In short: Key management means storing and exchanging property keys securely away from the property. We partner with KeyNest, whose network of over 5,000 Points puts a secure key exchange within minutes of every home we manage.

Updated 29 September 2026

The key facts

• 80 minutes is what a London landlord spends on average delivering keys to a tenant or letting a contractor in, according to KeyNest's own data.
• Over 5,000 KeyNest Points operate in 24/7 convenience stores, cafes and hotels, with collection by a secure 6-digit code sent by email or SMS.
• Every key movement is logged. Keys are anonymously security-coded, so no outside party can connect a key to an address, and the owner is notified of every collection and return.

Hello Neighbour is delighted to partner with KeyNest for secure key management. If lettings is new to you, key management simply describes looking after property keys away from the property itself. Basic tools like lockboxes spread when Airbnb took off and again during lockdown; today a reliable key management service is an essential part of safe, secure lettings.

What is KeyNest?

KeyNest is a global network of key exchange points designed for property owners, managers and hosts, with over 5,000 Points in 24/7 convenience stores, cafes and hotels across major cities.

You deposit your keys at a Point near the property. Whoever needs them, a guest, cleaner or contractor, receives the Point's location and a secure 6-digit collection code by email or SMS, collects the key from the Point's staff, and the key owner is notified of every movement. KeyNest also works for long-term emergency key storage: a spare can sit safely in a local Point until it is needed.

Why do Hello Neighbour and KeyNest work together?

Because we operate from one central HQ in South London rather than a string of local offices, storing every landlord's keys in one place would mean viewing agents, contractors and tradespeople travelling to us for collection, exactly the inefficiency high street agents wrestle with, since nobody's office is convenient for every property.

KeyNest's network gives us a secure Point within five minutes of every property we look after through our property management service. Every key carries a full audit trail and an anonymous security code, so no external party can tell which key belongs to which address. Points open outside office hours and at weekends, which means quick access for viewing agents and contractors, and for tenants who lock themselves out without paying emergency locksmith fees. It is also how our hosted viewings run without the landlord needing to be present.

Why use a professional key management service?

A London landlord spends an average of 80 minutes delivering keys to a tenant or letting a contractor in, according to KeyNest's proprietary data, and doing it in person adds commuting cost plus on-site time that surveyor and contractor visits often stretch without warning.

Lockboxes do not solve the problem. More councils are banning them in public spaces, so a landlord risks a fine for installing one outside the property, and the boxes themselves are notoriously easy to break into. A landlord's responsibility is to keep the property, tenanted or void, both safe and accessible to designated contractors, property managers and photographers, and the same applies to mid-tenancy inspections, which need reliable access without disrupting the tenant. Our guide to finding a tenant yourself covers where key handover sits in the process.