SECURE KEY MANAGEMENT
Key Holding Service
Let a trained security company hold your keys and attend your premises when something goes wrong, so your staff do not have to get out of bed at 3am.
WHAT IS KEY HOLDING?
A professional key holding service for your business
Most alarm systems and insurers ask for named keyholders who can be contacted and attend the premises when needed. Often that falls to a manager or business owner, who then has to drive to an empty building at night and walk in without knowing what is inside.
Our key holding service removes that burden. We keep a set of your keys securely and become your nominated keyholder. When access is needed, whether because of an alarm, a call from the police or a fault in the building, a licensed Pride K9 officer attends with your keys instead.
We operate the service in accordance with British Standards and are contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our team is fully vetted and trained to handle keys and site access responsibly.
KEY MANAGEMENT
How we keep your keys secure
Holding someone's keys is a position of trust. Our procedures are designed so your keys are always accounted for.
- Secure key storage protected by access control and CCTV
- Every key movement logged, with strict record-keeping
- Keys issued only to vetted, authorised officers
- Agreed procedures for access, lock-up and returning keys
WHEN WE ATTEND
What our keyholding officers deal with
A keyholder is needed for more than alarms. Our officers attend for a range of reasons.
Police or monitoring centre requests
When the police or an alarm receiving centre needs access to your premises, we attend with the keys.
Building faults
Burst pipes, fire alarms, faulty shutters or power problems out of hours.
Securing after an incident
Checking the building, securing it and waiting for contractors such as glaziers or locksmiths.
Contractor access
Letting in maintenance teams or engineers outside your working hours.
Lock-up and unlock
Opening or securing premises at agreed times, often combined with a mobile patrol.
Find out more
KEY HOLDING & ALARM RESPONSE
How key holding and alarm response work together
The two services are closely linked but not the same. Key holding means we hold your keys and act as your nominated keyholder, able to get into the building whenever access is needed. Alarm response is the act of sending an officer to investigate when your intruder or fire alarm activates.
Most clients take both, because an officer who arrives at an alarm with your keys can check inside as well as outside. You can read how an activation is handled on our alarm response page. We work closely with CCTV and alarm monitoring control rooms, so when an activation comes through we are alerted and attend your site. Every attendance is recorded and reported back to you.
SETTING UP
Starting a key holding contract
Initial call
Tell us about your premises, your alarm system and who currently holds the keys.
Site survey and instructions
We note entry points, alarm codes, hazards and your preferred contacts, then agree written instructions.
Key collection
We collect and log your keys, then register as your keyholder with your alarm company or monitoring centre.
24/7 cover
From that point, our officers are available day and night to attend on your behalf.
WHO USES IT
Keyholding for offices, warehouses, shops and empty buildings
Our key holding service suits any business that would rather not send its own staff to an alarm or an out-of-hours problem. It is widely used by warehouse and industrial sites, shops and offices, and by owners of empty buildings who need someone reliable to attend. For multi-site operators it gives one point of contact for every location, with the same procedures applied at each property. It is also useful for businesses whose managers live some distance from the premises, or where the people named as keyholders change often. Handing the role to a security company means the contact details your alarm company holds stay current. We cover sites across the UK from our Walsall head office, and you can check coverage on our areas we cover page.
FAQs
Key holding FAQs
What does a keyholding company do?
A keyholding company stores a set of your keys securely and acts as your nominated keyholder. When access to your premises is needed, for example after an alarm, at the request of the police or because of a building fault, a trained officer attends with the keys. It means you and your staff are not called out at night.
How are my keys stored?
Your keys are held in secure storage protected by access control and surveillance cameras, so they cannot be reached by anyone without authorisation. Every movement is logged, and only vetted, authorised officers can take them out. Strict record-keeping means your keys are accounted for at all times.
What is the difference between key holding and alarm response?
Key holding is the service of holding your keys and being your registered keyholder. Alarm response is sending an officer to investigate when an alarm activates. They are often combined, so the attending officer can enter and check inside the building. Our alarm response page explains the response process in more detail.
Is key holding available 24 hours a day?
Yes. Emergencies do not keep office hours, so our key holding service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays. You, your staff or your monitoring centre can reach us at any time on 0344 800 7066, and an officer will be arranged to attend your premises with the keys.
Can I use key holding without an alarm system?
Yes. Many clients use key holding for contractor access, lock-up and unlock routines or to deal with building faults, even without a monitored alarm. It also pairs well with mobile patrols, where the patrol officer uses your keys to carry out internal checks.
Request a quote
Get a quote for key holding
Tell us about the site, the problem you are facing and the hours you need covered, and we will come back to you with a price and a plan. No obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0344 800 7066 any time — we answer 24 hours a day.
Call our experts today
Talk to a security specialist about your site, any time of day or night.
0344 800 7066Request a quote