AITA for locking my garage so my brother and sister can’t open it with out talking to me?

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In the quiet of a suburban home, a man’s generosity frays under the weight of family entitlement. After housing his sister and her jobless husband for two years rent-free, he reclaimed his space, only for them to treat his garage like a personal storage unit. Unannounced visits, like stashing a jeep top without a word, pushed him to lock the garage and change the code.

When they showed up demanding access, fury flared—they called it a family right; he called it disrespect. His text demanding courtesy met a half-apology, but the rift remains. Was locking the garage a fair boundary, or an overreaction to family habits? This tale of property and propriety pulls readers into a tense sibling showdown.

‘AITA for locking my garage so my brother and sister can’t open it with out talking to me?’

I bought a house, I specifically found one that had a MIL apartment so my parents could live with me and save some money as they get older. My sister’s husband lost his job and so I let them live in my house for almost two years while I lived in the MIL apartment. So they could save and get back on their own.

Well after 2 years they hadn’t saved anything, and so I told them it was time to leave. They moved out last June. I moved back in upstairs, and my parents moved in downstairs in the apartment. My sister and her husband left a lot of things in the garage since they moved into an apartment.

This annoyed me and my wife and eventually made them clean it out. But still had some things in there, mostly junk IMO, but also some tools. They would always just show up, and take and or leave stuff in my garage. Last week was the last straw for me. Her husband showed up, opened the garage and stored the top to his jeep.

Which took up most of the space. No hello, no text, nothing. I felt disrespected. I changed the code to the garage and locked the side door from the inside. Today they showed up again to get a tool. I assumed they were visiting my mom, she told them to ask me to get into the garage and they got really mad.

They said they are family, it’s their stuff, they shouldn’t have to. I feel like it’s my house and while I would probably never say no if they asked to store something, but it’s common decency to ask someone first. Even just send a text saying hey, I’m dropping off something today.

Edit : I sent a text message to them that said I was annoyed when they show up unannounced and just open the garage. A hello, or text would be expected courtesy IMO. They responded “Sorry you told me when we moved out I could use garage whenever so I didn't think much of it but I can see how that was rude. When we move to our house we will grab everything from garage so it won't be a problem anymore.”. 

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This garage lockout is a classic case of kindness stretched thin by entitlement. The OP’s generosity—housing his sister’s family for two years—set a precedent they exploited, treating his garage like their own. Their unannounced drop-ins, culminating in a space-hogging jeep top, signal a lack of respect.

Family dynamics often blur property lines, but, as psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud notes, “Boundaries define ownership and responsibility.” The OP’s lock change asserts his right to control his space, especially after their failure to save during their stay. Their anger reflects entitlement, not fairness. This mirrors broader issues: over-accommodating family can breed resentment when reciprocity fails.

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The OP should set a firm deadline for removing their items, as Reddit suggests, and maintain the lock. A calm discussion could clarify expectations, but if entitlement persists, limiting access is wise.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Reddit’s takes are as bold as a padlock snap! Here’s what the community had to say:

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Glass_Chance9800 − NTA, your sis and BIL sound like moochers. I wouldn't give them the garage door code. Probably should also tell them they have until the end of the month to get their stuff out of your garage or it'll wind up on the curb.

GreekAmericanDom − NTA. It is time for them to take everything out and put it in storage. Inform them that they have 2 weeks to empty it out. After that, anything in there will be considered abandoned, and you will keep what you want and throw away the rest.

klc123 − NTA. They don’t live there and they shouldn’t have their stuff in your garage. You let them stay two years rent free and they show no appreciation and squandered the opportunity. You’ve done enough for these people. Pick a date and say they have to come get their stuff on this day. All of it. After that, it’s going to the dump

DannyBigD − NTA. Keep it locked. Break the habit of them using your garage as a free storage unit.

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darklinghate − NtA. You made a mistake by giving them your house. They should have taken the MIL suit and had a clear date to leave instread. Clean their stuff out completely and tell them to come get it and not treat your garage like their personal storage shed. Change your locks op. Too many people have opportunity to copy your keys. Don't let them continue taking advantage of you.

buttwhystherumgone − May I ask why you gave them the main house and you took the MIL suite? Especially since your post reads like you have a wife?

Effing-Awesome − NTA even if you allowed it before, you can change your mind and not allow it now. It's your property. It's always been your property. You were just gracious enough to allow them to stay and then eventually leave some of their stuff there after they moved out. Personally, I'd tell them to move all of their stuff. They are being entitled and just plain taking advantage of your kindness at this point.

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[Reddit User] − A lot of redditors on here are saying to enforce a deadline to get the rest of the stuff and that's great but no where on here (unless I missed it) does it say that OP told them directly that he felt taken advantage of. His mother was left to communicate the very healthy boundary he set.

Enforcing a deadline without having this very important communication and airing out of issues/feelings and letting the other, somewhat self-absorbed party know how their actions made OP feel will only inflame the situation. I'm assuming that what's wanted is respect and appreciation

and an acknowledgement of inconsiderate behavior and remediation of said behavior and that won't happen without a healthy airing of the facts. So I vote no on the enforcing of deadline until that conversation happens. Then let them know your expectations,

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OP, and you can go back to being the very generous and considerate OP you are, without feeling burdened by advantage takers who probably are very appreciative but caught up in their own drama and thus not thinking.. edited to say: NTA

sacco645 − NTA. Family isn't exempt from trespassing. I personally like to know when someone is at my home.

[Reddit User] − lmao what. not a text not even a hello?? family doesn't treat you like a container unit. they sound like leeches. no mercy. give them an ultimatum and trow their sh\*t on the curb. NTA

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These opinions clang, but do they unlock solutions or just rattle the tension?

This garage drama leaves us wondering: was the OP wrong for locking out his sister and brother-in-law, or was it a justified stand for respect? Family ties and personal space tangle like clutter in a garage. What would you do if relatives treated your home as their own? Share your thoughts and experiences below!

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