Is this the most overbearing mother-in-law ever?

Many commentators recommended that the daughter-in-law change the locks on her door. Photo / Getty

An exasperated woman has appealed for help to deal with her overbearing mother-in-law, who lets herself into the house and even washes her underwear without asking.

The British Mumsnet user opened up about her unwelcome visitor on the parenting forum, and said her husband's mother would clean the house and even rearrange her ornaments to make the house look nicer.

She lives next door and has her own key, which allows her to come and go as she pleases - a freedom she takes full advantage of.

MaisieAva took to social media for advice on how to deal with her overbearing mother-in-law.

The woman, who went under the username of MaisieAva, called her mother-in-law "suffocating" and asked how to fix the problem without offending her.

Other Mumsnet users urged her to confront the woman, and advised her to change her locks.

She wrote: "I've spoken to my other half about it so it has got a lot better as I think something must've been said.

"But I feel like I've made it into an issue now and I'm fearful of her to be honest and feel like I want to avoid her but at the same time scared to avoid her as I don't want to cause any upset of offend anyone. I just can't win.

"It's all just literally too close to home for me and it's consuming my thoughts way too much to the point where I'm feeling pretty unhappy."

There were many sympathetic responses... with most telling the woman to move house.

Her fellow Mumsnet users advised drastic action, including moving house to get away from her.

One said: "Move If you can. I'm serious this is like living in each other's pockets. IMO it's not healthy for any of you. Everyone will be miserable if this goes on."

"You need to move ASAP. Living next to family who have no boundaries is just going to get worse and worse. Put some distance between you," another posted.

A third agreed: "You are not being unreasonable. You are entitled to boundaries and space and basically a life of your own as an adult. Some people just don't understand boundaries. I had the same with my mil and in the end it ended the marriage.

"Start by getting the key back. I would even change the locks if it came to it."