Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Being mad for FIL showing up at home unannounced

43 replies

NCCamelliaNC · 31/01/2026 16:33

NC and long to not drip feed. I am not the “be gentle” type, so go for it.

Being with DH since 2019, moved in together in 2022 (to his place but I own mine and we chose that one as we wanted to settle in his area), married 2023, baby 2024, house 2025. I am not from the country we live in, he is (I moved here and met him).

When we lived together his parents barely showed up (it is a small apartment so we barely hosted friends), my husband stopped by their place a couple of times a week after work, all chill. The house we bought just needed cosmetic work, like changing lamps, paint, I wanted a doorbell with camera, etc. My FIL loves DYI and he is very good so he has taken upon himself to do those things, or help DH with them. He wanted to put wallpaper in our master bedroom (the rest of the house was painted by a company) and he did a great job. We bought him a watch. I was recently back to work after mat leave when we moved to the house so I was WFH often while DD was with her nanny in another floor, several times while I was in calls FIL showed up to prep for things he wanted to do, pick up tools he left…he has a key and just used it. I told DH several times I don’t like him coming unannounced (other times we have been both at work and I would get a notification from the camera that he was getting at our house). Last time we were in the kitchen and I was clearly uncomfortable (no makeup, messy hair and I have burn in the overlip I am treating and I use make up for, so I am little conscious about it). After that he didn’t come anymore but the relationship has been OK, we go to their house I always ask DH to give them a heads up. MIL has had some health issues since around the time we found the house and she was a little difficult patient so doing this bits was also good for FIL (but he has his hobbies, friends…). Truth be told he doesn’t stay to hang out too long, he does his things, has a coffee maybe…so not come in the morning and cannot be kicked out until the evening kind of visit.

The thing is I just don’t like him or anyone come without me/us knowing. We were visiting my family and I had ordered some things that with the Xmas timing came while we were away so he was extremely helpful in coming to get them in the house so they wouldn’t be at our door for days. But since then he has taken again to the coming around for small bits. He has come today, DH was not even here, only because he understood yesterday that they might do something (he has surgery next week and he is worried he won’t recover fast and won’t be able to help with that bit). I got very mad with DH because he just rang and used the key. DH keeps saying it’s a misunderstanding from their conversation yesterday and my point is no one should use the key and come unannounced, you call 30 minutes before (they live 3 min drive from us) to check whatever plan you thought you had is still working. I feel very disrespected and DH feels it’s not a big deal, he keeps explaining why it’s no so bad (misunderstanding, they are old,…). I am fuming and I am thinking to divorce because this is a boundary and now I feel like I was during those weeks, stressed because he might just come and open the door. On the other hand I feel very ungrateful because thy help us a lot but my thinking is you either accept help asked or you offer help and wait to be accepted or not, but they impose helping and I just don’t like that. AIBU?

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 31/01/2026 16:37

It is fine to not want him coming round unannounced. But you need to stop taking all the help. Its a very one sided relationship, all suiting your needs.

ThisCantBeRightCanIt · 31/01/2026 16:50

My fil does this even though he complains about other family doing this to him! He will turn up unannouced but will always knock, I then of course have to invite him. If we are not home he just let's himself in to do whatever he had planned.

It just makes me laugh because it's so odd but he is a very kind and generous man so I don't see the point in making a big deal out it. I just laugh to dh about it. But if it's a big deal to you, which is your right, just ask for the key back and not take anymore help.

Divorce sounds a bit dramatic assume your just venting

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 31/01/2026 16:54

Tell DH you won’t be able to have sex because you’re too on edge about his father turning up unannounced.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 31/01/2026 16:55

Change the locks? But DH needs to get on board. DH needs to be the one walked in on - then he will realise.

Mmmkaay · 31/01/2026 16:57

Thinking about divorce is a bit of an overreaction!!

Knitterofcrap · 31/01/2026 16:57

You need to “lose your keys” change the locks, and not give PILS a replacement.

IndieRocknRoll · 31/01/2026 17:00

Pancakeflipper · 31/01/2026 16:37

It is fine to not want him coming round unannounced. But you need to stop taking all the help. Its a very one sided relationship, all suiting your needs.

Agree with this.

Alwaysontherun · 31/01/2026 17:00

I can totally understand that your FIL showing up unannounced and using his key makes you uncomfortable but divorce, unless there are other issues, sounds like a complete overreaction

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 31/01/2026 17:01

You cant eat your cake and have it.

He's saving you guys thousands not a professional contractor / employee

ProfessorRedshoeblueshoe · 31/01/2026 17:03

So you want his help, but only on your terms.
Divorce - seriously ?

Nannydoodles · 31/01/2026 17:03

Take the key back but then don’t expect jobs to be done or to use him when it suits you.
Divorce seems a little OTT! Are you a drama queen?

SleepingStandingUp · 31/01/2026 17:06

He comes and goes to do stuff to help you, so stop relying on help and do it all yourself.

He isn't sticking there all day, sniffing your underwear drawer or eating your cake. He's helping fix your home

Wakemeupinapril · 31/01/2026 17:07

You give him mixed signals.. Good enough to use key for parcels /decorating /odd jobs... But not when you want notice. Just take the keys back.
And hire an off job man in future.

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 31/01/2026 17:09

I think you are being unreasonable. You're happy for his diy skills but dont want him to come in. Obviously he felt comfortable with you as family but you, just as obviously don't think of him in same way. Your excuse of not being dressed properly are a bit lame. I couldn't imagine treating family that way.

cramptramp · 31/01/2026 17:09

I hope you tell him to return the key. I hope he then stops helping you with DIY. You don’t deserve him.

JLou08 · 31/01/2026 17:10

You're thinking of divorce because a family member, who does a lot to help you, came unannounced? That's crazy.

NoisyViewer · 31/01/2026 17:12

Stop having him doing odd jobs and maybe there’d be no reason for him to pop round.

Parsleyforme · 31/01/2026 17:14

I would be annoyed at him turning up unannounced and using the key. But divorce is a big overreaction! If it is a misunderstanding then speak to him again or fit a door chain for when you are at home. It sounds like he comes over to help you, not to interfere or be controlling, so say something to him again. I would say I like my privacy because I don’t want to be caught while changing/showering in my home or something like that

Sahara123 · 31/01/2026 17:17

Poor guy can’t do right from wrong.
Get a door chain, then he can’t just walk in.

McSock · 31/01/2026 17:18

Do your DH & FIL a favour and LTB.

Dweetfidilove · 31/01/2026 17:19

Please divorce him. Your overreaction makes me think they'd be better off without you 🙄.

Dweetfidilove · 31/01/2026 17:20

McSock · 31/01/2026 17:18

Do your DH & FIL a favour and LTB.

Literally ☹️

CheshireCat1 · 31/01/2026 17:24

He’s done all the jobs for you and now he’s surplus to your requirements.
I do understand that everyone is different but I have no issues with family dropping by unannounced.

Minilover79 · 31/01/2026 17:28

Don't cut your nose off to spite your face! If he's helpful and kind that's a very rare combination. I would suck it up as it's very rare to get so much help, he's saving you a lot of time and money.

Lotsofthings · 31/01/2026 17:28

So the solution is to get a deadbolt installed into your door, for ‘security’. You can lock the door from the inside when you aren’t expecting visitors and leave the current locks as before if you have arranged he’s coming in to do work.

FIL can use current keys when expected but you have an additional key to restrict access when you don’t want him there.

He might even install it for you as he seems very helpful.