To think that my FIL should use the doorbell?

[Stiffanky]

We live very near my DH's parents. They are lovely people but seem to not want to use the front doorbell when they call round. Instead they'll either just appear at the back door at all times of day or night or, like my FIL did this morning at 7:15am, come in through the integral garage and through the internal door, shouting "hello!". Is it unreasonable to expect them to use the front doorbell like everyone else? I can't wander around in my undies in my own house!!

Put your own key in the door, to prevent it being unlocked from the other side?

Love that idea Justkeep!

I think the solution is precisely is to wander around the house in your undies until your FIL catches you in your knicker when he drops in.

He'll start knocking/ringing soon enough.

No advice but commiserations. Mil, bil, dh aunty & uncle all turned up at the back door recently without calling first. Dh was just home from a weekend away and I had been dealing with a baby with D&V all weekend. I went into the kitchen and saw them all peering in the window, jumped out of my skin.
Dh family always go to our back door, I hate it. Getting a locking gate put up soon so no one can come round.

What age are the DC now, as you cannot have unsecured doors leading to The Outside when you have toddlers/young children anyway. You may as well channel your inner Boy Scout and Be Prepared which means side gate secured, internal door to garage secured, slip bolt up high on the front door. If DC is 11 weeks old just say you're thinking ahead.
You cannot have it both ways.

Otherwise I'd let myself get caught noody in the kitchen and scare the living daylights out of him. With my body, I'd only ever need to do it the once.

Chain on the door, I think!

Not wanting to derail the thread, but the ILs attitude of our house being 'their sons house' (we are married & bought it together) pisses me off royally too!

We'd have to give them a key for that anyway even if we did as he likes to come and do our lawn

We do not want FIL to mow the lawn.... he just does it. We have a gardener that does it every other week anyway!

Surely locking the back gate and not giving them a key would kill two birds with one stone if you don't need/want him to mow the lawn then he doesn't need a key!

My Dad does this but I have a tiny fluffy barking doorbell which is so sensitive that it goes off as soon as a car turns into the drive (and I honestly don't mind). I also tend to turn up at my sisters houses (conveniently around dinner time) at random but they have kids so I normally distract them for a while.

I think you need to make it clear to them that it's crossing a boundary. I would accept it and try to remember if asked but because it's normal for my family, it would be weird to suddenly be told to knock and wait at the door.

Be firm with them, hopefully it's an innocent habit and not a control tactic.

My in laws and my parents do this! My in laws just walk in, my parents knock and instantly open door?! (What's the point in knocking)

My parents will always tell me they're coming round so it's expected. But in laws drive me crazy.

Just little things like I'm not wearing a bra, I'm busy, I'm walking round in a towel etc. I should be allowed to do this in my own home!

My in laws do this and I hate it. My front door needs to be locked from the inside so usually if I'm in I leave it unlocked and DMIL and BIL just walk on in. It's very rude IMO.