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How to fit a key safe

Updated: October 2026

How to fit a key safe, for the KeySafe C500 Pro and P500 Pro, means the supplied screws into brick or concrete, not a plug from the drawer. Render, an unclear tenancy, and a lost code with no override leave that line behind. Our [key safe comparison](/hub/safes-and-secure-storage/key-safe) is the product set. Which box to buy is on the [buying guide](/hub/safes-and-secure-storage/key-safe/sub/key-safe-buying-guide). This page is the drill, the lease, and when you stop. Compiled on 16 October 2026 from maker install notes. No fitting was tested on a wall. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How to fit a key safe, for the KeySafe C500 Pro and P500 Pro, means the supplied screws into brick or concrete, not a plug from the drawer.

Our top picks

KeySafe KeySafe C500 Pro

Best overall

KeySafe KeySafe C500 Pro
9.4/10about £67.96
View offer
KeySafe KeySafe P500 Pro

Rank 2

KeySafe KeySafe P500 Pro
8.4/10about £93.95
View offer
Tamo ark Tamo

Rank 3

Tamo ark Tamo
7.2/10about £128.95
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Brick or concrete, and the supplied screws
  2. 2.Render is not a maybe
  3. 3.Tenancy is not one rule
  4. 4.When to stop

Brick or concrete, and the supplied screws

Rawlplugs behind screws that are meant to cut into masonry are the usual mistake. The C500 and P500 line used here holds for brick or concrete and the screws in the box. Open the box before you substitute a softer screw. The maker’s note says the fixings are inside. Mark the hole centres on the face of the brick, not in the mortar. Drill 5 mm, at least 7 mm deeper than the 6×60 mm screw, and clear the dust. Keep the box at least 15 cm from a corner. Drive the supplied screws by hand until snug. A powered driver that keeps going after the box sits flush can crack the lug. The P500 adds an anti-tamper screw over the code card. That screw wants a Torx T15 driver, and there is no override key if you lose the code. Set the code before the box is on the wall, in daylight, with the card still in your hand.

Render is not a maybe

A 10 mm render coat is not a small exception. The DIY guidance used here for these Pro boxes says render and pebbledash are not suitable. The rating is for the wall the screws bite. If the brick is behind render and you cannot reach sound masonry with the supplied screws as the sheet describes, stop. The ark Tamo is a different model. A maker note has claimed render screws for that box. That claim does not move across to the C500 or the P500, and it does not assign the Tamo an A5 or A10. The Amazon Tamo listing still prints neither code. If your wall is render and you wanted the accredited pair, you need a different wall or a different plan, not a longer screw.
KeySafe KeySafe C500 Pro

Testsieger

KeySafe KeySafe C500 Pro
9.4/10about £67.96
View offer

Tenancy is not one rule

There is no single UK rule that says a tenant may or may not drill. Dacorum has pointed people at brick and at permission. Rotherham and Anchor have their own wording. A communal block is often stricter, because the wall may not be yours to alter. If the lease is unclear, get written consent before the first hole. Write down what you asked and what came back. Height, light, and who holds the code belong on the carers page. Do not drill a rented wall until the person who can say yes has said yes in a form you can keep.

When to stop

Stop if the wall is the wrong material, if the tenancy is unclear, or if you cannot drive the supplied screws without forcing them. Do not reuse screws that have already dulled. A second hole next to a failed one weakens the brick. Stop if you have lost the code on a C500, a P500, or a Tamo. Those listings show no override key. The ARK GUARD PRO XL Mk2 does have an override key, and the specification lines still do not show Secured by Design or an LPS code. That is not a method for opening these three. If the code is gone, the next step is the owner and, if needed, a locksmith you have called. Tell the insurer before you rely on the box. A claim can fail when a key from the box was used and the door shows no damage.

Common questions

Can I use rawlplugs if the supplied screws feel short?
No, not if you want the C500 or P500 line to mean what the sheet says. Those screws are meant to cut into brick or concrete. A plug changes the fixing.
What size hole should I drill?
5 mm, at least 7 mm deeper than the 6×60 mm screw, on the face of the brick, at least 15 cm from a corner. Clear the dust, then tighten by hand until snug.
Is render acceptable if it is only thin?
The guidance used here says render and pebbledash are not suitable for the C500 and P500. A thin coat is still not the tested wall. Stop rather than drilling through and hoping.
Do I need the landlord’s permission?
If you are not sure the wall is yours to alter, yes, in writing. Councils and housing providers do not share one sentence. Dacorum, Rotherham, and Anchor are examples of different wordings, not a national yes.
Can I refit the box with the same screws?
Not if the screws are dulled or the holes are already tired. A second attempt in the same holes is a weaker fixing, not a repair of the tested one.
What if I lose the code?
The C500, P500, and Tamo listings show no override key. Stop. Do not look for a bypass. An override key on a different, unaccredited box is not a method for these three.
Should I tell the insurer?
Yes, before you treat the box as part of how the home is secured. A theft claim can fail when a key from the box was used and the door shows no damage.

Related pages

Best key safe

Key safe

Key safe buying guide: job, wall, hands, then price

Key safe for carers: height, the door and the code

Push button or dial key safe: order, count, or dial

Sources

Public UK sources on Secured by Design, LPS 1175, fitting, and insurance. Listing prices, star lines, and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk pages for these twelve ASINs. Prices move.

  1. Secured by Design, standards explained (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  2. LPCB guide to LPS 1175 Issues 5 to 8 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  3. C500 Pro datasheet (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  4. Secured by Design news on the C500 and P500 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  5. Key safe company, DIY installation (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  6. Key safe product information (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  7. Derbyshire key-safe information sheet (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  8. MoneySuperMarket, key safes and home insurance (retrieved 16 October 2026)