The Key Copy Problem
Copying a key costs €5–€15 at any key-cutting shop, so money isn't the issue. The real problems are subtler. First, you lose track. Who has a copy? Does your ex still have one from three years ago? Did you ever get the cleaner's copy back? Second, high-security keys (SKG-certified in the Netherlands, VdS in Germany) can only be copied with a security card. If you lose the card, you can't make new copies without replacing the entire cylinder.
Then there's the logistics. Every time someone moves, changes their routine, or loses a key, you're back at the key shop. It's a slow, analog process that doesn't match how we manage the rest of our lives in 2026.
Traditional Options
Before smart locks, families had a few options. You could get multiple copies made at a locksmith or key-cutting kiosk. You could leave a spare with a trusted neighbor (the Dutch classic). Or you could use a combination lockbox mounted near the door.
Each of these works to a degree. But none of them solve the core issue: you have no visibility into who has access and no ability to change it quickly. If you need to revoke access from a family member, an ex-partner, or a former cleaner, you need to physically collect the key or change the lock.
Digital Access
A smart lock transforms physical keys into digital access rights. Instead of cutting a key, you tap a button in an app and grant someone access. Each person gets their own credential — a phone, a PIN code, a fingerprint, or an NFC fob — and you can see in the activity log exactly when they used it.
The powerful part is revocation. If someone should no longer have access, you tap another button and they're removed. No locksmith, no key collection, no awkward conversation. You can also set schedules — the cleaner's access only works on Thursdays between 9 AM and 1 PM, for example.
This is fundamentally different from key copies. With physical keys, giving access is permanent and invisible. With digital access, giving access is temporary and tracked.
How Nuki Handles Family Access
Nuki lets you create up to 200 individual access permissions, each with its own settings. For a typical family setup, you might configure it like this:
Parents get permanent, full access via the phone app, with Auto Unlock so the door opens automatically when they arrive home. Teenagers get a PIN code on the Keypad 2 NFC — no phone needed, no app to install, just a 6-digit code they can remember. Younger children get a Nuki Fob (a small keychain tag) that unlocks the door with a tap. The cleaner gets scheduled access: their code only works on their cleaning days during specific hours.
Every entry is logged. You can see when the kids got home from school, confirm the cleaner arrived on time, and know if the door was left unlocked. It's not about surveillance — it's about peace of mind that the house is secure.
Practical Setup for Families
The most common Nuki family setup uses the Smart Lock Pro Pro plus the Keypad 2 NFC. The lock handles phone-based access (parents), and the keypad handles PIN codes and fingerprints (kids, cleaner, family members without the app).
Setting up takes about 20 minutes total: 15 minutes for the lock installation and 5 minutes for the keypad. After that, adding or removing family members is a 30-second task in the app.
One practical tip: give each family member their own code, even if they could share one. This way, the activity log shows who specifically opened the door, not just that "someone" entered the code. It also means you can revoke one person's access without affecting everyone else.