

What if my key partner moves house?

End the pairing in the app, collect your key, and reset your lockbox code before pairing with someone new. Resetting the code takes seconds on most models and means nobody who previously knew anything about the arrangement can open it.

Can I pair with more than one neighbour?

Yes — alongside a simple pair, Key Buddy supports a three-way chain where each household holds a different neighbour's key. It's a good option on quieter streets where a direct two-way swap isn't possible.

Which lockbox should I buy?

Any solid, wall-mounted combination lockbox works. We keep a shortlist of models members use on our recommended lockboxes page, including a police-preferred high-strength option.

Key Buddy houses with lockboxes swapping spare keys

Your spare key, in a secure lockbox, a few doors away

Key Buddy pairs you with a nearby neighbour. You each fit a lockbox and place a spare key in the other's — without ever knowing their code.

How a swap works

Match by distance

We show neighbours within your chosen radius — never exact addresses. Here you can select options like a doorbell camera or lockbox type.

Both confirm the agreement

Before pairing, you each agree to host a lockbox and to check it monthly.

Fit your lockbox

Mount the Key Buddy lockbox by your door. Your partner will set their own code.

Swap the keys

You place your spare key inside their box and set a new code; they do the same in yours.

Codes stay private

Neither of you knows the other's code. A key is only released when you share it.

Check in monthly

Once a month you both confirm your lockbox looks untampered with. Miss it and your match is flagged.

Create your account

Accounts keep the network accountable — you'll add your street, postcode and lockbox details so we can match you safely.

Why swap spare keys with a neighbour?

Lockouts happen to everyone — a door that clicks shut behind you, a key left at work, a bag lost on the way home. An emergency locksmith in the UK typically costs £80–£150, and far more at night or on weekends. A spare key held a few doors away turns an expensive, hours-long ordeal into a two-minute walk.

Leaving a key under a plant pot or doormat is the first place a burglar checks, and many home insurance policies won't pay out if there's no sign of forced entry. Key Buddy is built around a safer idea: your spare key lives inside a locked, wall-mounted lockbox on a trusted neighbour's property, and their spare key lives in yours. Neither of you ever learns the other's code.

Because both households hold each other's key, the arrangement is balanced — you both have the same incentive to keep the code private and the lockbox secure. Monthly check-ins in the app confirm the key is still in place, so you're never caught out by a key that quietly went missing.

Why it stays secure

Your lockbox code is never stored or shared — not even with us.
A held key is useless without the code or address.
Addresses stay hidden until you both accept.

Common questions

Does my neighbour ever see my lockbox code?: No. Your code is never typed into the app, never stored by us, and never shown to your key partner. You set it on the lockbox itself when you fit it, and it stays in your head. The app only records that a lockbox is installed — never how to open it.
What happens when I'm locked out?: You message your key partner through the app, walk over, and they bring you your key from their lockbox — or tell you where on their property the box is fitted, if you've agreed that in advance. You open your own lockbox with your own code, take your key, and let yourself in.
What if my key partner moves house?: End the pairing in the app, collect your key, and reset your lockbox code before pairing with someone new. Resetting the code takes seconds on most models and means nobody who previously knew anything about the arrangement can open it.
Can I pair with more than one neighbour?: Yes — alongside a simple pair, Key Buddy supports a three-way chain where each household holds a different neighbour's key. It's a good option on quieter streets where a direct two-way swap isn't possible.
Which lockbox should I buy?: Any solid, wall-mounted combination lockbox works. We keep a shortlist of models members use on our recommended lockboxes page, including a police-preferred high-strength option.