Checked the terms of my AA contents policy, and it states that "unattended" bikes must be chained to an immovable object. If I am in the house with the bikes, are they unattended?

No.

Is it not if you take it to the shop and you leave it outside without a lock, then they expect it to be locked as it is unattended.

When I used to have to know about such things, unattended meant not within easy reach – ie, if you can't grab it before the thief does.

Even on a bad day I don't think I'd have bounced a claim if the bike was in your house while you were there as well!

Thanks folks. I've never claimed anything before and I don't know what the outcome is gonna be.