Whom can you trust with the keys during a renovation?
One named person with written authority, ideally the contractor's person responsible for the site, who signs for every key. Do not leave duplicates with neighbours, acquaintances and anyone else: the more copies, the harder it is to tell who was in the flat.
The keys to the flat, the building entrance, the mailbox, the storeroom and the parking are counted separately. The handover of keys is recorded in a receipt: who received them, which ones, when and until what date. Copies are made under control and numbered. When the works finish, the keys are returned by certificate and the lock cylinder is changed, because over the renovation the keys will have passed through many hands.
If you live abroad, the handover can be done by your representative under a power of attorney or by a courier service with the recipient's signature. The power of attorney and its limits are covered in our guide to the representative.
How is the crew's entry to the site recorded?
With a list of authorised people and an entry log. The contractor supplies a list of the people and firms allowed access; every entry and exit is written in a log on site or in a table kept by the person responsible. New people are admitted after approval and subcontractors arrive by list.
Technically the simplest is an electronic lock or a key safe with a code: each person gets his own code and the system keeps a log of entries. It is convenient when you are far away: if needed, a code is blocked in a minute, whereas a key has to be found. For the building entrance, also find out from the administrator or concierge how the workers get in and during what hours.
All agreements are written down: who is responsible for entry, during what hours the crew works, who locks up in the evening. This matters for security and for talking to neighbours: in Barcelona there are time restrictions on noisy works, and the building's rules are set by the comunidad.
How do you check that the crew locks up the site?
Through a closing ritual: at the end of the day the person responsible checks windows, water, electricity and the door, and sends you one photo of the locked door and a confirmation by message. It takes a minute, and the habit sets quickly.
Additional controls: the electronic lock's log with the time of the last locking, an alarm with an activation report, random checks by your representative at different times, a video call on request. Control should not become surveillance: the aim is that the flat is not left open and that you know who was in it and when.
Water matters too: after the working day the main stopcock is closed, especially during plumbing work and when the flat is unattended at weekends. Leak sensors with automatic shut-off are covered in one guide, and the overall security of a home with an absent owner in another.
Do you need a camera inside the flat during the works?
Usually cameras at the entrance and in the storage area are enough; filming inside, where people are working, raises legal questions. In Spain video surveillance of workers is governed by data-protection law: people must be warned by an information sign, and filming may be only for security, without sound and without private zones. Check the exact requirements with a data-protection lawyer.
A practical option: a camera on the front door and at the storeroom with cloud storage, plus recording while nobody is on the site, so that intrusion can be seen. Inside, progress is recorded with photos and video walk-throughs made by the person responsible; that is cheaper and more proper.
For valuables (paintings, jewellery, documents) it is better to take them out before starting than to guard them with a camera. If you do not know what to take out, draw up an inventory by room and photograph every item. Safes and secure rooms are covered in our guide to a safe at home.
How do you protect stone, doors and floors that are already installed?
Cover, limit access and do not leave works in the same rooms. Floors are protected in layers: film, cardboard or a dedicated protection sheet, and OSB or boards on top; stone is sealed in advance because dirt and water soak in. Corners, reveals and openings are covered with guards, doors with film and cardboard, and glass with marked film.
Organisational measures are just as important: finished rooms are locked with a separate key, no materials or tools are brought in, and work with dust, sanding and painting goes in another zone or ends before installation. The later fragile elements are fitted (fronts, handles, mirrors, ironmongery), the lower the risk of damage. That is why expensive finishing items are purchased for the last stage; we covered this in our guide to deliveries and storage.
After handover, the protection is removed in order and the surfaces are checked. How to look after the stone afterwards is described in our guide to natural stone care.
Where should materials and documents be kept?
Expensive materials and ironmongery are kept in a lockable room, or even at the supplier's warehouse until the installation date. Light fittings, taps, handles and appliances are easy to carry off and costly; delivering them on the day of installation solves the problem better than a lock. Large items are received against a delivery note, checking quantity and condition in the presence of the person responsible.
Documents. Original contracts, estimates and permits are not kept on site: they get dirty and lost. A working set of drawings lies on site, and the originals and the digital copy are with you and with the person responsible. A cloud folder with the contract, estimate, permits, drawings, photos of concealed works, invoices and certificates serves all parties and will be useful years later, for guarantee claims and insurance.
Delivery times, use of the lift and protection of common areas are agreed with the comunidad and the concierge. Whether permission for the renovation is needed and how to obtain it is covered in our guide to the comunidad's permission.
How does BCN YARD organise access and site protection?
We agree the access arrangements with you before work begins: who keeps the keys, how entry is recorded, who locks up the site and how finished surfaces are protected. One person responsible for the site runs these arrangements and reports to you in Russian or Spanish. Write to us: after the visit and survey we will prepare the estimate and the access arrangements for your case.
Frequently asked questions
Whom can I trust with the keys during the renovation?
To one named representative or the person responsible on site, who signs for each key. Duplicates are not handed out, the number of copies is tracked and the lock cylinder is changed at the end. If you are far away, use an electronic lock or a key safe with a separate code for each person.
What should I do if something goes missing from the site?
Record the loss on the day you find it: a photo, an inventory, the time and the list of authorised people. Tell the person responsible in writing, then check the entry log and the liability clauses of the contract. If materials bought by the contractor are missing, the contract decides; if they are your belongings, the inventory proves them. Insurance comes into play according to the policy.
Can you live in the flat during the renovation, and is it safer?
In a full renovation you normally cannot live in the flat: dust, noise, water and power cuts. If part of the flat stays inhabited, it needs closed zoning, separate keys and a clear programme. Security does not rise as a result: outsiders in the home always require access rules and protection of belongings.