More and more, people have formed the habit of sharing their keys with those outside the family. This can create certain problems. For example, keys could be copied or duplicated. An electronic lock, meanwhile, can address this problem by revoking and reissuing digital credentials.
More and more, people have formed the habit of sharing their keys with those outside the family. This can create certain problems. For example, keys could be copied or duplicated. An electronic lock, meanwhile, can address this problem by revoking and reissuing digital credentials.
That was the point raised by
Allegion, which conducted a survey jointly with Wakefield Research on Americans’ key management habits. The survey found that among an estimated 1,000 U.S. adults 18 and older, 63 percent report that at least one person who doesn’t currently live with them has a key to their home. For 18 percent of Americans, three or more people outside of those they live with have keys to their home, and nearly 1 in 10 (8 percent) admit they don’t remember how many people have a key to their residence.
The survey also identified several other trends. For example, a full third of Americans admit they have made a copy of a key to a house or apartment they were renting without asking for permission from the property manager or landlord. Millennials are more likely to do this, as 47 percent have made a copy of a key without asking permission. Also, many Americans hide their key right outside their home. Specifically, 21 percent of Americans hide their key under a plant, 17 percent around the front door and 10 percent by the back door, the study showed.
Further, despite their attempts to set boundaries with their children, parents are less restrictive about granting access to their home. In fact, 24 percent of parents reported that three or more people outside of those they live with have keys to their home, compared to only 15 percent of non-parents, the survey found.
Needless to say, leaving keys with people outside the family can cause trouble. “There’s the possibility that those keys could be lost or copied, making the resident susceptible to their keys falling into the wrong hands,” said Ann Matheis, Marketing Director at Allegion. “Furthermore, fellow residents of a multi-family building do not necessarily know who other residents are sharing their keys with.”
However, people do demand the flexibility of leaving keys to people that they trust for various purposes. That’s where Matheis said an electronic lock can come in handy.
“We live in a world where people hire outside help to walk their dog, clean their home and more while they’re away,” she said. “Electronic locks address this problem by allowing only those that are authorized to enter to use a smart credential. If a traditional key is lost or copied, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to know who has access to the building. With electronic locks, if a smart credential is lost or misplaced, the property manager can simply revoke access and reissue a new credential without having to replace or rekey the locks. Not only is this more secure for residents, but it saves a lot of time and energy for property managers. Schlage offers a variety of electronic locks that address different needs for single- and multi-family residents and property managers.”
The survey follows a study that Allegion released in August showing around 75 percent of Americans felt uncertain about whether or not they locked their doors, and more than two-in-five Americans have experienced or know someone who has experienced a break-in. These findings also indicate that having an electronic lock that allows residents to check the status of their door – and lock or unlock it – via an application on their smart device will help residents feel safer and more at ease, Matheis said.