Adult Children & Keys to Your House

[wenrob]

No. I really don't mind. If she is going to keep coming to do yard work she can come over anytime she wants.

She does knocks, before entering, when she comes over when I am here. I don't knock at my parents house. I figure the 6 dogs have already announced my arrival, so there is no need.

There is that. If it bothers you that she went through your kitchen I’d speak up though. My sister would do that (and take my things) so when we changed locks I just never gave her a new key.

 

[Pooh2]

We told our son to keep his key when he got married.
He checks on the house if we are away or and has it if he needs to borrow something from the workshop.

 

[Moliphino]

I've only recently moved out of my parents's house. I have a key, I have a garage door opener. They kept the family dogs when I moved out (they're very old, moving would be too stressful for them), so I'm always at the house to visit the dogs. Honestly, I think my mother wishes we still lived there.

 

[violina]

I have a set of keys to my parents' house however we live in different states. Usually they expect me to bring my keys when I visit so they don't need to worry about having one ready for me. My husband also has keys to his parents' house which they provided to him. I don't think we've ever used it.

 

[disykat]

I always had a key to my parent's home and my kids still have keys to ours. Both are still the same places with the same locks. Once you no longer live there full time the expectation is to call ahead and knock the first time you enter each visit. If we changed locks, I think I'd give them keys again just because. We live far enough away (several hours) and we are not on the way anywhere, so they don't exactly just stop by unknown.

I have a key to my younger son's place (several hours away) because he works 12 hour shifts and lives close to the freeway on a route I drive frequently in more normal times. He always says "mom, if you get tired I want you to stop in and take a nap!" I haven't done it yet, but would do it without hesitation, especially since I always let him know if I'm driving that direction and he always repeats his advice. (We sometimes do lunch if he's available, even though they are now outside and physical distanced!)

I don't have a key to my older son's place, but I can't imagine why I'd need one. I'd only go there to visit them. He's 1 1/2 hours away so doesn't live close enough to pop in nor far enough to need to stay there. It's weird to think we haven't been in each other's homes for almost a year! We've met in the middle outdoors, but that's it.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Yes they do. My son used to continue to ring the bell and I let him know that he doesn't have to wait for me to just come on in. He always calls ahead, though, and I don't believe he ever comes over when I'm not home, although I've given him permission to.

I have a sibling and changed all the locks on my house to prevent him from coming, especially when I'm not home.

Both of my parents are gone now, but when they were alive I had a key to the house, and there were no issues with me going over (not that I did when they weren't home). When my mom passed away my dad moved back to El Paso and got remarried. I did not have a key to their house, and only dropped in once unexpectedly as a birthday surprise. I cleared it with his wife first, though.

 

[lorimay]

My kids have keys and garage door openers to our house.
I have the key to my mom's house. I do knock when I go to my mom's, I won't just open the door and walk in.

 

[dina444444]

I have keys for both of my parents homes. For my dad it’s how I get into his building when I go to visit. For my mom, I use it when I go over to visit (she always knows when I’m coming over) and I regularly bring in the mail when she travels.

 

[godisney14]

All homes of family members have smart locks and smart doorbells. So, we all can gain access to each other’s homes any time—after ringing the doorbell first, though. That way the homeowner can see the visiting family member(s) going in wherever the homeowner is around the world.

 

[luvthatduke]

My daughter moved out 2 months ago. She still has a key. She came by today, while I was at work, to do some yard word she said she would do before she moved out. She texted me this evening to tell me about an outbreak at the grocery store. I said but I NEED to go to the store tomorrow. She responds I know your freezer is empty. So not only did she come over while I was not home, without telling me she was but she went into the freezer and I am sure the fridge and cupboards too. She used to do this at my parents house too when we came over.

I also have keys to my parents house. But I do not come over when they are not home unless I am taking care of the cats while they are out of town.

She loves you!

 

[indimom]

Yes I have a key for my parents; and, I have occasionally gone over when they are not there, but I let them know.
Our kids both have keys to our home and come and go as they please. But, they are 23 (in grad school) and 20 (in Air Force), so when they are in our state, this is their home.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Adult child with divorced parents here. My dad has an access code to my house and I have a key to both of my parents' houses. My husband has a key to his parents' house. And I have a key to my dad's office. My dad travels a lot for work (often for a month or longer) and owns his own business so he often needs tasks done at the house or office. Both parents like me to keep an eye on things if they're away, and mom has a pool that we are invited to use (and asked to take care of) if she and her husband are away. My husband's parents also like us to keep an eye on things if they're away. Our trips to their houses and office always have a known purpose, but we do have to use our keys a lot. Our parents live within 40 minutes of us, so not far away.

 

[mamamary]

I keep forgetting to get a new key to my moms house but I have always had one as do all my siblings. I live in another state so I’m not there that often.

 

[AnnaS]

My married kids have our keys and we have theirs. Always good to have for various reasons.

Very rarely has one stopped by without us/notifying us - to use the restroom/waiting for spouse to get out of work because the spouse's car was at shop and another time waiting for spouse to get to a doctor appointment together in my area.

I always tell them to knock, call first.....never know what you walk into and they laugh. They know better.

We have their keys - we have used it many times to accept deliveries for them, dh had to fix/repair something in their house, babysit kids and we go in while they are upstairs getting ready. But, never without them not knowing. We don't just walk in for no reason. I would call them or text before - even if I had to use restroom.

We all have Rings and cameras - so we would know regardless.

I also have two of my neighbor's keys and one neighbor has my key.

Recently my neighbor locked herself out of her house and she had the oven on with some food. She came in my house to wait for locksmith (my dh was willing to take lock off) and it was freezing out too - I ended up having her key.

 

[Meriweather]

Yes, DD, DS and DIL all have keys to our house.
They look in while we are on vacations.
We also have keys to their houses. Only use them when doing a favor for them......picking up mail, fixing things when they aren't home.

 

[slo]

My DD has the code to the garage door but not a key - she’s never come into the house without our knowledge. We have a RING doorbell and other cameras so I always know who approaches the house.

My DH and I have keys to our parents homes.

 

[easyas123]

Do your adult children, who no longer live with you, have keys to your house? Do they stop by when you are not home?

Yes, and yes.
Adult kids can come and go - doesn't bother us.
They also keep their boats & hunting stuff at our farm, no problems there.
It's still very much a family home, but make no mistake....love being empty nesters!

 

[unrequited23]

I have a key to my mom's house and my DH has keys to his parents' houses. We have a coded front door and have codes set for each set of our parents.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

For my grandmas house I have a key so does my son, dad and uncle. If I run to the store and see sales on some of her staple items or something the kids usually eat at her house I’ll pick it up and if she’s not home I’ll let myself in and put it away. My uncle and dad do the same thing. Sometimes we tell her but sometimes we forget and she’ll call and say “did you just leave Tide in my laundry room.” My kids stop by to visit and if she’s not home they just wait for her. My grandma doesn’t drive so if she’s out she’s usually at the mall or drug store and will be back soon.

My grandmas house has a very open door policy.

 

[lovin'fl]

My grown kids have keys. They don't just stop by whenever. Well, DDs-22 just graduated college and are staying here for the time being. But DS-24 lives elsewhere and never just lets himself in. In fact, whenever he does come and if we're not home I have to remind him he has a key to let himself in.

I have a key to both our parents' homes and we never just go randomly. It is always expected. In laws are always home so we have not used their key in years. But I will arrive at my mom's when she is not home and will let myself in. But she always knows I am coming. My brother does not have a key though and my mom doesn't want him to.