To expect people to not just let themselves into my house

[Jellyrose20]

We are very lucky with childcare and very well supported. Grandparents pick the children up from school on a couple of days a week whilst we work. Because of this they have a key to our house where they can take the children back to ours if they choose to.
However it's becoming an increasing problem that both Grandads just let themselves into the house when they fancy it when the children aren't with them.
I was at home alone in the shower once when I got a knock on the bathroom door "cooey. Just me lovey" from father in law. It scared the shit out of me.
We see them coming into the house to see if we are home on our ring alarm frequently. I have extensive examples.

We have been explicit that this is not OK and told them frequently not to do this if the children aren't with them, but it falls on deaf ears. They'll stop doing it for a week and then do it again.

I'm not really sure what to do as we are very grateful for the childcare support and otherwise have a fantastic relationship with them, but really feel like this is an invasion of privacy and not OK.

Our children love spending time with their grandparents so I feel like saying we will find alternative arrangements is 1. Unfair on the children and 2. Looking a gift horse in the mouth. But how do we manage this?

I've taken to putting the chain on the door when I'm home alone so nobody can get in without my explicit permission, but I don't feel like I should have to.

Would it annoy you or am i being precious?

This would annoy the shit out of me and I would absolutely be very very firm that it's not okay.

Tell them one more time that it’s a huge invasion of privacy and if it happens again you’ll have no choice but to revoke their keys. You have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your own home, childcare or not.

Put the latch on every single time you’re home. It’s good practice for security anyway. They can’t let themselves in if you’ve got the chain across and they’ll soon learn. It they can never get in without knocking.

My mum’s cousins were all like this, letting themselves in and out of each other’s houses with a Cooo-eee! It was how they grew up. We are ‘the funny ones’ for not liking it.

Door chain way to go. And don't feel obliged to answer door. Or say you've had Neighbour Watch advising you change the locks due to burglaries locally and put then the spare key in a keybox ONLY when its required on a need to get in basis....
Hinting isn't working. Just take action.
Will soon stop them snooping round because they're bored.

Latch on when you are home.

Tell them one more time and the key will be removed. Then use a lock box and change the combination and they get given the new code each time they have the kids.

Put on the door chain/bolts every single time.

They're not going to listen to you - for some reason they don't think they have to.

So make it impossible for them to get in. They can wait until you're ready for them.

I was going to suggest similar to Caroparo. Take the keys off both of them, get a lockbox, only put the key in on the days that they are helping you.

I would be putting the chain on the door even if this wasn't an issue.

Do they say why they do it? I'm curious? I have numerous stories of phone calls from my dad telling me he'd popped to see me that day, but I wasn't in. "I bought lunch, cake and tea in the village and had a picnic in your garden." Never gave a reason. Ever.🙈 your home is your home and privacy is everything. It's disrespectful I feel. Key box sounds like a good idea so long as you put it somewhere discreet. I wish you luck!