Smart Locks for Home Care & Care Providers: A UK Guide
The short answer: replace the shared key safe code with a smart lock or smart key box. Give each carer their own card or code, limited to their visit times, and remove it the day they stop visiting. The unlock history shows which carer opened the door and when.
This guide covers which lock fits which door, how access works for a care team, and what to agree before you fit one.
Why care providers move away from key safes
- No shared code. A standard key safe uses one code for every carer, relief worker and family member, and it's rarely changed. A smart lock gives each person their own access.
- Remove access the same day. When a carer leaves or a rota changes, delete their card or code. You don't need to change the key safe code and tell everyone else.
- Access only at visit times. Codes and cards can be limited to set days and hours.
- A record of each entry. The unlock history shows which card or code was used, and when.
Which lock for which door
| The client's door | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC front door, where carers tap a card | TA-CY33 smart cylinder | Card and app only, so there's no code to remember. Swap only the cylinder. Anti-drill, anti-snap and anti-rotation protection. |
| uPVC front door, where carers use a code or fingerprint | TA-CY32 smart cylinder | Fingerprint, keypad, card, app and key. Swap only the cylinder. |
| Wooden or composite front door | TA-DL07 | Solid stainless steel, for up to 300 users. Fingerprint, code, card, app and key. |
| You can't change the lock (rented or social housing) | TA-KB10 smart key box | Replaces a standard key safe. The key stays inside, and each carer gets their own code or card. |
Not sure what the door has? Send us a photo and we'll tell you what fits.
How access works for a care team
- Regular carers. Issue each carer their own card, or a recurring code that only works at their visit times.
- Relief and agency staff. Send a one-time or time-limited code for the shift. It stops working on its own.
- Family members. Send them an eKey for their phone, or give them a permanent code of their own.
- Rota changes. Delete a carer's card or code the day they stop visiting. Nobody else's access changes.
- Checking visits. The unlock history shows when each card or code was used. It's an entry log, not a replacement for your care-visit monitoring system.
Do you need the Gateway G2? For a care provider, yes. With the TTLock Gateway G2 plugged in at the client's home, your office can add or remove a carer, unlock remotely and see entries as they happen. Without it, those changes need someone at the door by Bluetooth.
Supporting many clients? Use dryn
The TTLock app works door by door. When your team visits dozens of homes, keeping track of which carer can open which door gets hard.
Manage your locks with dryn instead. Give each guest, tenant or contractor their own access for exactly the dates they need, and it switches off automatically when their time is up. Add or remove someone once, and every lock across your properties follows.
All locks on this page are dryn-ready. Join dryn early access
Before you fit a smart lock: checklist
- Agree it with the person and their family, and get the homeowner's or landlord's permission before changing a lock.
- The door must always open easily from the inside without a key or code.
- Plan emergency access. If the lock has a mechanical key, keep it with a named key holder. Make sure your emergency contacts know how to get in.
- Follow your organisation's key-holding and access policy, and record which card belongs to which carer.
- Check the battery level in the app regularly, and change batteries on a routine visit before they run low.
Frequently asked questions
Can I limit a carer to their visit times?
Yes. Create a recurring code for their days and hours, or give their card a start and end date in the TTLock app.
What if the person can't use a code or fingerprint?
They can use a card instead. The TA-CY32 and TA-DL07 also have a mechanical backup key.
How do I remove a carer's access?
Delete their card, code or eKey in the app. Do this at the door by Bluetooth, or from your office with the Gateway G2. Nobody else is affected.
Can family members get in?
Yes. Send them an eKey for their phone, or give them their own code. You can cancel either at any time.
Is the unlock history enough to verify visits?
No. It records when a card or code opened the door, which helps when you need to check something. Use it alongside your care-visit monitoring system, not instead of it.
What happens if the batteries run flat?
The app shows the battery level. If the batteries do run out, most locks have a USB emergency port so a power bank gets you in, and locks with a mechanical key can still be opened with it.
Need help choosing?
Send us a photo of the door and tell us how many clients and carers you support. We'll suggest the locks most likely to fit. Email info@traceableaccess.com or call/WhatsApp +44 (0)333 772 3028, Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm (UK time). Every order comes with free worldwide delivery. See our refund policy for returns.
Also see: smart locks for landlords · smart locks for holiday lets · who our smart locks are for
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