Copying of keys for a rented apartment

I only have one set of keys to my apartment (i'm subletting a room from a friend, and have a german roommate). I'm going to be having a series of guests... and have been meaning to go have a set made, but have been hearing horror stories that it costs upwards of 50 euros and you need all sorts of signed papers. Is this true or am I just being neurotic based on minimal information? Any anecdotes?

And if its not that hard, any suggestions where to get it done in Berlin (pref. Nord-Neukolln/Kreuzberg)?

Thanks!

hi

as far as I know you will need permission from your housing company to become an extra set of keys try meister mint (?) or look around your area

I've made copies of all my keys (outside door apartment, apartment, parking garage, work, etc..) without any paperwork and costing about 3-5 Euros each depending on type of key. Try to get the key copied at Bauhaus or at a local mall area. The worst thing they will say is no thay can't and need paperwork.

It depends if this is a fancy master key system where you have one key for the house door and apartment door. Your house admin has to have the key cut and it can be expensive - most of all if you lose the key as the whole system has to be replaced.
If you have two separate keys there shouldn't be any problem, I had about three extra keys cut for my old place @ €5 each by Mr. Minit.

Have them made back in the UK. Thats what I did.

You can book a cheap flight return for less than €50 and have a day out.

I managed to get them done at Mister Minit at Galeria Kaufhof after other shops said no. No mention was made of paperwork.

We got our keys cut at the wal*mart near am hart, and it was about 15euro with no questions asked. Then once you have one key which has no stamps you can get more cut from anywhere?

Exactly!!!

i had a master key and it was bent when they gave it to me so i complained to get another one made and it would have cost me €25. those master keys are marked pretty clearly so you know if you need permission or not.

The key I had copied has numbers stamped on it...It is for the front door of the building. Maybe Mister Minit shouldn't have actually done it for me...but I'm glad they did!

Since we've been here we've copied keys that have no markings and some that were verbotten to copy. Neither time required paperwork and both times it was about E15/key. We went to our local locksmith guy around the corner. I haven't tried the mall, but if others have found cheaper, I'd do that!

Tiergarten_Tom

Mr. Minit won't cut registered keys, the fallout if they were reported would be too much and most of those keys have to ordered from the manufacturer or a specialist locksmith.

Yet, it is being done... I will show you the key in question Yeti.

The walls have ears and I'ld have to visit you in prison, Renia.

I got all mine done at Mr Minit too, although it was rather expensive (EUR 8 -something for 1 key), and they never asked for any paperwork. They offer 10% discount if you get more than 1 key cut, however they don't always mention this to you, so if you ask for it you get it.

Who knows if mine really is a "special security key"...? but I do know that my German neighbours told me I wouldn't be able to get copies without going through the owner.
@Yeti, if I'm going down, I'll take you with me.

Probably the best offer he has had this year.

Well it beats by a country mile the wink I got from the granny behind the counter at the bakers this morning.

She did have lovely Brötchen though.

Here a spare 'a' for anybody planning some creative quoting.

Fuck that ! I want to know where your hot baker is located at.

At least in Bavaria they wink at the bakery. Here in Berlin they only grunt.

hey-- so i finally went and tried to get my keys copied in my area (around sonnenallee/ hermannplatz) and there was certainly no shortage of locksmiths willing to copy my key without paperwork. The problem was my altbau is so alt that they have no model for a key so old! So i continue without copies. My roommate keeps promising to talk to the landlord, etc., but in the meanwhile --- i pose another question: anybody know about a locksmith dealing in especially old keys?