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fidobsa wrote:

Just wondering if it is accepted practice in Hungary to walk into someones house and wander around looking for the occupier? There is a neighbour who keeps pestering me, wanting to borrow money or use my phone etc. I thought I had taught her to knock on the door and wait outside but yesterday I was hoovering the guest bedroom and she suddenly appeared at the bedroom door. As I thought I was alone in the house I just about jumped out of my skin! Such things sometimes happened when I lived in Scotland but it was usually only small children who came in uninvited, so you could excuse them for not knowing any better.

No, this person is taking the piss or is plain nosey wanting to check on what you've got.  It's just as rude as elsewhere and not the done thing. However, people tend to not understand these niceties as well in the country.

I had a similar problem once. I ended up having to put a big padlock and chain on the gate to stop them getting in unannounced. They actually wanted to be "helpful" because they wanted to be paid to "help" us out with odd jobs around the house. Putting the padlock on the gate stopped them dead in their tracks and got them off our backs.

Sounds kind of dangerous that someone can get into your house that easily, whether your home or not.  I know people here and in  Romania have always been very careful about locking everything.  When I stayed in Romania, I noticed people coming and going quite a bit, the neighbors were very chatty.  But the gate is almost always locked, they at least have to ring.  If you don't want to answer, say you were sleeping ;-)  Or had the headphones on.  You didn't hear the bell (because if you say you weren't home, they'll know you were lying, because they were WATCHING YOU.)

I've never locked the gate because there are some people who do need to gain entry e.g. the post lady who might need me to sign for a letter. It can be a pain when I try to call on neighbours who keep guard dogs. I have to stand at the gate and shout for them. I've seen some people have a doorbell button mounted on the gate post. That might be my best bet as I can then ignore unwanted callers!

fidobsa wrote:

.... I have to stand at the gate and shout for them. I've seen some people have a doorbell button mounted on the gate post. That might be my best bet as I can then ignore unwanted callers!

You can get a radio controlled doorbell.

Hi,

If it's some small village, then probably not dangerous, but definitely rude.
What most people around here do to avoid this (or at the times they do not want walked in on) ((wow, I just ended a sentence with two prepositions!)) is lock the gate (flimsy lock, or padlock and chain) and keep a key reachable, but not visible from the outside.
Everyone knows the key is there and can go in without damage if need be, but there is a very clear "it's locked" message.