Keeping spare key under the mat is not a good idea

Nearly a fifth of Scots will admit to having left their home unlocked when they have gone out.

That’s the surprising detail from MoneySuperMarket’s latest research, which analysed Brits’ habits when it comes to locking up their homes.

Their statistics say 1,085,000 people in Scotland have left their doors unlocked when no-one is at home.

The survey says that on average, 3.4 house keys are lost per household – and over half (55%) of Scots don’t get their locks changed after they lose their house keys.

Leaving keys with a neighbour or under a door mat are the top two hiding places for spare keys in Scotland.

And shockingly, across Great Britain, more than half are unaware their home insurance policy could be negatively affected, or even invalidated, if their house is burgled by someone using a lost key or a key left in a ‘hiding place’ outside the property, many could be taking big risks without understanding the potential consequences.

A MoneySuperMarket spokesperson said: ‘Finding hidden keys at the address of the property is like picking up money in the street for burglars. And thieves are known to scout around gardens looking for spare keys left under plants pots and door mats.

‘That’s why it’s so important to look after keys and avoid them falling into the wrong hands.

‘If someone burgles your house without forcing entry, you might not be able to claim on your home insurance, or your claim might not be paid in full as there’s no evidence of a crime being committed.

‘So it’s really important to ensure your home is properly secured and that all spare keys are accounted for. When a set is lost, the best thing to do is change the locks – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.’

For more information, visit MoneySuperMarket’s new “Could Your House Keys Affect Your Home Insurance” page for more in-depth findings on British house key habits.