Restricted Keys Explained

The problem it solves

An ordinary key can be copied by anyone, anywhere, in a couple of minutes. Over the life of a block of flats or a business premises that means tenants, ex-tenants, cleaners, contractors and their friends can all hold working keys to the communal doors, and nobody has any record of it. Changing the locks resets the count to zero, but only until the first resident has a spare cut.

How a restricted system works

A restricted key uses a patented key profile. The manufacturer only supplies blanks to locksmiths who hold the registration for that profile, and the patent makes it unlawful for anyone else to make them. Each system is then registered to a named organisation and a list of authorised keyholders. When someone wants a key cut, the locksmith checks the register, records the key number, cuts it and sends it to the registered address. Nobody else can obtain one.

The result is a key count you can actually trust. When a tenant leaves, their key either comes back or you know exactly which key is unaccounted for.

What it means day to day

Keys take a few days rather than a few minutes, because they come from the registered locksmith. Most clients keep a small stock of spares.
Keys cost more than high-street copies, because the blanks are controlled and each one is recorded.
Only the people on the register can order. If a resident asks for a key, they are directed to the managing agent, not to us.
Registered keyholders can order online through our key request form.

Restricted keys and master key suites

The two are usually combined in a managed building. The master key suite decides which key opens which door: a resident's key opens the front door, the bin store and their own flat; the cleaner's key opens the communal doors only; the site manager's key opens everything. The restricted section then makes sure none of those keys can be copied without authorisation. Designing the suite is where the thinking goes: who needs access to what, how the building might be extended, and how many spare positions to leave for future doors.

Questions to ask before you choose one

How long does the patent have left? When it expires the profile becomes freely available. We fit systems with long remaining life and tell you the date.
Who holds the register, and what happens if you change locksmith? You should own the system's records and be able to transfer them.
What is the turnaround and price for extra keys? Get it in writing.
Can it be extended? A suite designed with spare capacity avoids re-keying the whole building when a new door or block is added.

Changing over an existing building

Most of our restricted-key installations are in occupied buildings. We survey every door, design the suite, then change the cylinders in a planned sequence and issue new keys to residents through the managing agent, so there is never a moment when someone is locked out. For a typical block it is a day or two on site.

Questions we're often asked

Can a restricted key be copied at a key-cutting kiosk?

No. The blank is patented and only supplied to the registered locksmith, so a kiosk or shoe repairer cannot obtain it. That is the whole point of the system.

How do I order more keys?

Only named keyholders on the register can order, using the key request form on this website or by calling the office. We check the request against the register before cutting and post the keys to the registered address.

What happens when the patent runs out?

Key patents typically last up to 20 years. When one expires, blanks become available to anyone and the protection weakens. We fit systems with long remaining patent life and tell you the date, so you can plan a changeover years in advance.

Is a restricted system the same as a master key suite?

No, but they are usually combined. A master key suite controls which key opens which door; a restricted key section controls who can get keys cut. Most blocks and businesses want both.