Key management for second homes in Switzerland: who actually holds your keys?
The quiet risks of handing out keys
Over the years, keys accumulate in a surprising number of places: the cleaner, the gardener, the neighbour, the last trades company – and nobody really knows who has access anymore. When damage occurs, the tedious search for responsibility begins. If you do not live on site permanently, you lose control of your own home.
What a key holding service actually does
A professional key holding service stores your keys coded and locked, organises every access and documents it completely. Instead of handing out keys, you only hand out one phone number – your dedicated contact handles the rest.
- Coded, locked key storage with no address tags
- Access organisation for tradespeople, deliveries and authority appointments
- A protocol for every access: who, when, for what
- Response to alarms, water damage and emergencies – also at night
Documented instead of trust on demand
The real gain is not the keyring but the documentation: every access is logged, every irregularity reported with photos. Especially for owners abroad, this creates something impossible with neighbour keys – traceability. And in case of damage you have evidence instead of memory gaps.
Key holding, home watch and vacation home management: how they work together
Key holding is the foundation: secure keys, documented access. Home watch adds regular inspection visits through the unoccupied property. Full vacation home management additionally coordinates household staff, seasonal changes and the preparation for your arrival. Many owners start with key holding – and extend the care once they notice how much calmer a second home becomes.
How to get started with a key holding service
Getting started is deliberately simple: an initial conversation, an emergency plan with your priorities, a documented key handover. From then on, your key is stored securely with us – and you never have to search for someone who "still has a key" again. Swiss PA Services looks after owners in Zurich, Zug, Lucerne, Geneva, Lugano and the Alpine regions – discreetly, replying within 24 hours.