Giving a dog walker your house key: how to do it safely

Is it safe to give a dog walker your house key?

Yes, if you know beforehand who holds the key, how it's stored and what happens if it's lost or when you stop. The risk rarely sits in the key itself. It sits in vague arrangements: a key with an address tag floating around, a walker who hands it to a colleague, or a spare that's still in someone's drawer a year after you stopped.

So the questions that matter are practical ones. Who exactly comes in? Where does your key live when it isn't being used? Is there anything on it that tells a finder which house it opens? And do you get it back when you stop? A walker who answers those straight away, and specifically, has thought about it.

Spare key, key safe or smart lock: which is safest?

All three can be safe if you set them up properly. A spare key is the simplest, and its safety depends mostly on how the walker stores it. A key safe is handy when several people need access, provided it's a certified model. A smart lock gives you the most control but takes the most preparation.

What the Dutch police and the PKVW advise

The Dutch police are clear about it: don't hide a house key under the doormat or in a flowerpot, because those aren't secret places to a burglar. And don't put an address tag on your key ring. The same goes for the key you give a walker: a tag with your dog's name or a code is fine, your street and house number never.

For key safes, the Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW), the police-backed label run by the Dutch Centre for Crime Prevention and Safety (CCV), advises always choosing an SKG-certified box rated at least two stars for burglary resistance. Have it fitted by a PKVW-registered company, place it out of sight and manage the code carefully. The advice was written for care workers who need access to older people's homes, but it applies one to one to a dog walker.

What should you agree before the walker first comes in?

Agree how the walker gets in and out, what they do and don't do inside, and who gets called if something goes wrong. Walk through the house together at the meet-and-greet. Ten minutes at the front door saves a lot of confusion later.

• Alarm. If your system supports separate user codes, give the walker their own and delete it later. Say whether a monitoring centre or the neighbours get alerted when it goes off.
• Which door. Front or back, and how it should be locked again: deadlocked, or just pulled shut.
• Other pets. A cat that mustn't get out, a second dog staying home, a rabbit in the hallway. Say exactly which doors must stay closed.
• Where things are. Lead, harness, poo bags, a towel for a wet dog, and where your dog should stay after the walk.
• Emergency contacts. Your number, a backup contact nearby and your vet's details.
• Unexpectedly home. What if you or someone you live with is in? A short message beforehand saves a fright on both sides.
• Neighbours. Do they know someone takes your dog out on set days? It saves suspicion.

Write the arrangements down, on paper or in a message you both keep. It doesn't need to be a legal contract; the point is that you both remember the same version.

Are you insured if something goes wrong?

Usually, but it depends on your own policy. According to the Consumentenbond, the Dutch consumer association, theft from your home doesn't need signs of forced entry to be covered. It names one exception: a basic policy that does require them. Always report a theft to the police, because your insurer will ask for proof.

Most overviews say nothing about keys you handed to someone yourself. So ask your own insurer before you give a key away:

1. 1Is theft from my home without signs of forced entry covered?
2. 2Does it matter that someone else holds a key with my permission?
3. 3Are the costs of a new lock cylinder covered if a key is lost or stolen?
4. 4Does my policy set requirements for my locks or for a key safe?

Ask the walker about their insurance too. We have business liability insurance with Centraal Beheer, which includes the dogs in our care and covers both walking and boarding.

What should you ask any dog walker about your key?

Ask at the first meeting, before you hand anything over. A reliable walker answers without hesitating, and ideally already has a fixed routine.

1. 1Who comes into my home with my key? Always the same person, or does it vary?
2. 2Where do you keep my key, and is there anything on it that shows my address?
3. 3Do you make copies, or ever give the key to someone else?
4. 4What happens if the key goes missing: when do I hear, and who pays for a new cylinder?
5. 5How do I get the key back if I stop, or if you stop?
6. 6How do you handle my alarm, other pets and the doors?
7. 7Are you insured, and for what exactly?

For more questions to ask a walker and what to look for at the first meeting, read how to choose a dog walker. Working full days and mainly looking for a fixed midday walk? Read a dog walker when you work full time.

Frequently asked questions about your house key and a dog walker