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Key Handover Receipt for Household Employees - Free Printable Template

Giving your cleaner a key? You need proof of handover. Fill out our form, print, sign - done in 30 seconds.

Updated: August 2026·Reading time: 3 min

Create key handover receipt

Two ways: print a blank form and fill it in by hand - or fill it out online below, PDF generated automatically.

  1. 1

    Choose a form

    Download a blank PDF to fill in by hand - or fill it out online below for an automatically generated PDF.

  2. 2

    Enter the details

    Enter the employer's and employee's names, the date, and the number and type of keys - by hand or on screen.

  3. 3

    Sign & keep a copy

    Both parties sign the receipt. Each keeps a copy - ready as proof in case of loss or an insurance claim.

📄 Blank form

To print and fill in by hand - no need to fill anything in on screen.

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✏️ Fill in online

Enter the details, we automatically create the finished PDF ready to sign.

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Document language

Key type

Quick picks:

Conditions

Download PDF

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Send by email to the other party

We email the signed PDF - the other side can counter-sign at their leisure.

Preview - Deutsch

Schlüsselübergabe - Quittung

Arbeitgeber/in: [Name]
[Adresse]

Arbeitnehmer/in: [Name]

Datum der Übergabe: 4. August 2026

-

[Name] hat die oben aufgeführten Schlüssel am 4. August 2026 an [Name] übergeben.

Bedingungen:

  • Return all keys at end of employment
  • Liability for gross negligence (max CHF 500 lock replacement)
  • Loss must be reported immediately
Datum: _________________
Arbeitgeber/in
Datum: _________________
Arbeitnehmer/in

Nächster Schritt

Schlüsselübergaben und alle weiteren Arbeitsvertrags-Dokumente automatisch dokumentiert.

CHF 19.90/mo - flat · clino.ch

The receipt is ready - what now?

A PDF in your downloads folder is not yet proof. These four steps turn it into a document that counts in a dispute or an insurance claim.

  1. 1Print twice, both sign: The receipt only counts once employer and employee have signed by hand - one signed copy each.
  2. 2Date it the day of the handover: Put the date the key actually changed hands. Back-dated paperwork loses its value with insurers.
  3. 3File your copy with the employment contract: Keep it next to the contract for five years after the employment ends, which is how long claims from it can be raised (Art. 128 CO).
  4. 4Sign a second receipt on return: This one only covers the handover. On the last working day fill in the same form as a return - only then is the matter closed.

Mandatory details

Both full names, the date, the number and type of every key, and both signatures. Without a date or a signature the document is worthless as evidence.

Most common mistake

Printing a single copy and keeping it yourself. Someone who never received a copy can later deny ever having been given a key.

Employment ending? Record the key return in the termination letter

Why do you need a key handover receipt?

Three reasons why a simple receipt can save you a lot of trouble:

1

Proof of handover - if a key goes missing, you can prove who received it and when.

2

Protects both parties - both sides can prove the key was handed over or returned correctly.

3

Insurance requires it - after a break-in, insurers require proof of key handover.

4 practical tips for key handover

Always make 2 copies

Print the receipt twice - one copy for you, one for your household employee.

Note key numbers

If there's a number engraved on the key, write it in the notes field. This helps with identification.

Get a return receipt

When the employment ends, have the return confirmed on the same form - or print a new receipt for the return.

Change locks if keys aren't returned

If keys aren't returned after termination, have the locks changed - that's your responsibility as the property owner.

Confirm key handover

Maria

online

Hi Maria, quick confirmation: I handed you 2 keys today - front door and apartment. Can you confirm?

10:15

Yes, confirmed! Both keys received. Thanks!

10:22

Perfect, thanks! I've documented the receipt.

10:24
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a key receipt legally required?
No, there's no legal obligation. But without proof, you have no evidence in a dispute - especially for insurance claims. A receipt takes 30 seconds and can save you thousands of francs.
What if the key is lost?
Address it immediately and check whether the locks need to be replaced. With a receipt, you can prove the key was handed over. Without one, it's hard to make any claim.
Should I change the locks when the cleaner leaves?
If all keys are returned: not necessary. If keys are missing or the employment ended on bad terms: yes, change them to be safe.
Can I deduct lock change costs from the salary?
No. Art. 323b CO protects salary entitlement. You may not unilaterally deduct costs from wages - not even for a lock change. A separate damages claim would be needed, but is difficult to enforce in practice.
Key receipt or key handover protocol (Schlüsselübergabeprotokoll) - is it the same?
Yes. Both terms refer to the same document - written proof that a key was handed over or returned. "Schlüsselübergabeprotokoll" is the term more common in real estate (moving in/out), "Schlüsselquittung" is the standard form for employment. Our generator above covers both cases.
Does the key receipt have to be signed?
Yes, otherwise it proves nothing. Without the recipient's signature the sheet only shows that you printed something. Both sides sign by hand and each keeps a signed copy. A photographed or scanned signature sent back by e-mail or WhatsApp also works in practice, as long as the reply clearly refers to this receipt.
How long is the receipt valid and when does it stop counting?
It records a moment in time, so it does not expire. Its job ends once the return has been signed off. Keep both receipts (handover and return) for five years after the employment ends: that is how long claims arising from the employment contract can be raised (Art. 128 CO). If the number of keys changes, issue a new receipt instead of correcting the old one.

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Salvador Jovells

Salvador Jovells, founder of Clino

Verified July 2026