To think keys given out in case of emergencies are not to be used

[Ishani]

Generally if you fancy popping ?
I got out of the shower naked as the day I was born, DS in the noddy too walked into the kitchen to find my MIL eating a sandwich at the breakfast bar.
I screamed what the fuck are you doing here ? She said she had knocked and when she got no answer let herself in and made herself lunch from my fridge. We live in a bungalow so she would have heard the shower. Clearly I was in but rather than shout hello she thought she'd scare the shit out of me instead. She's lucky I didn't thi k she was a burgerler and clobber her.
Am I wrong in asking DH to get the keys off her ?

My husband and I both have keys so highly unlikely we both would get locked out, also key hidden on property. I would have been angry with MIL and demanded key back immediately saying it was for our emergency use not hers, so what if she's offended, she has offended and upset you by her selfishness and lack of respect for your privacy.
Sometimes people deserve to be upset to make them realise their behaviour is rude.
If I gave a house key to anyone I would make it clear it was only to be used if we locked ourselves out and requested it and not to be carried about by them and used for their own pleasure.
Thankfully our relatives are sensible though.
I think the back door thing is a class and age thing, with older more working class people feeling the front door is somehow "special", a bit like the habit of keeping 1 room "special" which my grandmother used to do, despite only having 2 reception rooms. This was precentral heating though, so financially it made sense to just light one fire.

Change your lock to one that you need to lock with a key then you don't need a spare left with anyone.MIL had a key to ours when it was a yale lock and she took extreme liberties came home once to find she's rearranged my kitchen and been in our bedroom.

Agree I prefer doors that you have to lock, or back door is like that although the front door couldn't be with the type of fixtures we wanted, as I didn't want a handle but a knob.
I often go out running so hiding key suits me, if nowhere appropriate I would get a key safe, but hide it round the back of the house somewhere not too obvious as I suspect they aren't that burglar proof so I wouldn't want to advertise that i have a key safe.

I think there is a simpler way to get the keys back. Just say that the insurance is changed and that keys must now only be held residents of the house - or equally some other such horse raddish! It gives a reason which means that everyone can keep face.

I think the back door thing with my PiL was that somehow coming in through the back door (without knocking) was somehow more friendly. We have since moved house now they will just walk in through the front door without knocking. None of us like it. If DD1 sees them pulling up in the car she will go and lock the front door!

My mother did this. Came and used the loo when passing and then complained to me that I'd run out of loo paper and she couldn't wipe her arse.

Gnome that's the sole reason we keep our front door firmly locked 24-7. My family are polite and knock and wait till the door is answered. DPs family try the door first, then knock because it's locked, then complain about having to knock and wait can't stand people just walking straight in!

I'm surprised some of you don't keep your doors locked anyway, especially as most have children.